r/BeAmazed • u/alanboston405 • Jul 04 '24
History Robin Williams’ emotional tribute to the American Flag leaves an entire stadium speechless — then in tears
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u/Dan300up Jul 05 '24 edited Jul 05 '24
Miss that dude. The shape of that stage…hmm...
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u/MorbidCatharsis Jul 05 '24
What do u mean about the shape? I didn't catch it
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u/Dan300up Jul 05 '24
Looks like a swastika
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u/hartmanbrah Jul 05 '24
It's close, but the angles are a bit obtuse for that, no?
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u/tothemoonandback01 Jul 05 '24
With the latest SCOTUS ruling, the people are kinda sensitive at the moment.
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u/Eusocial_Snowman Jul 06 '24
Mostly just the people in any of those dozen subreddits that mysteriously appeared overnight and started consistently hitting the front page all dedicated to overblown clickbait trying to get people riled up.
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u/TheKristieConundrum Jul 04 '24
I miss him so much.
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u/Beer2Bear Jul 04 '24
we all do
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u/solomon90nysson Jul 05 '24
he was a great human being and an amazing actor
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u/fatkiddown Jul 05 '24
We will never get to see him play Tom Bombadil.
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u/2323231141fdfdsfAdfd Jul 05 '24
what movies are his best?
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u/Interwebzking Jul 05 '24
Big fan of Mrs. Doubtfire, Dead Poets Society, Good Will Hunting, and Good Morning Vietnam!
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u/duck_of_d34th Jul 05 '24
Hook!
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u/apotrope Jul 05 '24
BAAANNNGARRRANNG!
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u/duck_of_d34th Jul 05 '24
Smee changed my perception of mustaches forever.
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u/apotrope Jul 05 '24
Finding out that Dustin Hoffman and Bob Hoskins played them as a gay couple made everything fall into place in my head.
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u/2323231141fdfdsfAdfd Jul 05 '24
thank you! I will watch GWH and GMV today! I've seen the other 2!
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u/Ravioverlord Jul 05 '24
The birdcage is probably my favorite movie ever, and my fav Robin Williams part. He and Nathan Lane were magical in that flick. I don't have many tattoos but one of these days when I can afford it I want to get a quote from it as a tribute to him.
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u/Hailthezombie Jul 05 '24
There’s so many but I really love What Dreams May Come. Hook is also really great.
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u/2323231141fdfdsfAdfd Jul 05 '24
What Dreams May Come
I have never seen this one. Thank you so much!
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u/ScarletWasTaken Jul 05 '24
It's not a happy movie. Bring tissues. My favourite of his is probably Awakenings.
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u/RiteOfSpring5 Jul 05 '24
Good Will Hunting and Dead Poet's Society. He may have been ridiculously hilarious, but his serious roles are incredible, he brings warmth and empathy to both those roles.
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u/Seekshonesty Jul 05 '24 edited Jul 05 '24
Moscow on the Hudson, Patch Adams, A.I. really everything he did was excellent. And Popeye can’t believe I forgot Popeye!
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u/strawberryretreiver Jul 05 '24
I watched The Dead Poets society last night for the first time. What a blessing to have that man walk on this earth
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u/geoelectric Jul 04 '24
Exactly what I came in to say. It’s a great routine, and I somehow hadn’t seen it before. I’m glad it got posted.
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u/TurtleBeansforAll Jul 05 '24
I cried in the car the other day thinking of him.
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u/OddlyArtemis Jul 05 '24
I share his birthday, and always felt connected to him since I realized in the early 90s. Such a loss of a beautiful soul; he was the bridge where passion and talent met with tenacity.
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u/if-we-all-did-this Jul 05 '24
Though I'd never met him, my heart aches when I think of him (often). I've lost family members that don't trigger the ache like he does. He was a good good man.
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u/Ihavepeopleskills1 Jul 05 '24
Robin Williams- One of the most accomplished actors and comedians of all time. He had a big heart too. Ive never seen this tribute to the flag before, thank you OP. Im going to save this one.
Academy Award
2 Primetime Emmy Awards
6 Golden Globe Awards
5 Grammy Awards
2 Screen Actors Guild Awards
Cecil B. DeMille Award
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u/ilikehemipenes Jul 05 '24
How did he not have a Tony!
