Television Archive: Parkinson Stephen Fry and Robin Williams 2002 

Robin *was* interviewed on his own before Stephen joined the show. You can find the link to that video (posted by another RU-vidr) in the description ("About") above. Well worth a watch.

Most people forget that Robin was classically trained. Here he shows that he knew Shakespeare so well he could take parts from his plays - and keeping his words in a similar vocal cadence, tell his own story. Unbelievably brilliant mind. And next to him the unbelievably brilliant mind of Stephen Fry. What a treat this was!

"You are mad but you're right" that has to be the most accurate description of Robin Williams lmao

Who else is here after the death of Parkinson? Three legends in one video, brilliant. It's beyond sad that two are now gone. RIP Robin Williams & Michael Parkinson.

The moments when Robin throws his head back in laughter never fails to brighten my mood.

In essence this is Fry and Williams playing tennis, and loving every minute of it.

Yesterday a RU-vid user posted a hateful comment under this video. That user continued to post replies with the sole aim of riling other viewers. I have deleted the original comment and replies, and banned that user from this channel. I don't understand the psychological make-up of people whose first reaction to an event is "I must go on an Internet site and write something unpleasant about this. If I upset people, that will simply vindicate my attitude, for I am the world's most clear-sighted individual and anybody who disagrees with me is wrong. La la la." Usually I ignore the negative messages, feeling that there is little point in engaging with strangers who post in order to cause a reaction. These people cannot be reasoned with, and there are a lot of them. It's not a new phenomenon, of course - I've seen it going on for the 20+ years I've been on the Internet - but there do seem to be more people now who believe they are *entitled* to act in this bullying manner. I would rather not see that activity on this channel.

Do you ever wish some interviews wouldn't end? This was brilliant! Three men I admire greatly on absolute top form.

I've seen this clip probably 20 times. It's not only funny, but also a staggering display of not one, but TWO great minds and comics riffing off of one another. The timing is just perfect all the way. Stunning. Robin is so missed.

RIP Sir Michael Parkinson (March 28, 1935 - August 16, 2023), aged 88 And RIP Robin Williams (July 21, 1951 - August 11, 2014), aged 63 You both will be remembered as legends.

Could not imagine a more distinct interview pairing! I love the way Fry absorbed Robin's jokes and interruptions and the way Robin controlled himself in certain moments to allow Fry to complete his point. Robin was unique. Fry is too.

Fry entirely understood what kind of phenomenon and animal Williams was. He appreciated it and moderated both himself and Williams as a schoolteacher might a gifted, but disruptive student. A wonderful union.

I was surprised that some viewers thought there was some discontent between Fry and Robin. Growing up with British and American humour I can tell you there was a perfect harmony between the two men. It would be interesting to see if any, Robin’s first appearance on a British show.

I watched this in a hotel room, when was madly jet lagged with my mum. Cried with laughing and had a new found appreciation for Williams comic genius.

One thing I love about Robin Williams. He can be manic as all hell, you watch his interview with Craig Ferguson, and he never stops. But for significant periods of time he sits there listening intently to Stephen. The man had a switch, I swear.

What joy I feel to see 2 men who capture the world of comedy, drama, pathos and wonder. I am blessed to see them together.

The genius of Robin, the politeness of Steven …. What a pair of beautiful souls 👌

Having seen Stephen's heartfelt comments on Robin's passing, I find 'it's so nice to be the quiet one' brings tears to my eyes. Stephen's own mental health struggles were rarely (rightly) seen onscreen, and the different struggles Robin had played out even more in public. I find this a joyous, jazzesque riffing of tessellating styles, enhanced by Parkinson's unfettered relish of his ringside seat.

So profound... "Bears spend 100% of the time being bears. Tree frogs spend all their time being tree frogs. We as humans spend all our time trying to be someone else" Stephen Fry

The level of wit in this interview in incomprehensible 😂😂😂 Fry's hardcore satire met with William's full blast sarcasm is the recipe for humor nuclear 👌 Rest peacefully Mr Williams, and age gracefully Mr Fry ❤❤❤

I am SO GLAD I accidentally clicked on this video! Robin Williams AND Stephen Fry! Wicked awesome!

The master of British television interviewers Parkinson quietly allows his comic genius guests to interact at a mind boggling furiously funny pace. The rest of us mortals are only left to wonder and enjoy the intellectual wit and comedy sarcasm of these two off the wall brilliant artists.Hilarious and moving.

