Comedian Frank Caliendo remembers Robin Williams
Aug 11, 2014, 7:00 PM
The world was shocked Monday afternoon by the news of actor-comedian Robin Williams, who was found dead in his California home at the age of 63.
“People in LA are in shock right now,” said comedian Frank Caliendo told News/Talk 92.3 KTAR’s Mac & Gaydos Monday. “They’re just all blown away.”
Caliendo said he was equally blown away by Williams’ death, as the actor-comedian was one of his greatest influences, starting with Mork & Mindy in 1978.
“The speed that he would go and tie references together,” Caliendo reminisced. “And then he introduced me to Jonathan Winters…on television, growing up watching those guys…huge influences on me, going from character to character.”
Caliendo said it was Williams’ grandiose and frenetic comedy that set him apart from the rest.
“Most comedians would have a very set-looking acting and set up punchlines kind of things, and then Robin Williams was the first person that I can even think of that would act so much of it out so quickly,” he said.
When asked if Williams would be remembered more for being a comedian or an actor, Caliendo was partial to his comic abilities.
“I think most people probably think of him for [comedian],” he explained. “It took him until “Good Will Hunting” to finally get the Acadamy Award, but he had done a lot of great stuff, and he was a great serious actor.”
