Robin McLaurin Williams was an American actor and comedian. Known for his improvisational skills and the wide variety of characters he created on the spur of the moment and portrayed on film, in dramas and comedies alike, he is regarded as one of the greatest comedians of all time. He received numerous accolades including an Academy Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards, six Golden Globe Awards, five Grammy Awards, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. He was awarded the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2005.
Williams in 1978
Photo by Michael Dressler, used as cover photo for Time magazine, March 12, 1979
Williams with co-star Pam Dawber in a promotional photo for Mork & Mindy, 1978
Williams and Yola Czaderska-Hayek at the 62nd Academy Awards in 1990
Improvisation, often shortened to improv, is the activity of making or doing something not planned beforehand, using whatever can be found. The origin of the word itself is in the Latin "improvisus", which literally means un-foreseen – but it is also related to both the old French word "emprouer" and the English "improve", to improve. Improvisation in the performing arts is a very spontaneous performance without specific or scripted preparation. The skills of improvisation can apply to many different faculties across all artistic, scientific, physical, cognitive, academic, and non-academic disciplines; see Applied improvisation.
ComedySportz Austin performing a shortform game based on direction from the audience with the help of Red Dirt Improv; in this case spoofing a hard rock band performing a song made up on the stage
The Ligue d'improvisation montréalaise [fr] (LIM) is a league of improvisational theatre based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
An improvised surveyors level made from a camera tripod, a torpedo level and a sniper scope.
Improvised bass drum in Trafalgar Square, London.