Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/Dave Hogan
Topics: Charity, Hollywood, Robin Williams, Film and TV
Jennifer Medlicott
Topics: Charity, Hollywood, Robin Williams, Film and TV
If you thought you already had enough reasons to love Robin Williams then think again, because it turns out we’ve got one more for you.
Williams won over our hearts in countless movies throughout his career, from Dead Poet’s Society to Mrs Doubtfire and Good Will Hunting. It’s fair to say, he was a key figure on all of our screens.
But he didn't just win us over through the characters he played on the screen, he also stole our hearts in the personal commitment he made to helping those in need, through charity work and other means.
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And of all the good deeds he carried out, one of the most touching was in dedication to the homeless population.
As it turns out, Williams, who sadly died by suicide in 2014, had a clause in his contract which stated that anyone who wanted to hire him must also employ a set amount of homeless people too.
The revelation was revealed by Brian Lord, a fan of the late actor who was working in the entertainment industry. After the actor's death, Lord explained how he discovered the clause which forever changed his perception of Williams.
Writing on his website, Lord said he had once come close to hiring Williams for a job, so the actor’s office sent over his rider.
A rider is a set of conditions that a celebrity or performer makes as part of their agreement for an appearance.
Lord wrote: "When I got Robin Williams’ rider, I was very surprised by what I found. He actually had a requirement that for every single event or film he did, the company hiring him also had to hire a certain number of homeless people and put them to work."
He also explained the heartwarming reason why the star worked so hard to help those who were homeless.
"I’m sure that on his own time and with his own money, he was working with these people in need," Lord added. "But he’d also decided to use his clout as an entertainer to make sure that production companies and event planners also learned the value of giving people a chance to work their way back.”
Williams' commitment to helping those in need has only been reiterated by his loved ones since his death, with his daughter Zelda even speaking about it late last year.
Zelda, who has since gone on to become a director and actor herself, opened up about her dad’s good deeds for the homeless population at Comic Relief Live.
Speaking at the event in New York City, Zelda said: "My dad, on all of his projects and especially when he was on tour, would hire homeless people.
“He would actively give them jobs.”
As she continued to discuss her late dad's philanthropy, the Lisa Frankenstein director implored others in the entertainment industry to take inspiration from Williams.
“It takes individuals,” she said. "So if you ever don't think that you as a single person or as a person who has a business can make a difference, please know you can, even if you're hiring just one person.”