--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One of the first times I wrote about…" description: "\"One of the first times I wrote about Robin Williams for 'The New York Times,' I interviewed him for a feature about 'World's Greatest Dad,' a dark come..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18d/dave-itzkoff-25437_dad_one-of-the-first-times-i-wrote-about-rob_1895660.jpg" --- # One of the first times I wrote about Robin Williams for… ![“One of the first times I wrote about Robin Williams for 'The New York Times,' I interviewed him for a feature about 'World's Greatest Dad,' a dark comedy he starred in for his friend, the writer-director Bobcat Goldthwait.” quote by Dave Itzkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18d/dave-itzkoff-25437_dad_one-of-the-first-times-i-wrote-about-rob_1895660.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18d/dave-itzkoff-25437_dad_one-of-the-first-times-i-wrote-about-rob_1895660.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18d/dave-itzkoff-25437_dad_one-of-the-first-times-i-wrote-about-rob_1895660.jpg) > “One of the first times I wrote about Robin Williams for 'The New York Times,' I interviewed him for a feature about 'World's Greatest Dad,' a dark comedy he starred in for his friend, the writer-director Bobcat Goldthwait.” [Dave Itzkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-itzkoff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The piece explores Robin Williams' complex persona through a personal interview and his role in a dark comedy. **In simple terms:** A look at Robin Williams' depth. Key Takeaway Seek depth beyond fame. Themes celebrity artistry humanity Mood contemplative empathetic Type journalistic biographical When to use this quote - documentary filmmaking - profile writing - mental health awareness Key Concepts media studies psychology Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of his life remain unseen? - How does humor mask personal struggles? A Different Perspective Public perception can oversimplify nuanced individuals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) [Dark comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark-comedy/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [York Times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/york-times/) ## Related quotes > [My dad being not the greatest dad in the world has made me a better parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-daly/my-dad-being-not-the-greatest-dad-in-the-world-has-made-me-a-better/) [John Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-daly/) > [“By today’s standards, my dad wouldn’t be considered the greatest dad, and I’m sure his dad wouldn’t be considered the greatest dad either. I’m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/by-today-s-standards-my-dad-wouldn-t-be-considered-the-greatest-dad/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [I'm as lucky as I can be, for the world's greatest Dad belongs to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-as-lucky-as-i-can-be-for-the-world-s-greatest-dad-belongs-to-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Robin Williams was a cultural hero of mine, and in the encounters and interactions I was able to share with him, he was always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-itzkoff/robin-williams-was-a-cultural-hero-of-mine-and-in-the-encounters-and/) [Dave Itzkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-itzkoff/) > ['The Dice Man' is an anti-establishment cult novel, and you don't normally make studio films from such dark comedy material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-rhinehart/the-dice-man-is-an-anti-establishment-cult-novel-and-you-don-t/) [Luke Rhinehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-rhinehart/) > [Dark comedy is very difficult. You have to bring the audience in and push them away at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brosnan/dark-comedy-is-very-difficult-you-have-to-bring-the-audience-in-and/) [Pierce Brosnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brosnan/) > [“Extinguish even the wee annoyance, as it will grow to become evil!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bussa/extinguish-even-the-wee-annoyance-as-it-will-grow-to-become-evil/) Michael Bussa > [I'm not at all funny. I can do dark comedy pretty well, but straight-up comedy, I don't know. I'm much darker. I've been like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rooney-mara/i-m-not-at-all-funny-i-can-do-dark-comedy-pretty-well-but-straight-up/) [Rooney Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rooney-mara/) > [ “\[On Dr. Strangelove \]: My idea of doing it as a nightmare comedy came in the early weeks of working on the screenplay. \[...\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-kubrick/on-dr-strangelove-my-idea-of-doing-it-as-a-nightmare-comedy-came-in/) [Stanley Kubrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-kubrick/) > [Whenever you're making a dark comedy, you're always looking for the yin and yang in an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-babbit/whenever-you-re-making-a-dark-comedy-you-re-always-looking-for-the/) [Jamie Babbit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-babbit/) > [ “...loading your brain with subliminal messages… How loathsome to turn a sadistic murder into entertainment \[in the newspaper\] -- and yet how hard not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gaitskill/loading-your-brain-with-subliminal-messages-how-loathsome-to-turn-a/) [Mary Gaitskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gaitskill/) > [Some playwrights are obvious influences on younger writers. Arthur Miller (realistic, politically engaged dramas) and Christopher Durang (satirical dark comedies) are examples. But