The Genius Way Robin Williams Secured His Breakout Role on 'Happy Days'
The Genius Way Robin Williams Secured His Breakout Role on 'Happy Days'
Richard ChachowskiFri, February 27, 2026 at 3:37 PM UTC
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(Getty Images)
Like every major star in Hollywood, Robin Williams' immense success and popularity in the larger entertainment industry can be traced back to one key role. And in the case of the legendary late comedian, said role came with Williams' scene-stealing performance in the beloved sitcom, Happy Days.
Tapping into his famously zany comedic background, Williams' performance as the otherworldly alien Mork helped thrust the young actor into the public spotlight.
While it's hard to imagine anyone else inhabiting the role of the eccentric extraterrestrial visitor, one key moment early on in Williams' audition process ultimately helped land the actor his breakthrough role on the show.
When appearing on the Fake Doctors, Real Friends with Zach and Donald podcast, Happy Days Henry Winkler shared his memories of initially interacting with Robin Williams on the set of the show, as well as his experience witnessing the late actor audition for the role (via People magazine).
"A young, very shy, very quiet man comes with the casting director," Winkler said. "And then this human being picked up the script. When he opened his mouth, it was like a volcano went off on stage 19 at Paramount."
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"And I knew, get out of his way, know my lines, and don't try to stand toe to toe with this genius that is now standing in front of me," the actor went on to say.
Of course, one notable improvised moment helped impress Happy Day's cast and crew above all else. As series creator Garry Marshall remembered in 1989, Winkler wound up standing on his head the minute he began his audition, taking Marshall and his fellow backstage staff by surprise.
"He did the whole audition standing on his head," Marshall said. "He was a whole different fresh view of a guy doing an outer-space alien."
"When Robin Williams came on as a Martian, he was all over the place and was improvising some, and they gave him room," Marshall similarly recalled. "At the end of the episode, 300 people in the audience stood up and applauded, which is not usually done. It didn’t take a genius to know he could do his own show, and we made one for him, Mork & Mindy."
This story was originally published by Parade on Feb 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