This is the first time I've ever seen Stephen Fry not just matched intellectually, but actually struggle to keep up with someone else - what a legend Robin Williams was.

When Robin goes off into one of his Shakespearean soliloquies it's so perfect that people don't believe it's not scripted. I saw him do it on Charlie Rose (for a full five minutes) and it was simply incredible. The funniest man in history and a tragic loss for us all

The moment that this popped up as a suggestion to watch I knew it would be worth it. Both have/had the ability to completely dominate interview shows, which have always made them absolutely enjoyable.

I think it's quite good. Stephen tolerates Robin's interjections, but by the same token, Robin shuts up when Stephen is making an important point. It seems fairly balanced to me...

I found this tonight, my heart is sated with the sort of conversation made of dreams, being able to spend part of my evening with Stephen Fry and Robin Williams...a moment I never knew existed. Thank you for archiving this, it gives me great joy.

Urghh Robbin Williams just would not shut up through this entire interview. A fact that I am eternally grateful for.

A lot of mutual respect going on here between two seasoned experienced professionals who we should both celebrate as leaders of their respective fields. It's Fry's spot but he is celebrating William's interjections and earning his space back because of the permission he is affording. This is a comedy masterclass!

I admire Stephen Fry's slim chances to having a proper interview, he was so creative in complimenting Robin Williams, while trying to get back to his work..... so good to watch now. Thanks for uploading.

The wonderful thing about this pairing, is that Fry, as an educated man, could appreciate Williams mangling Shakespeare and see the genius in him.

What a perfect moment in the universe, to have these two taking part in the same conversation. :-)

Stephen Fry and Robin Williams both demonstrate an incredibly high level of sensitivity and creativity. They are giants in intellect and humor, and humanity. Robin Williams will always be remembered with love and reverence.

20 years on....who's wochin this ? genius by them ...and it comes naturally to them ...how lucky we are to have these gems in our lifetime

Stephen Fry and Robin Williams are two incredibly witty, talented gentleman who share the bipolar diagnosis. Watching this, it becomes even more obvious how complex this disorder is, and perhaps why people without it struggle to comprehend why the cure for depression isn't just to "cheer up" or "think positive", or the cure for mania isn't just to "settle down" or "get off the drugs" or "shut up". There's no one-size-fits-all 'easy' cure because the illness affects its targets so differently, at different times and in different ways. In 2006, Stephen Fry made a documentary in conjunction with the BBC called 'The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive' - highly recommended viewing, particularly for many in the comments who don't seem to grasp (or care) how serious this diagnosis is or just how little our brains are understood. Learn and grow. Rest in Peace, Robin Williams.

Obsessed with Robin... He NEVER disappoints and ALWAYS gets everyone in tears of laughter that is anywhere around him. RIP I LOVE YOU.

You know you will have a huge mountain to climb when you are going to try and pitch your book ,film etc and you have the Majestic Mr Williams beside you on the same gig ........The balance of humour between Stephen Fry And Robin Williams was fantastic!

Saddened by our loss of Robin today. But so happy that this wonderful interview with him and the amazing Stephen Fry is available for us to enjoy! .

How robin was able to turn pretty much anything into Shakespeare is amazing to me

Here's how generous a human being Stephen Fry is: He is a trained improvisationist, and used to be on the original "Whose Line is it Anyway?" series...and never once does he bring it up, instead giving Robin all the credit and publicly lauding his skills. Such a class act.

There is simply no-one that can take Robin's place. A comedian like no other. We all miss him, 7 years later.

The script writers in Mork & Mindy use to leave blank spaces because they knew Robin would just take it from the top of his head better than anything they could write. That was the level he performed at. Genius.

You've got to admire both Stephen's and Robin's restraint. Robin for letting such a high percentage of the millions of jokes per second he knows he can absolutely kill with slide, and Stephen for being interrupted twice a minute.

Stephen Fry can make the most boring subject interesting.. Robin Williams can make the dryest subject funny.. And theyre both sitting there together!e

Fry with his dry humour and Williams with his outrageous humour just brilliant.

how did he possibly come up with the classical porn bit?! how can any human possibly think that quickly, that wittily, and with such energy and passion!? he truly was a great talent, and will be sorely sorely missed....

