Robin Williams

TV and Cinema
June 8, 2025

Robin Williams, born on July 21, 1951, in Chicago, Illinois, was one of the most beloved and versatile comedians and actors of his generation. Known for his rapid-fire improvisational skills and the ability to seamlessly switch between comedy and drama, Williams left an indelible mark on both television and film. Throughout his career, he brought joy and laughter to millions, while also delivering deeply emotional performances. Here are 15 fun facts that you might not know about Robin Williams. Enjoy these fun facts as we celebrate the life of a true entertainment legend.

Robin Williams was a classically trained actor and attended the Juilliard School in New York City, where he was classmates with Christopher Reeve.

He was known for his improvisational skills and often ad-libbed many of his lines, including the majority of his dialogue in 'Aladdin'.

Williams won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in 'Good Will Hunting' (1997).

He was a close friend of Steven Spielberg and often called him during the filming of 'Schindler's List' to tell jokes and lift his spirits.

Robin Williams started his career as a stand-up comedian in San Francisco and Los Angeles in the mid-1970s.

He was known for his charitable work and frequently visited children's hospitals, often in character as Mrs. Doubtfire or Patch Adams.

Williams named his daughter Zelda after the video game character Princess Zelda from the 'Legend of Zelda' series.

He was a huge fan of cycling and often went on long bike rides with fellow actor Lance Armstrong.

Robin Williams was offered the role of the Joker in Tim Burton's 'Batman' (1989), but the role eventually went to Jack Nicholson.

He was an avid gamer and often played video games to unwind, with some of his favorites being 'The Legend of Zelda' and 'Call of Duty'.

Williams was posthumously awarded the 2018 Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for 'Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind'.

He provided the voice for the character of Dr. Know in Steven Spielberg's film 'A.I. Artificial Intelligence'.

Robin Williams was the first choice for the role of Hagrid in the 'Harry Potter' series, but was turned down because the producers wanted a British actor.

He once performed a 90-minute set in front of just two homeless people in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.

Williams was awarded the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement at the 2005 Golden Globe Awards.

Elizabeth Taylor

Hobbit

Christoph Waltz

Mel Gibson

TV and Cinema
February 3, 2025

Mel Gibson, born on January 3, 1956, in Peekskill, New York, is a renowned actor, director, and producer known for his intense performances and successful filmmaking career. He rose to fame with his role as Max Rockatansky in the 'Mad Max' series and later gained international acclaim for his work both in front of and behind the camera. Gibson's career has been marked by both triumphs and controversies, but his impact on the film industry is undeniable. Here are 15 fun facts that you might not know about Mel Gibson. These fun facts highlight his journey as a Hollywood icon.

Mel Gibson was born in the United States but moved to Australia with his family when he was 12 years old, which is why he has dual citizenship.

He attended the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney, where he honed his acting skills before breaking into film.

Mel Gibson gained worldwide fame with his role as Max Rockatansky in the 'Mad Max' trilogy, starting with the original film in 1979.

He won two Academy Awards for 'Braveheart' (1995), for Best Director and Best Picture, a film in which he also starred as William Wallace.

Gibson was the first actor from the Southern Hemisphere to win an Academy Award for Best Director.

Mel Gibson is fluent in Latin and has a deep interest in ancient languages, which influenced his decision to produce 'The Passion of the Christ' (2004) in Aramaic, Latin, and Hebrew.

Gibson co-founded Icon Productions, a film production company, in 1989, which produced many of his films, including 'Braveheart' and 'The Passion of the Christ.'

He has a passion for historical epics and has directed several films in this genre, including 'Apocalypto' (2006), which is set during the decline of the Mayan civilization.

Mel Gibson was named 'Sexiest Man Alive' by People magazine in 1985, becoming the first actor to receive this title.

He turned down the role of James Bond in the 1980s because he didn't want to be typecast in action roles.

Gibson is known for his devout Catholic faith and has been outspoken about his religious beliefs throughout his career.

He has been involved in numerous philanthropic efforts, including funding the construction of churches and donating to various charities.

Mel Gibson was the star of the 'Lethal Weapon' series, where he played the iconic character Martin Riggs, a role that solidified his status as an action star.

He is an accomplished equestrian and owns several horses, which he often rides on his private ranch.

Gibson has been a vocal advocate for environmental conservation, supporting efforts to protect rainforests and other natural habitats.

The Wolf of Wall Street

TV and Cinema
May 27, 2025

The Wolf of Wall Street, directed by Martin Scorsese and released in 2013, is a biographical crime film based on the life of Jordan Belfort, a stockbroker who engaged in rampant corruption and fraud on Wall Street. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Belfort, the film is known for its wild depiction of excess, greed, and the darker side of the American Dream. The movie's high-energy performances, sharp humor, and controversial subject matter made it a major success. Here are 15 fun facts about the movie 'The Wolf of Wall Street.' These fun facts provide a deeper insight into the making of this bold and audacious film.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese had been trying to make 'The Wolf of Wall Street' for several years, but the project faced numerous delays before finally being greenlit.

The film set a record for the most uses of the F-word in a mainstream non-documentary film, with the word being used 569 times, averaging nearly three times per minute.

Jonah Hill took a significant pay cut to work on the film, earning only $60,000, which was the minimum SAG rate, because he wanted to work with Scorsese and DiCaprio.

Matthew McConaughey's chest-thumping scene was improvised and was actually part of his warm-up routine before shooting. Leonardo DiCaprio liked it so much that he suggested including it in the film.

The actors snorted crushed B vitamins to simulate cocaine use in the film. Jonah Hill later revealed that he developed bronchitis from inhaling so much of the powder during filming.

Margot Robbie, who played Naomi Lapaglia, was relatively unknown at the time of casting. She became a breakout star due to her performance in The Wolf of Wall Street.

Jordan Belfort, the real-life inspiration for DiCaprio's character, makes a cameo in the film as the man who introduces DiCaprio's version of himself at the end.

To capture the wild party atmosphere, the production team hired real-life partygoers as extras and encouraged them to behave as they normally would at a wild event.

The film's infamous scene of DiCaprio crawling to his car while high on Quaaludes was inspired by a real-life incident Belfort recounted in his memoir. DiCaprio studied videos of people on Quaaludes to perfect the scene.

The yacht sinking scene was based on an actual event where Jordan Belfort's yacht sank off the coast of Sardinia. The real Belfort recounted the story to DiCaprio, who insisted it be included in the film.

Leonardo DiCaprio described his role as Jordan Belfort as the most fun he ever had playing a character, due to the outrageous nature of the scenes and the freedom Scorsese allowed him on set.

Jonah Hill wore a set of fake teeth to portray Donnie Azoff, which altered his speech and helped him get into character.

The Wolf of Wall Street was banned in several countries, including Malaysia, Nepal, and Kenya, due to its explicit content, language, and depiction of drug use and sexual activity.

The film's marketing campaign included a viral online campaign that allowed fans to create their own Wolf of Wall Street memes using dialogue and scenes from the movie.

Despite its three-hour runtime, 'The Wolf of Wall Street' was a commercial success, grossing over $392 million worldwide and becoming one of Scorsese's highest-grossing films.