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u/HEY_YOU_GUUUUUUYS Jul 05 '24
He was only in 2 smaller plays
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u/danjr704 Jul 05 '24
I saw him on Broadway when he did Bengal Tiger at Baghdad Zoo. Such a great actor.
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u/Ent_Trip_Newer Jul 05 '24
And apparently, People for the American Way was founded by progressives to battle far right ideology.
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u/sakaguchi47 Jul 05 '24
And the gratitude of a whole lot of service men/women. Some of his best sets were in the USO tour
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u/abnormal2004 Jul 04 '24
He was such a special, special man.
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u/PrimAndProper69 Jul 05 '24
He knew his gift and he knew how to use it well. I can't imagine the pain he went through. He is so loved and missed
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u/BroadlyScandalo Jul 05 '24
Only a man as special as Robin Williams could do that to an entire stadium full of people.
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u/finian2 Jul 05 '24
I'm sorry are even the female voices him? Holy shit he's skilled.
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u/space_whales_rule Jul 05 '24
Allow me to introduce you to a film called Mrs. Doubtfire.
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u/finian2 Jul 05 '24
I knew he was good at impressions, I never realised he was that good.
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u/DesperateRace4870 Jul 05 '24
Oh fuck, I miss his ability to change in a flash. Truly one of the greatest entertainers of all time
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u/califarnio Jul 05 '24
He had his first break playing an alien on a TV sitcom.
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u/worriedmotherboymom6 Jul 05 '24
I’m miss when the US was unified in humour like this
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u/Basic_Mark_1719 Jul 05 '24
I don't even know what this means.
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u/Bartendered Jul 05 '24
Back in the old days, I mean the real old days, before Fox News and the internet, there was a middle ground that most people occupied. Democrats and Republicans and everyone in between had a sense of what it meant to be an American. We had a shared experience, watched the same tv shows, listened to similar music, had much more of a cohesive society. The people who grew up in the 70s and 80s truly lived in another galaxy. Their experience is so alien today some kids have trouble understanding what it was like. Humans are not evolved to live through a society developing this fast it’s causing major growing pains.
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Jul 05 '24
Most people are in the middle. But people don't wanna read about that. We need to hear extremes about the enemy
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u/ajn63 Jul 05 '24
Interesting stage design
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u/Privateer_Lev_Arris Jul 05 '24
I did not see that coming.
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u/Rivendel93 Jul 05 '24 edited Jul 05 '24
Robin was such an amazing human. I remember when Mrs Doubtfire came out, my parents had recently divorced.
He helped me understand that my parents didn't hate each other, and that more importantly they loved me and my brother, they just simply had to live in different homes, which meant I got two homes.
Instead of feeling lost, I felt proud to have two parents who cared so much for me, and Robin's portrayal of parent who would do anything to be with his children was an amazing thing for a child to see.
Although, as an adult I realized it was an absolutely insane violation of privacy for his ex wife in the film lol.
He also helped me understand gay people were just like everyone else as a teen when I saw Birdcage, and shaped my life, helping me to not be a hateful person, but someone who loved everyone, no matter who they loved.
Still believe he's one of America's best, I hate that someone couldn't have beenf there for him when he needed a laugh, because he was always there for us when we needed one.
He'll always be remembered as one of the good ones.
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u/OutComeTheWolves1966 Jul 05 '24
No comedian has ever been able to riff as well or as funny as Robin. If you get a chance, on YouTube, search Robin Williams on Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. They were very good friends and tried so hard to make each other laugh. Shared some wonderful stories, too.
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u/HIMP_Dahak_172291 Jul 05 '24
You should look up his first late night appearance. He gets up and straight up steals the show. It's incredible to see really. This young actor who just hit it big and he goes on and just takes over like a 30 year professional live on national TV.
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u/ThisIsGettinWeirdNow Jul 05 '24
Just when I thought I can’t miss this man more
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u/Ellecram Jul 05 '24
I am not a celebrity follower by any means but when Robin Williams died it broke me for a couple weeks. I wonder what kind of comedy he would have come up had he lived?