August…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-j-sullivan/some-playwrights-are-obvious-influences-on-younger-writers-arthur/) Daniel J. Sullivan > [I'm comfortable with dark comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-dillon/i-m-comfortable-with-dark-comedy/) [Tim Dillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-dillon/) > [People hit the sauce in a big way all winter. Amidst blizzards they wrestle unsuccessfully with the dark comedy of their lives, laughter trapped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-gerstler/people-hit-the-sauce-in-a-big-way-all-winter-amidst-blizzards-they/) [Amy Gerstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-gerstler/) > [Heavy role in the movies that I've done that I have loved and fit my soul; A Simple Plan, Monster's Ball, Sling Blade, One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/heavy-role-in-the-movies-that-i-ve-done-that-i-have-loved-and-fit-my/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) ## More by Dave Itzkoff > [How would Jonathan Lethem have obtained such a stellar endorsement for 'The Fortress of Solitude' from Michael Chabon, if not for the years they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-itzkoff/how-would-jonathan-lethem-have-obtained-such-a-stellar-endorsement/) [Dave Itzkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-itzkoff/) > [Fake buckteeth make a joke that you don't have to make any effort on, even if you're not a funny person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-itzkoff/fake-buckteeth-make-a-joke-that-you-don-t-have-to-make-any-effort-on/) [Dave Itzkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-itzkoff/) > [Are you ready to have your mind blown? Sometimes Ron Howard uses swear words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-itzkoff/are-you-ready-to-have-your-mind-blown-sometimes-ron-howard-uses-swear/) [Dave Itzkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-itzkoff/) > [When you write a roman a clef, there is a tendency on the part of the reader to wonder how much of this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-itzkoff/when-you-write-a-roman-a-clef-there-is-a-tendency-on-the-part-of-the/) [Dave Itzkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-itzkoff/) > [“I believe that each of us is entitled to one entire day that affects us so completely,it immediately reorders the narrative of our lives,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-itzkoff/i-believe-that-each-of-us-is-entitled-to-one-entire-day-that-affects/) [Dave Itzkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-itzkoff/) > [It's a slippery slope when you make the argument that hip hop is only a black person's art. Certainly, its origins are in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-itzkoff/it-s-a-slippery-slope-when-you-make-the-argument-that-hip-hop-is-only/) [Dave Itzkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-itzkoff/) > [Where would heist movies be without the Big Score - that payoff so irresistible it can lure the most jaded desperado out of hiding?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-itzkoff/where-would-heist-movies-be-without-the-big-score-that-payoff-so/) [Dave Itzkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-itzkoff/) > [I will say I highly recommend, if you want to write a book also, have a child in the midst of that process because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-itzkoff/i-will-say-i-highly-recommend-if-you-want-to-write-a-book-also-have-a/) [Dave Itzkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-itzkoff/) > [There's always going to be the market for people who are known to have led wild and crazy lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-itzkoff/there-s-always-going-to-be-the-market-for-people-who-are-known-to/) [Dave Itzkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-itzkoff/) > [As an ardent supporter of the Nietzschean conception of the eternal recurrence, I firmly believe that one cannot validate the totality of a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-itzkoff/as-an-ardent-supporter-of-the-nietzschean-conception-of-the-eternal/) [Dave Itzkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-itzkoff/) > [The problem isn't getting your hands on a press pass - it's acquiring one of those wide-brimmed fedora hats in which to keep your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-itzkoff/the-problem-isn-t-getting-your-hands-on-a-press-pass-it-s-acquiring/) [Dave Itzkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-itzkoff/) > [The 'Star Wars' films are known for their exotic aliens, sophisticated robots, sleek technology, and planet-sized battle stations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-itzkoff/the-star-wars-films-are-known-for-their-exotic-aliens-sophisticated/) [Dave Itzkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-itzkoff/) > [To reach a mass audience, you have to offer more than just hostility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-itzkoff/to-reach-a-mass-audience-you-have-to-offer-more-than-just-hostility/) [Dave Itzkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-itzkoff/) > [Everybody's been in harsh relationships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-itzkoff/everybody-s-been-in-harsh-relationships/) [Dave Itzkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-itzkoff/) > [Robin Williams was a cultural hero of mine, and in the encounters and interactions I was able to share with him, he was always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-itzkoff/robin-williams-was-a-cultural-hero-of-mine-and-in-the-encounters-and/) [Dave Itzkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-itzkoff/) [Explore all 23 Dave Itzkoff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-itzkoff/) ## More Dad quotes > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [As a family, we all loved the Flyers. To me, rooting for the Flyers were how I bonded with my dad especially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-f-goldberg/as-a-family-we-all-loved-the-flyers-to-me-rooting-for-the-flyers-were/) [Adam F. Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-f-goldberg/) > [My greatest memories as a kid were playing sports with my dad and watching sports with my dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-teixeira/my-greatest-memories-as-a-kid-were-playing-sports-with-my-dad-and/) [Mark Teixeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-teixeira/) > [Here I am, 11 years old, and these grown men have to give it everything they have to beat me. In one part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/here-i-am-11-years-old-and-these-grown-men-have-to-give-it-everything/) [Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/) > [I always remember what my dad told me when I decided to turn into an actor. He was emphatic that whatever I do, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karthi/i-always-remember-what-my-dad-told-me-when-i-decided-to-turn-into-an/) [Karthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karthi/) > [My mom and dad had the relationship that I want, and they were teammates. They were always equal 50/50.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-kufrin/my-mom-and-dad-had-the-relationship-that-i-want-and-they-were/) [Becca Kufrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-kufrin/) > [The child who ran weeping to you with a cut finger is now brought home, smiling gamely, with a broken collarbone and incredible contusions-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-brown/the-child-who-ran-weeping-to-you-with-a-cut-finger-is-now-brought/) [Pam Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-brown/) > [My father was the role model I looked up. My dad was an entertainer, too. I patterned my life after him. He wanted me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/my-father-was-the-role-model-i-looked-up-my-dad-was-an-entertainer/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/) [Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/) > [I saw this anti-drug commercial that showed a kid smoking pot in his dad's room with his friend. This kid finds a gun, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-saw-this-anti-drug-commercial-that-showed-a-kid-smoking-pot-in-his/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [It's something he used to say when he was happy. It could be a very, very simple day. We might be sitting out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-grant/it-s-something-he-used-to-say-when-he-was-happy-it-could-be-a-very/) [Jennifer Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-grant/) > [I talk to my dad all the time, he's more like my buddy than my father, and he's not happy that I use him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-spade/i-talk-to-my-dad-all-the-time-he-s-more-like-my-buddy-than-my-father/) [David Spade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-spade/) > [This week I realized my dad will make you cry in the store if you make him mad. Also when your crossing the street…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-week-i-realized-my-dad-will-make-you-cry-in-the-store-if-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was just putting way too much pressure on myself. I was just trying to get that validation from my dad. It got so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-griffey-jr/i-was-just-putting-way-too-much-pressure-on-myself-i-was-just-trying/) [Ken Griffey Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-griffey-jr/) > [Some article called me the most feared man in Silicon Valley. Good Lord! Why? My teenage boys got a kick out of it: 'Dad,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-myhrvold/some-article-called-me-the-most-feared-man-in-silicon-valley-good/) [Nathan Myhrvold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-myhrvold/) [Browse all 9,737 Dad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "One of the first times I wrote about Robin Williams for 'The New York Times,' I interviewed him for a feature about 'World's Greatest Dad,' a dark comedy he starred in for his friend, the writer-director Bobcat Goldthwait.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dave Itzkoff" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-itzkoff/one-of-the-first-times-i-wrote-about-robin-williams-for-the-new-york/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dad" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-itzkoff/one-of-the-first-times-i-wrote-about-robin-williams-for-the-new-york/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18d/dave-itzkoff-25437_dad_one-of-the-first-times-i-wrote-about-rob_1895660.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18d/dave-itzkoff-25437_dad_one-of-the-first-times-i-wrote-about-rob_1895660.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18d/dave-itzkoff-25437_dad_one-of-the-first-times-i-wrote-about-rob_1895660.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“One of the first times I wrote about Robin Williams for 'The New York Times,' I interviewed him for a…” — Dave Itzkoff", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Dave Itzkoff", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-itzkoff/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "One of the first times I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-itzkoff/one-of-the-first-times-i-wrote-about-robin-williams-for-the-new-york/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-itzkoff/one-of-the-first-times-i-wrote-about-robin-williams-for-the-new-york/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```