MONTREAL — If you’ve ever seen comedian Mike Paterson do standup, you’ll quickly realize who his idol was growing up: Robin Williams.
He admitted he tries to emulate the legend’s body language during his live shows.
“When I was a kid watching Mork and Mindy, I was like, ‘Oh man, that guy is really an alien,'” Paterson told Global News.
“He’s been in so many movies that touched us and changed us.”
In Montreal’s comedy community on Tuesday, everyone seemed to have a story to tell about the first time they ever saw Robin Williams perform.
Broadcaster and comedian Ted Bird recalled being introduced to Williams’ comedy in 1978.
“My roommate and I couldn’t catch our breath we were laughing so hard,” Bird said.
“He made us laugh, and laughter makes us feel good. That’s the legacy of Robin Williams.”
GALLERY: Robin Williams – a life in photos (1951-2014)
Amazingly, the comic legend never performed at Montreal’s Just for Laughs Festival.
“He was someone we always targeted,” said Just for Laughs president Bruce Hills.
“What I felt was so impressive about Robin is he turned himself into a premiere dramatic actor.”
Williams won an Oscar for his performance in Good Will Hunting and was also widely acclaimed for his work in Dead Poet’s Society.
At the downtown Eaton Centre on Tuesday afternoon, a few Montrealers paid tribute to Williams by recreating the famous scene from the movie.
About half-a-dozen people stood on tables in the food court, but were quickly ushered out by security.
“He touched my mother, he touched me,” said participant Isabelle Laperriere.
“It was my way of saying thank you.”
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