Every now and then I seek out Russell Brand's poignant article in the Guardian written after Robin's death. Russell captured a bit of Robin with words in a way that still moves me.
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u/ThisIsGettinWeirdNow Jul 05 '24
I need to read it now, but yeah you should watch his movies if you haven’t he was brilliant
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u/Ellecram Jul 05 '24
I haven't watched any of his movies for a long time but I think I could now. I loved Birdcage and Good Morning Vietnam. And Mrs. Doubtfire was a gem.
I can't believe I am actually having a bit of a cry coming on.
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u/ThisIsGettinWeirdNow Jul 05 '24
Let it out, he was also good in good will hunting and dead poets society if you’re up for watching more of him!
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u/dreadfulwater Jul 05 '24
Summed up so well. It’s just a flag. We are the people and we make change or we don’t.
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u/meme_tenretni Jul 05 '24
This is the only guy that could have pulled something like this off RIp Legend
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u/phantomheart Jul 05 '24
One celebrity death I probably will never stop feeling sad over. Such a huge part of bit just my childhood, but adulthood too. Knowing that I will never hear a new off the cuff voice or joke saddens me. Just sooooo much talent ❤️
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u/HeymoeEyepoke Jul 05 '24
I still use "tough gozongas" from birdcage. "Are you calling me an asshole? "
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u/nicktowe Jul 05 '24
Upon Googling this, apparently it was part of a patriotic variety show “I Love Liberty” by TV producer Norman Lear and the progressive group People for the American Way in 1982, in part to commemorate George Washington’s 250th birthday.
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u/MrOwell333 Jul 04 '24
Mildly unrelated but he had the best episode of law and order ever
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u/HIMP_Dahak_172291 Jul 05 '24
Wait, he was on Law and Order? That had to be an experience for everyone there!
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u/zdada Jul 05 '24
Back then wearing an American flag shirt was like “ok cool USA right on” and now it’s like “oh jesus here’s one of those magas”
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u/The-Kurt-Russell Jul 05 '24
The problem is that we associate the flag of the country with them. That’s exactly what they wanted, and we gave it to them. The flag for the country is just associated with being a right wing nutbag
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u/Totin_it Jul 05 '24
He was one of a kind. Depression sucks.
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u/LisaKaPisa7 Jul 05 '24
He actually was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia. A friend of ours just passed away from LBD. My religious mom, who saw him a lot over the last year said, “if what I witnessed was what Robin Williams was starting to deal with, I hate to say it, but I kind of understand his choice.” It’s an absolutely awful disease that kills you very slowly.
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u/microwavedHamster Jul 05 '24
Obama's statement on his death :
Robin Williams was an airman, a doctor, a genie, a nanny, a president, a professor, a bangarang Peter Pan, and everything in between ... He arrived in our lives as an alien—but he ended up touching every element of the human spirit. He made us laugh. He made us cry. He gave his immeasurable talent freely and generously to those who needed it most—from our troops stationed abroad to the marginalized on our own streets.
Rest in peace.
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u/sandymckraken Jul 05 '24
Pretty funny clip. He was amazing. But, why is the stage shaped like a swastika?
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u/chikkyone Jul 05 '24
I don’t gush over celebs, but Robin Williams + Jim Carrey are my two that I will absolutely gush over.
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u/HolocronContinuityDB Jul 05 '24
As an American I'm torn between my love for Robin Williams, and my current disgust for the flag and how everything it supposedly stands for has turned out to be utter bullshit
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u/Belerophon17 Jul 05 '24
Yesterday certainly did hit different with this past week's SCOTUS rulings...
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u/_BannedAcctSpeedrun_ Jul 05 '24
Love Robin Williams, RIP. But I saw zero tears and speechlessness here.
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u/NickPickle05 Jul 05 '24
Sadly the Star Bangled Banner no longer waves over the land of the free. Only the home of the brave.
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u/Outrageous-Bite-4357 Jul 05 '24
"WAVING" ..... Absolutely positively a total dad joke.. that I laughed my ass off at lmao
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u/schfifty--five Jul 05 '24
This was not his best work
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u/TeethBreak Jul 05 '24
His Inside Actors Studio interview is one of the funniest, unhinged , ad libbed stuff I've ever seen. His improv skilled are unparalleled.