I think they genuinely respect one another and they play off each other well in this interview. They have quite a similar background, both having/had mental problems (Fry, bipolar/Williams, I presume, depression), cocaine addiction and being/was highly intelligent. What some interpret as Fry's condescending demeanour towards Williams,I think is his dry humour which I believe Williams appreciated. They both come off as very kind people. The interview was really enjoyable to watch and I cannot understand all the comments bashing either Fry or Williams.

RIP Robin. You are still missed today.😖😖

You're right...You're mad but you're right.

Steven making Robin laugh warms my heart

Robin, you gave us laugh and make us cry. What a beautiful upload. Thank you .

Wow, amazing amount of talent and personality and hard work on here. Love how animated Stephen is and how much Robin is listening. Fantastic together

Robin Williams is the only person who makes me literally laugh out loud, holding back the tears right now.

Williams was in fact, shockingly intelligent. Even in this interview with an intellectual giant such as My Fry - it is quite apparent.

Those two are absolutely adorable together.

Robin Williams was a brilliant comedian no matter where he played or in which medium he was working. I remember when "Good Morning Vietnam" was in the theatre. I went to see it four times... and when it came on VHS, I bought that and watched it again and again. Every time I watched, I heard new jokes... the ones I'd missed because I was laughing so hard at the previous ones. I don't know if I ever heard them all. Stephen Fry is as brilliant of a comedian and actor... although he isn't as fast at making jokes on the spot. In this interview you can see the respect and enjoyment that these two great men have for each other.

This was pretty hilarious. British humor is simply so distinct, and to see these two men entertain us while ribbing each other with respectful comedy, is really nice to see. I enjoyed this interview

Stephen Fry tweeted two days ago that Robin Williams "was a prince" during an interview he had forgotten this past week. I think that puts all of this silliness to bed. If you notice early in the interview, Fry wanted to engage Williams. It's subtle, but Fry lit the fire. Fry engaged Williams into the conversation, so all of you people who thought Williams was self-absorbed either had an agenda, or don't understand human behavior.

I cried....with laughter throughout. Just beautiful seeing these two comedic greats side-by-side

I watch this and think of Robin Williams suicide and Stephen Fry’s admission that he had contemplated suicide on more than one occasion. Both of these men are wonderful, intelligent, charming and delight audiences. Both have made millions laugh and brought us joy. Robin Williams suicide was tragic and his loss to show business is still palpable years later. I just wish they could both be as happy as the joy they bring others. Both of these men are very simply comedy geniuses and masters of quick thinking. RIP Robin Williams and Stephen Fry, you are so loved and admired, I just hope you know that.

Even the phenomenally witty Stephen Fry could not keep up with Robin’s high-octane improv, but Stephen was too much of a gentleman to even mind.

Is just amazing to see Stephen being amazed with Robin's geniality because he is a genius himself

Simply brilliant to throw these two great characters together.

I love interactions like these because their personalities are so different and yet they still know how to keep it real.

The three most talented men of great humanity of our era. Pure JOY.

There are very few people that I would associate with the term 'genius'. But I really have to say, Mr.Robin Williams in my humble opinion truly and fully encompasses that definition. RIP Robin.

I wish all my lessons as a child had been taught by these two! Stephen captivating you in wonderment and Robin making the knowledge stick by making you howl!

In a way they make an incredible double act Robin rifting and Steven feeding back on the rifts with his amazing observations and putting them into context. Neither is overwhelmed by the other both incredible respect, and at the some time not frightened to tell it as it is. LOVE IT!!

This was fab, Fry says ‘Take a line for a walk ‘ & Robin swaps it for ‘taking a joke for a walk, & adds ‘Abuse it & then bring it home’, right there sums up Robins wit & reason sharp mind in a millisecond, love & miss this incredible human being so much, I for one will always keep watching his material!

This is a fantastic interview :) Love it. Stephen Fry & Robin Williams (RIP) 2 of my favourite comedians ever!

Fry & Williams, two of the snappiest wits to ever embrace the English language from two countries separated by a common language, had some other similarities; problems with impulse control and bouts of severe depression. It's a bitter irony that Parkinson's namesake here could be referenced as the last straw for Robin, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, a tragic added burden that may have been too much for him. We the audience, could enjoy their brilliantly entertaining, spontaneous, rapid-fire banter without paying the price as they did for their 'mad genius'.

