Robin Williams may be one of the most beloved actors of all time. With roots as a comedian, the actor took to film with a humorous charm, providing levity in even more dramatic parts. On the strictly comedic side, he was known for playing Mork in the series Mork & Mindy in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Other comedic roles, including parts in Mrs. Doubtfire and Popeye, both of which have become essential parts of Williams’ filmography over the years.

As much as Williams could make people laugh, he could also tug at their heartstrings, something people often recalled after his tragic death in 2014. One of his most powerful roles was playing English teacher John Keating in ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Poets Society. He was nominated for an Oscar for this role, marking his second nomination after getting a nod for Good Morning Vietnam two years earlier. He later won an Academy Award for what is probably his most iconic role now, playing Sean in Good Will Hunting. Now, another Robin Williams part is recalled by one of his former co-stars.

Nathan Lane Fondly Remembers His Work With Williams On The Birdcage

Robin Williams Treated Lane With Kindness

Nathan Lane reflects on working with Williams on The Birdcage. The actors were co-stars in the film, which told the story of a gay cabaret owner and his partner, a drag queen, who attempt to fake heteroSєxuality in order to meet their son’s fiancé and her conservative parents. The film was directed by Mike Nichols and features a leading cast including Gene Hackman, Dianne Wiest, Dan Futterman, and Hank Azaria alongside Williams and Lane. It went on to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Art Direction, Set Decoration.

Speaking on the Dinner’s on Me podcast (via Entertainment Weekly), Lane fondly reflects on working with Williams on the set of The Birdcage. According to Lane, Williams agreed to work alongside Lane even though “he didn’t know who the hell [Lane] was.” Lane says that Williams was “incredibly generous and sensitive and kind.” He details that Williams was “just so wildly funny and brilliant,” and he loved working with him on The Birdcage, and how he helped Lane avoid being outed as gay before he was ready. Check out the full quote below:

He was a movie star. You know, he could have said, ‘I want Billy Crystal,’ or another big movie name to do the film. I know they showed him [my] screen test, and he didn’t know who the hell I was. And he was like, ‘Yeah, absolutely.’ He was just, as you heard, incredibly generous and sensitive and kind.

We were sort of kindred spirits in a way. He was just so wildly funny and brilliant and a wonderful actor and, and you know, we always had that bond from that film. I did a thing for the New Yorker Festival and they showed a scene from it, and I hadn’t seen it in a while . . . since he had died, and I just started crying. You know that scene at the bus stop, where he gives the palimony. It’s my favorite scene in the film.

I finally got a big part in a movie, and I didn’t want to make it about my Sєxuality — although it was sort of unavoidable because of the nature of the film and the character.

I don’t think Oprah was trying to out me, but I said to Robin beforehand, ‘I’m not prepared. I’m so scared of going out there and talking to Oprah. I’m not prepared to discuss that I’m gay on national television. I’m not ready,’ He said, ‘Oh, it’s alright, don’t worry about it. We don’t have to talk about it. We won’t talk about it.’”

Our Take On Nathan Lane’s Experience With Robin Williams

Robin Williams Was Beloved To Those He Worked With

It is important to remind ourselves how much of a breakthrough movie The Birdcage was at the time of its release. It came out during a time when there were few movies about gay people. This makes it even more important that Williams was willing to come to bat to protect his co-star, Lane, who is gay in real life. Lane’s experience is a testament to the kindness with which Williams treated all people that he worked with, making him even more missed today.

Source: Dinner’s On Me (via EW)