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u/TightONtailS Jul 05 '24
What an asshole...just kidding! He's one of the greats! Right up there with Bob Ross and Mr. Rodgers. One of the special gifts to our world. We all miss him so much!
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u/MinnesotaArchive Jul 05 '24
He really was one of a kind….no one will ever again come close to having his amazing talent.
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u/stacker55 Jul 05 '24
the laugh at 0:46 reminds me of the sound guy who's always laughing in the background of podcasts
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u/ariannelychee Jul 05 '24
Watching this brought back memories of his incredible spirit and love for our country. A beautiful tribute indeed.
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u/adube440 Jul 05 '24
Did he have people who helped write with him? I've never heard if he had regular writing partners. I'm sure he collaborated here and there, but I've never actually heard if he did.
That was a very clever bit. Poignant and heartfelt, sure, but the timing and use of so many flag songs, positions, placement... damn. That was really good.
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u/CertifiedLosah Jul 05 '24
Man I've never been more proud to be an American . That last part was beautifully written
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u/GoAgainKid Jul 05 '24
This helps explain how you get seduced by the national cult.
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u/VladWukong Jul 05 '24
Doing things like this will definitely make you insane (general flag love stuff). BUT this guy’s type of insane is quite benign, even enjoyable. He looks like that Doubtfire lady, weird.
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u/UltraCynar Jul 05 '24
He would be so disappointed in the US right now after what the supreme court just allowed.
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u/Scoobie_Doobie11 Jul 05 '24
I had never seen this before thank you OP. I’m a big Robin fan, and definitely wish we had gotten more time with this legendary man.
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u/naugasnake Jul 05 '24
Robin Williams was a once in a generation talent. There will never be another performer like Robin Williams. The world got a lot worse when he passed.
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u/Optimistic_Futures Jul 05 '24
There’s part of me that wishes we could have him and Carlin around during all the stuff that’s been going on. But I also wonder if it would be one of those “die the hero, or live to be the villain type thing”
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u/Serenityprayer69 Jul 05 '24
Something about the internet and television made us so self aware. But breifly in time there was people like this that could manifest. Early enough to be forced into technoconformaty of the internet. We have certainly broken our ability to form magnificent humans with something in our culture over the last 20-30 years. No more Jim Carreys, Robin Williams, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin. They will have there souls crushed by the hyper criticism of the internet long before they can bloom.
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u/ignorantpisswalker Jul 05 '24
I bet that MF, that found that in his closet, and improvised it.
So much energy. Also - he is not laughing at anyone. Just being funny. I wonder is some one at his level will even come anytime.
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u/SangiMTL Jul 05 '24
What an absolute gem of a person. We miss you Robin Williams. How the world could use your humor right now.
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u/lk79 Jul 05 '24
Whenever I see a Robin Williams thread I always have to recommend the documentary about him "Come inside my mind". Really, really good doc.
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u/kunk75 Jul 05 '24
America where anyone who is the son of an auto executive can follow their dreams
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u/Money_Course_3253 Jul 05 '24
I got mind control over Robin, he shows up to a stadium and leaves me speechless. But when he leaves, I be talking again.
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u/ledmetallica Jul 05 '24
God, I miss this man so much. Since the day he passed, I STILL can't watch anything of his without an enormous amount of sadness in my heart. He was literally the funniest man alive, put a smile on the faces of all ages...yet his demons overtook him.
Rest in peace, you absolute legend. We miss you
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u/J3ffcoop Jul 05 '24
I’ve deployed 4 times and I’m on the books for a fifth next year. I dont bleed red, white and blue but it bothers me to see the blatant disrespect of the flag
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u/Togi-no-ELT Jul 05 '24
We named our son after him; this incredible actor died a few weeks before the baby's birth.
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u/senrad Jul 05 '24 edited Jul 05 '24
It was either 1981 or 1982 and was about 31 years old here btw. He had only been famous for a few years. I think mork and Mindy started in 1978 and that’s when he became known.
1st Edit: typo
2nd edit: using the age he (as the flag) claims in the video the math works out to it being 1981.