Quote Of The Day By Robin Williams: 'Am I The World's Greatest Dad? Not At All, I'm A Work-In-Progress, But...'

"O Captain! My Captain!" It's still hard to believe that Robin Williams passed away 12 years ago. The actor displayed his razor-sharp humor in films like "Mrs. Doubtfire" and provided words of wisdom via his characters in "Dead Poets Society" and "Good Will Hunting." At the same time that the comedian entertained audiences with his talent and wit, he also battled depression and addiction and was open about his continued efforts towards healing. 

Williams would've turned 75 this year, and although his presence onscreen is missed, his legacy lives on through his extensive body of work. The actor studied at Juilliard before dropping out and pursuing comedy full-time, performing stand-up shows at late-night comedy clubs in the mid-'70s. 

His improvisational skills and voice work came in handy for TV. Williams famously played an alien named Mork in "Happy Days" and in the spin-off "Mork & Mindy." His first lead role on the silver screen was in "Popeye" in 1980, and from then on, the actor continued his streak of memorable roles. From voicing the Genie in "Aladdin" to winning an Oscar for his performance as therapist Sean Maguire in "Good Will Hunting," Williams' filmography is admirable. 

Before his passing, the comedian kept busy (even starring opposite Sarah Michelle Gellar in a short-lived sitcom) and found ways to be present in his kids' lives. The quote of the day demonstrates his dedication as a parent and how being a father didn't make him perfect — but it allowed him to acknowledge that he was a work in progress.

"And am I the 'world's greatest dad?' Not at all; I'm a work-in-progress, but I love them."

The quote above comes from Robin Williams' 2009 Today Show guest appearance where he revealed the joys and hardships of parenting. While promoting "World's Greatest Dad," the comedian shared that he is far from what the title of his film suggests. 

Williams was a father of three, with Zachary being his son from his first marriage and Zelda and Cody from his second. The actor discussed how fatherhood led him to take his recovery from addiction seriously, striving to be the best version of himself for his children. In 1986, Interview Magazine published a Q&A with the then-new father, and he spoke about getting sober. "I stopped drinking... That helped a lot, and my son... keeps me grounded a bit," he said. 

The path to recovery isn't always easy, with Williams relapsing and checking into rehab in 2006. The actor returned to rehab in 2014, without a relapse, in an effort to preserve his substance-free life while navigating the strain of back-to-back projects. Although Robin Williams died by suicide later that year (his autopsy confirmed a diagnosis of a type of dementia), his long-term commitment to seeking help is something that we should take into account. 

The quote of the day serves as a reminder that nobody is perfect and that seeking to be the best version of ourselves requires us to put in the work. Even before his death, Robin Williams was still trying to better himself and be present in his adult children's lives. 

Zak, Zelda, and Cody honored their late father this year by reactivating his Instagram account, where they hope to continue sharing more about him and the legacy he's left behind. "This is our way of sharing his unique talent and humor with the world, including the moments that made us and so many of you laugh, as we remember our Dad's extraordinary life and work. He continues to inspire us and delight people all over the world," they shared in a joint statement.

As we remember Williams, let us also take into consideration his message. The comedian was transparent about his mental health and addiction struggles throughout his lifetime. Yet, he sought ways to recover. No matter what it is that we are dealing with, it's important to have grace for ourselves and seek help.

• "It's a wonderful feeling when your father becomes not a god but a man to you — when he comes down from the mountain and you see he's this man with weaknesses. And you love him as this whole being, not as a figurehead."  — from his 1988 interview with Rolling Stone
• "Part of the whole thing about going through rehab is that you realize that work is a compulsion, too. It's addictive, and for many men and women, it can be a behavior that's rewarded, but in the same way it's also unrewarding on a personal level. You can win all the awards in the world, but do you have a life?" — from his 2006 interview with The Independent

• "Just keep going. Find that thing you love because it's tough work, and my father gave me this advice when I said that I wanted to be an actor. He said, 'Have a backup profession like welding.' But I think that if you find that thing that gives you joy, that'll be it. — from his 2012 BAFTA Guru interview