The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission.
Conan O’Brien reveals sweet gesture by Robin Williams after Tonight Show firing in 2010
‘I don’t even know how he got my number’ O’Brien said of the interaction
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Conan O’Brien has shared how Oscar-winning actor Robin Williams helped him after he was fired from The Tonight Show in 2010.
O’Brien briefly hosted NBC’s Tonight Show for two seasons following his tenure hosting the network’s Late Night show from 1993 to 2009. He was dismissed from the former in 2010 when host Jay Leno decided to return.
“I was lucky enough to have some great interactions with Robin Williams before he passed,” he said on his Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend podcast.
“One of the most memorable examples to me is when I went through my whole Tonight Show debacle. Finally, the show is done, and I don’t know if I have a career anymore.
“What am I gonna do next? I’m lying on the floor in the living room of my house, and my phone rings, and I pick it up, and it’s Robin Williams. I don’t even know how he got my phone number”.
The presenter said Williams asked him, “‘How are you holding up, chief?’ And he said, you know, ‘You’re gonna be fine, you’re gonna be great.’”
The Good Will Hunting star and O’Brien shared a passion for cycling, and as O’Brien licked his wounds, Williams ordered a cruiser for him, sending him to a Santa Monica bike shop to pick it up.
“And I said, ‘What?’ And he said, ‘No, no, no, just head on down there. Ride around, you’ll feel better,’” said O’Brien. “And I went down and it was a Colnago, which is a very nice bike.
“And he said, ‘I told him to paint it in all these crazy Irish colors.’ I get down there and it’s the most ugliest — I mean, it was just greens and shamrocks and everything. And he was like, ‘You’re going to like that bike, chief. Don’t worry about it.’”
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled
Reflecting on the experience, O’Brien said, “I thanked him many, many times. I just couldn’t believe that he was thinking about me.”
Williams died by suicide in 2014, aged 63.
In April earlier this year, O’Brien returned to The Tonight Show for the first time since his abrupt exit.
Speaking with current host Jimmy Fallon, O’Brien, 60, admitted that it felt “weird to come back”.
In 2012, O’Brien told The Hollywood Reporter that while he still had latent resentment, he acknowledged a one-time “amazing partnership with NBC”.
“There are moments of, ‘What the hell happened? Why did that person do that or say that?’ But there’s also lot of, ‘OK, let’s file this under There’s A Lot I Can’t Control,’” he said.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments