When I saw him as the Genie in "Aladdin," I was amazed that someone could be so funny without having to resort to cheap humor. And he didn't insult kids by dumbing down his jokes. Yes, maybe it took years for me to understand all his references, but that just made it so I could appreciate the nuances of the film for years to come. In my mind, he ushered in Disney Renaissance, proving that kids' movies could be enjoyable for people of all ages and comedy was gold.
"Hook" changed my life. It was so magical and painful and real. I'll never forget watching the movie made me feel every time. It inspired me to plot out my first-ever script, "Hook 2: The First Lost Girl," starring me. In "Mrs. Doubtfire" and others, I learned the lessons of adulthood without getting to the low points his characters always hit. I learned how important it is to keep your whimsy while not being irresponsible.
He always played these flawed characters that brought so much joy to others while they worked through the pain inside. Yesterday we learned maybe there was a reason he felt attracted to these complex spirits. I'm sorry we couldn't have given him a more Hollywood ending.
Skin by Dan Leveille
