The Many Faces of a Comic Genius
The word genius is thrown around a lot in descriptions of actors and comedians. Robin Williams is one of a rare few who fit the description. Below are his words describing the life of a stand-up comic.
“It’s a brutal field, man. They burn out. It takes its toll. Plus, the lifestyle — partying, drinking, drugs. If you’re on the road, it’s even more brutal. You gotta come back down to mellow your ass out, and then performing takes you back up. They flame out because it comes and goes. Suddenly they’re hot, and then somebody else is hot. Sometimes they get very bitter. Sometimes they just give up. Sometimes they have a revival thing and they come back again. Sometimes they snap. The pressure kicks in. You become obsessed and then you lose that focus that you need.”
