Robin Williams is someone that the world recognizes, both for his comedy and for his kindness. He continued to be a household name, for years after he died by suicide at the age of 63.
Although he played many different roles as an actor, one that is often remembered is one where he didn’t even appear on the screen. It was the Disney movie, Aladdin, from 1992 where he played a voice actor for the role of Genie.
Typically, Robin Williams would charge about $8 million for a part in a movie but he decided on a lower amount for Aladdin. Many people are shocked to learn that he was only paid $75,000 for his part.
In a 1993 interview with New York magazine, Williams said that he opted for the lower paycheck because he wanted to be part of something special. In doing so, he would leave behind something for his children.
He did more than accept a lower paycheck for his part in the movie. He also left behind about 30 hours of material in addition to the movie that Disney could use.
He did this to leave behind something for his children but he also had a stipulation to consider. He didn’t want his voice to be used to sell things or to be used as a marketing tool. He said it’s something he doesn’t do.
He included this fact as a statement in another interview, this time with the Today Show. He said: “The one thing I said was I will do the voice. I’m doing it basically because I want to be part of this animation tradition. I want something for my children. One deal is, I just don’t want to sell anything — as in Burger King, as in toys, as in stuff.”
He also decided that he would not return for the sequel, which took place in 1994. This was because Disney had used his voice to sell merchandise, and he wasn’t happy with it.
In his words, he doesn’t mind if they make dolls, it’s when they use his voice that it gets interesting.
Disney did send a $1 million Picasso painting to Williams as a gift. Some people feel that it was their way of apologizing, but he said it was before the violation.
William said: “The thing is they didn’t give me a Picasso as a payback for violating the agreement. The Picasso came first, then they violated the agreement, then we broke off the marriage. Then they apologized, and that was all I wanted.
“I wanted them to say, ‘We violated the agreement and then we put out a press campaign that made it look as if you were sticking us up for money.’ Studios do this all the time, but they just don’t cop to it. (He adopts a voice): ‘Shhh! You mean lie?’ But they did and they admitted it and now we’re back,” he added. “It was tough for a while. How do you tell the kids, ‘Daddy’s fighting with Disney, so we won’t be going to Orlando for a while? No more plush toys or Hunchback packs or merchandising.'”
Disney also said that they ran all of this by his wife, Marcia, before using his voice in any marketing material. They said: “He agreed to the deal, and then when the movie turned out to be a big hit, he didn’t like the deal he had made.”
In the end, they would shake hands and be friends again. Williams even starred in the 1996 third Aladdin movie.
In talking about that movie, he said: “I went into a room and started improvising, and these guys kept throwing ideas at me. It just got wild. They let me play. That’s why I loved it – it was like carte blanche to go nuts. Of course, there were times when I’d go tasteless, when I knew the mouse was not going to approve: ‘Oh, come on, boy. Rub the lamp, the big spout. Don’t be afraid!'”