Robin Williams, San Francisco, 1984. Photo © William P. Diven.

As Robin Williams left the 1984 Democratic National Convention in San Francisco he encountered a TV news photographer who was carrying only his still camera. The photographer never asked celebrities to pose with him in those pre-selfie days, and his autograph collection after years in the business consisted only of two space shuttle astronauts who dropped by the local press club. But this was Mork! “May I take your picture,” the photographer asked. “You’re the one with the camera,” Williams replied. It was a perfect response: gracious with a twist. The lesson, perhaps, is you can’t do much better in this world than going through life gracious and twisted.