Two intellectual and very funny gentleman bringing enjoyment 20 years later! Thank you

I can't help thinking, watching this, that if Stephen could somehow have known what would eventually happen in that wonderful man next to him's head at the end of his life, that Stephen would have done what so many of us would now want to do and given Robin a proper hug - sort of on behalf of the world. You can see now with the benefit of hindsight the star burning just too bright. Stephen is very rightly described as a national treasure. Robin was a world treasure, a meteor arcing across the heavens, brief but so special.

Fantastic. I remember watching this on television when it was aired and laughed all evening. He just was such a natural entertainer and making it look so easy as well.

This is pure gold! Thank you!

I’m only 2minutes in but browsed comments first. My first impression is how well mannered they ALL are, compared to other, newer, usually American, interviews/talk shows. Usually each guest just monopolises the show until their time is up, but both Robin and Stephen are more like (well mannered) actual guests. They are including each other, almost deferring, as they speak. Edit, at the end. First impressions didn’t lie. The show continued like that. Stephen, I think, was one of the few who could hold his own*,against Robin, without appearing desperate to get attention returned to him . Two *very* intelligent, quick witted people, prepared to share a stage equally. This was a real treat, thank you, dear Uploader, and compliments on choosing that name, but its not quite apt, nothing is ever erased on the internet, is it? I’d love to know the story there. {*”hold his own” as someone who loves words and wordplays, and has a questionable sense of humour, I can’t believe I’ve never, until now, thought how,....umm,...lwell, let’s say odd, that phrase is? }

Brilliant to see this again. Genius. Thanks for uploading!

Great chemistry between all three in this interview

Thank you very much for the upload. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I watch these interviews all the time. The greatest pair of interviews ever broadcast.

I love both of these men, for their differences as well as the comic genius. I miss Robin’s outlook on life, as his brilliance. Glad Stephen is still with us.

What stands out for me is that the studious and respected Stephen Fry has a genuine respect for the natural intellect he comments on when referring to the comparison between a Cambridge professor and Robin Williams. Where a lot of commentors here miss the mark is that Stephen never suffers clowns but always holds great intellect in high regard.

"I must say you are worth every penny of that 80 million that EMI are paying you for ... ". Priceless !

@21:21 Stephen Fry cannot believe what he has just witnessed, and is laughing so hard! Making another comedian laugh is not an easy thing to do, but Robin could make ANYBODY laugh! He was so gifted. We miss him very much.

Massive fan of both these guys. Great interview. RIP Robin Williams.

Robin Williams was such a comic genius...

2 of my all time favourites, both very different but both gifted in their ability to entertain, enthrall and captivate.

How absolutely marvellous!! 😂 Being the dinosaur I am, I remember watching this on the telly back in the day - it’s still bloody funny now! 🤣

these two together...pure gold.

Watching in 2020 during lockdown. I really miss Robin, I never met him but he filled me with so much joy.

Thoroughly enjoying this and nearly made it all the way through before remembering that Robin is no longer with us. His hyper kinetic energy and contagious joy makes it difficult to imagine him as being dead.

Wonderful improvised moments. These guys are the best!

as a Peruvian im proud to hear about my country in so kindly way ... come to Perú ... you find every thing you want to do, see, eat ...

It is remarkable that someone other than Jonathan Winter can actually stand up to Robin Williams on an interview show. It puts Stephen Fry in very rare company.

This is probably one of my favourite video on the internet. Whenever I am sad, depressed or just lost, I come here to watch genius at work and laugh my ass off. Hats off to you gentlemen. RIP Robin.

These guy flow together so well with wit and mutual respect...even with the different "tone" of British TV - they understand where each of them stand and where they're going - makes it a joy to watch.

What a beautiful interview!! Just stand back Mr Parkinson.. let two Giants of style and class and intelligence do what they do! It's rare for Robin Williams to be so quiet. That's showing his Respect for Sir!! Stephen Fry..Mr Williams has not left us!! He's still making me laugh and to say I respect him is an understatement.... A part from that everybody enjoy Class and Style.

Oh Robin. You break my heart. One of a kind, thanks for the joy.

It's a strange experience watching videos of Robin Williams these last four years. I absolutely adore watching this man work his magic, and exhibit his amazing gifts to the world. Yet it breaks my heart every time to think that we shall never something new from him again. What a tragic loss he was, RIP sir.

So glad that I stumbled upon this Master Class ---Two of the greatest minds and in a class by themselves.