Sally Field candidly admitted that she didn’t find Robin Williams funny when they worked together on their 1993 film “Mrs. Doubtfire.”
The actress, who portrayed Williams’ uptight ex-wife, Miranda Hillard, in the 1993 comedy film, recalled not breaking character despite the late actor making his co-stars laugh.
“It drove him mad, actually, because I would never laugh, ever,” she said on Wednesday’s episode of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”
“And everybody else was laughing and carrying on.”
Sally Field claimed that she didn’t find Robin Williams funny while they filmed “Mrs. Doubtfire.” Seen here: The duo in 2008. Getty Images
Field, who portrayed Williams’ uptight ex-wife, Miranda Hillard, recalled working with the comedian on Wednesday’s episode of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” Scott Kowalchyk /CBS
When host Stephen Colbert suggested that Field was “too professional” for Williams’ antics, she responded, “It wasn’t funny. It just wasn’t funny.”
“Robin was always trying something different to make me laugh,” the “Lincoln” star continued. “It was so unfunny. I can’t begin to tell you.”
It wasn’t until their co-star Pierce Brosnan, who played the role of Stuart “Stu” Dunmeyer, “made a fart noise on his arm” that Field finally cracked.
“He made a fart noise on his arm,” she recalled. “And I was gone. That was it.”
The actress stated she didn’t break character despite the late actor making his co-stars laugh. Scott Kowalchyk /CBS
“It drove him mad, actually, because I would never laugh, ever,” Fields (seen here in the movie) explained. 20th Century Fox/Blue Wolf/Kobal / Shutterstock
Field shared that Williams was in disbelief, telling her, “That’s all it took?”
In a separate interview with People, Field shared how Williams supported her the day her father died while they were filming a divorce court scene.
She recalled Williams pulling her aside to ask if she was OK before she broke down in tears over her late father.
“Robin turned around and said, ‘That’s it for the day guys. We just wrapped here. We’re done for the day … Mrs. Fields is going home,” she said. “That was Robin.”
The Chris Columbus-directed film follows Williams’ character, Daniel Hillard, who disguises himself as a female housekeeper, known as Mrs. Doubtfire, in a bid to spend more time with his kids, who are in the custody of Field’s character.
“And everybody else was laughing and carrying on,” she said. Seen here: Fields shaking Williams’ hand in 1985. Getty Images
“Robin was always trying something different to make me laugh,” Field added. Seen here: Williams (as Mrs. Doubtfire), Fields, Matthew Lawrence, Lisa Jakub and Mara Wilson on set. Phil Bray/20th Century Fox/Blue Wolf/Kobal / Shutterstock
Williams tragically died by suicide on Aug. 11, 2014. He was 63.
The Oscar-winning actor, who was known for his comedic energy and charm, was found dead in his San Francisco home.
He had been struggling with depression and undiagnosed Lewy body dementia leading up to his death.
According to the Lewy Body Association, the disease can cause neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as hallucinations.
Williams (seen here) portrayed housekeeper Mrs. Doubtfire in the movie. 20th Century Fox/Blue Wolf/Kobal / Shutterstock
The actor (seen here in 2004) died by suicide in 2014. Getty Images
Williams’ wife, Susan Schneider, shared in 2020’s “Robin’s Wish” documentary that he was being chased by an “invisible monster” in the months before he died.
Schneider recalled telling her late husband that they “would get to the bottom” of his concerns, unaware that she would later receive the diagnosis from a coroner’s report.
The couple tied the knot in 2011. The “Birdcage” star also shared three kids — Zachary, now 43, Zelda, now 36, and Cody, now 34 — with his two ex-wives.