Renowned for his charm and comedic brilliance, Robin Williams showcased a contrasting facet of his persona during the filming of Awakenings in 1990, when an inadvertent mishap led to him breaking co-star Robert De Niro’s nose—an incident that could have soured relationships on set.
Their collaboration on Awakenings, a critically acclaimed drama that earned three Oscar nominations, including one for Best Actor for De Niro, marked a pinnacle in both actors’ careers. The film delves into the narrative of a neurosurgeon’s groundbreaking discovery, which catalyzes the resurgence of catatonic patients afflicted during the 1917–1928 encephalitis lethargica epidemic.
Among these awakened patients is De Niro’s character, Leonard Lowe, who grapples with the challenges of reclaiming life after decades of dormancy. Ironically, De Niro also found himself grappling with a broken nose, albeit off-screen.
The unfortunate incident occurred during a scene where Williams, in character, was supposed to restrain De Niro, capturing the intensity of a seizure. However, a misjudged movement resulted in Williams inadvertently striking De Niro’s nose with his elbow, akin to the sound of a chicken bone fracturing.
Reflecting on the accident in an interview with talk show host Ray Martain, Williams recounted the moment with candor, acknowledging the severity of the situation. In another setting, such an incident might have sparked animosity and disrupted the filming process significantly. Yet, De Niro’s response was unexpectedly gracious.
Remarkably, De Niro bore no ill will towards Williams for the injury, expressing a pragmatic acceptance of the mishap. Drawing on his own experience of previously breaking his nose during the filming of Martin Scorsese’s Raging Bull, De Niro shrugged off the incident, noting that Williams inadvertently corrected the deviation caused by his previous injury.
In a twist of fate, the mishap ultimately strengthened the camaraderie between the two actors, underscoring the resilience and camaraderie often found within the filmmaking community. Despite the physical discomfort, De Niro’s gracious response exemplifies the bonds forged amidst the challenges of cinematic production—a testament to the enduring friendship between two titans of the silver screen.
