The death of comedian, actor, and legend Robin Williams in 2014 still feels raw for many of his fans today. Williams had an irreplaceable presence and warmth that touched so many of those who enjoyed his work. His death was a devastating loss that probably won’t ever heal. However, one actor managed to capture Williams in a short video depicting a scene from Robin’s actual life. Viewers are clamoring for him to depict Williams in a biopic.
“ROBIN Test Footage Scene”
Jamie Costa is an actor and impersonater. Not only is his Robin Williams impersonation spot on, but he also carries a strong resemblance to him. In this five-minute clip, titled “ROBIN Test Footage Scene,” Costa plays Williams on the set of Mork and Mindy. Co-actor Sarah Murphree plays opposite him as Pam Dawber. The scene is simple: Williams is practicing lines when Dawber interrupts him to break the news of comedian John Belushi’s death. [1]
Not only is the depiction of Robin Williams impeccable, but Costa also carries the clip in more than a good impersonation. For a moment, you can forget that he is not really Robin Williams and feel the emotions of a man reacting to a friend’s death.
While many people marveled at the “ROBIN” clip, some fans took it a little too far by sending it to Zelda Williams, Robin’s daughter. She acknowledged it on Twitter, asking people to stop sending it to her.
Jamie Costa finally commented on the popularity of the video in the community tab of his Youtube channel. He revealed the video was actually leaked. “Hello everyone. The recent ‘Robin test scene’ was meant for internal use only and to be reviewed at a more appropriate and private time by those who were close. After being informed of its leak I attempted to get ahead of it and upload it here so as to be an honest source of its existence. Please be respectful of the family during this time.” [4]
“ROBIN Test Footage Scene” has over 4.5 million views as of yet. On Jamie Costa’s Youtube channel, he has also posted two high production Star Wars fan films: 2016’s “Han Solo: A Smuggler’s Trade” and 2019’s “KENOBI”. Costa starred in the titular role in each one.
Read: “The Saddest People Always Try Their Hardest to Make People Happy.” 15 Lessons From Robin Williams
The Story Behind the Robin Williams Test Footage Scene
John Belushi passed away on March 5, 1982, from an accidental drug overdose. Williams was with Belushi the night he died. They were partying with Robert De Niro, but Williams left to perform at The Comedy Store. Afterward, he came to the club to find it closed. So Williams drove to Belushi’s suite at the Chateau Marmont where he found De Niro and Belushi both inebriated. De Niro left soon after. They were joined by Cathy Smith, a singer, and drug dealer. The suite was disheveled and covered with empty wine bottles. Despite his state, Belushi played guitar.
That morning, Robin arrived late to set and a little bleary. He recounted the previous night to Dawber. “‘He could hardly stand up, and yet he could play the guitar to perfection,’ — that’s what he was saying,” Dawber said. “There was some girl there and John was just so stoned. That’s what Robin told me about that, and I went, ‘Wow. Okay.’” [2]
At lunch, the news of Belushi’s death came and the producers asked Dawber to tell Williams. “They said, ‘Will you tell Robin?’” she recalled. “I said, ‘Oh, God, Robin was with him last night.’ And they said they knew. I don’t know how they knew.”
And when she was walking with Robin back from the Paramount commissary, she told him. “I said, ‘I’ve got something really terrible to tell you, Robin. He went, ‘What? What?’ And I said that John Belushi was found dead last night.”
Robin went into denial at first. “He went, ‘What? I was with him last night! I was with him last night!’” Dawber said. Knowing about Williams’ drug use, she added, “If that ever happens to you, I will find you and kill you first.’” And he said, “Dawbs, that’s never gonna happen to me.” [3]
These words became part of the script in Jamie Costa’s viral video. In real life, Robin Williams’ got clean after that. “Here’s this guy who’s a beast, who could do anything, and he’s gone,” Williams said. “That sobered the sh*t out of me.”
You can watch the scene here:
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Sources
- “Robin Williams impression by actor Jamie Costa stuns fans and sparks calls for a movie deal.” ABC News. October 14, 2021
- “The Story of Robin Williams’s Last Night With John Belushi.” Vulture. Dave Itzkoff. May 15, 2018
- “After John Belushi’s Death: ‘Cocaine for Me Was a Place to Hide’.” People. Dave Quinn. July 17, 2018
- YouTube. Jamie Costa October 14, 2021
