The Double Birth Order of Robin Williams

                                           

 

Few comedians or actors have had the impact that Robin Williams has had in his lifetime.  His acting roles have been both comedic and serious.  His humor was “off the wall” at times that only Robin could control. It was often manic and so fast that few could keep up with him. Now at age 63 he is gone.  His life has been somewhat an open book, he kept little private.  His drug and alcohol use was common knowledge. Understanding his Double birth order will give you a better insight into his personality.

 Early Years

Robin was born in Chicago July 21, 1951 to Laura McLaurin 

and Robert Williams. They moved to Bloomfield Hills 

Michigan where his father was an executive for Ford Motor 

Company. When he was 10 years old he met his two older 

brothers Todd Williams 13 yrs. older and McLaurin Smith 

4 yrs. older.  Todd was from his father’s first marriage and 

McLaurin Smith was from his mother’s first marriage. He was 

adopted by his mother’s family. Up until that time he had

no idea he had older siblings. None of the brothers lived

together but they did meet a family functions. Soon after 

that first meeting the family moved to California and 

Robin blossomed from a shy child to an outgoing high 

school student.

The Three/Only Birth Order

With the age difference between his brothers and himself Robin

now knew he was the third born but was being treated like an

Only child in his household. People who have #3 birth orders 

are very sensitive to others and the outside world. 
The phrase "Laughing on the outside crying on the
inside" is who they are. 

They can appear very shy and introspective but are really 

seeing and hearing life all around themselves.  They make 

very good actors and can be both religious and environmentally 

conscious. This sensitivity makes them vulnerable to addictions 

especially drugs and alcohol. When you add the Only 

characteristics to the #3 birth order you create an individual 

with very real conflicts.  There are two people talking to 

him. The Only child reminding him to behave and the #3 

enticing him to “give it a try”. It is the power of the Only

birth order added to the #3 birth order that gave Robin the 

power to project his brand and be successful.

Drugs and Alcohol

Throughout his life he has battled depression and substance

abuse. His three marriages and three children often found

themselves a part of his problems.  In the 70’s and 80’s it

was cocaine.  In August of 2006 he checked himself into a

substance-abuse center. He has been fighting depression

most of his adult life. In July of 2014 he entered rehab for the

second time but said it was to “fine tune his focus”. When

interviewed on Good Morning America he discussed his

addiction problem.  “It’s a little voice inside of you that says

“just one” when you can’t take just one.”  This is the

effect of his two birth orders.  The Only side says he can 

handle it, the #3 side says, “I want more.”

The High for the Three/Only

People with the Three/Only birth order want to be noticed.  

 Being on stage is a high for them and it might take the place 

of drugs and alcohol.  Maybe this is the reason Robin’s 

preforming career was so non-stop.  He shared all the 

problems in his life on stage. Was it therapy, a cry for help, 

or just another way to connect with his audience? He 

appeared shy and non-confrontational to his friends and the 

public, trying to balance his two very dissimilar birth orders 

any way he could. A tragic loss there can be no doubt.

Dr. Robert V.V. Hurst is the author of:

Life’s Fingerprint: How Birth Order Affects 

Your Path Throughout Life

You can find out more information on Birth Orders in his 

book or at his website www.mybirthorder.com