Robin Williams' Most Memorable Food Moments

by Hillary Dixler Canavan@hillarydixler Aug 12, 2014, 5:45am EDT

Hillary Dixler Canavan is Eater's restaurant editor and the author of the publication's debut book, Eater: 100 Essential Restaurant Recipes From the Authority on Where to Eat and Why It Matters (Abrams, September 2023). Her work focuses on dining trends and the people changing the industry — and scouting the next hot restaurant you need to try on Eater's annual Best New Restaurant list.

Beloved comedian and Academy Award-winning actor Robin Williams died yesterday at the age of 63. According to The Verge, authorities suspect "suicide due to asphyxiation," but until the autopsy is conducted later today the cause of death remains unknown. According to Williams' spokesperson, the actor had been "battling with depression of late," reports Vox.

Along with his many well-known roles — including the big blue genie in Aladdin, the eponymous doctor in Patch Adams, and an alien from outer space in Mork & Mindy — Williams was for fourteen years a successful restaurant investor. The actor was an investor in the now-shuttered San Francisco restaurant Rubicon. Open from 1994 - 2008, Rubicon was "the onetime blockbuster from New York mega-restaurateur Drew Nieporent and Master Sommelier Larry Stone" writes ISSF. Williams was one of several celebrity investors; Robert DeNiro and Francis Ford Coppola were also involved. Several notable San Francisco chefs passed through Rubicon's kitchen, from opening chef Traci Des Jardins (who took home a Beard Award during her time there) to the restaurant last executive chef Stuart Brioza (now of State Bird Provisions).

The many characters Williams played on screen portrayed plenty of wonderful food moments. Below are four standout examples from his work. First up is two scenes from Hook (1991), where Williams steps into his role as Peter Pan by imagining a glorious banquet (and then starting a colorful food fight). Next is the restaurant scene from Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), in which Williams' double life as an actor and a nanny in drag come to head at the Danville, CA restaurant Bridges. Food allergy scares ensue. Then there's a scene from Toys (1992), which finds Williams lunching in a cafeteria. Do keep an eye out for the anti-artificial sugar rant. Lastly is a scene from The Fisher King (1991), which finds Williams out to dinner at a Chinese restaurant and performing his signature improvised comedy with only a minimal amount of speaking. Williams is, of course, brilliantly funny in all of these clips so go, watch: