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Over the last two decades, his career was up and down, but it never rekindled the financial peak of the 1990s. He continued to earn the respect of the industry, as he won Best Supporting Actor in 1997’s Good Will Hunting. He successfully expanded his reach as a performer with eerie characters in One Hour Photo and Insomnia. It was just a pleasure to see him try out different roles, work on different things, and maintain his status. He certainly didn’t do anything to hurt his career.

As this holiday season wraps up, and America maintains the traditions of using movies as entertainment venues, we have the arrival of his final movie. He isn’t the star of Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb. He will still be onscreen, though, and there will be no more performances after this one. It is sad that one of America’s most memorable performers has passed. From his substance abuse issues early in his career to his stints in rehab, the public was well aware that Williams was dealing with demons. We will remember his humanity but celebrate the stories he was involved with. How can you not? Observe the smiles and laughter when a 6-year-old hears his voice in Aladdin. Watch a pre-teen glued to the screen when something like Jumanji is on. His value as an entertainer will at least forever be captured on film.

Williams not being with us here is a sad loss. It is not to the level of a family member passing… but in a way, it is almost as bad. Williams’ roles and talents helped define laughter and smiles for so many. His characters are anchored with memories for each of us. And now he is gone.

This will be the final time to see an original Williams’ performance. He isn’t the star of the Night at the Museum Franchise, but he is a big part of the series’ appeal, bringing Teddy Roosevelt to life. It's another Robin Williams effort that leans towards entertaining America’s children, perhaps what he did best. It won’t be a defining role. However, I will take my 9-year-old son to see him.

An appropriate measure of the entertainment status achieved by Williams might be to see how well his work, captured by time, keeps the attention of different generations. Remember, I was five when Mork and Mindy was on television. That was the late 1970s. 2014 has turned into 2015 and my son will see Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb. He’s watching Aladdin, Jumanji, and other Williams movies.

I’d say Williams’ legacy is already standing the test of time.

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