Matthew Lawrence brings him the words of Robin Williams’ wisdom throughout his career.
Former Child Star, who starred alongside the legendary comedian in “Mrs. Dowkfire,” only remembered six pages of how Williams taught him the lessons he learned to “navigate” the entertainment industry.
“Robin Williams was a groundbreaking figure in my young career,” Lawrence said Thursday.
“Not only was he the most incredible artist, he was the most caring, humble and good person I have not yet worked in this business.”
A “brotherly love” alumni said Williams “tragically passed away in 2014 decades after battling depression) was at the forefront of his mind when asked to appear in “The Masked Singer.”
“Don’t act in fear,” the actor said, recalling the powerful message his longtime friend once shared with him. “He’s going to say that all the time and it’s very special.”
Lawrence was terrified of the stage when it came to singing after bombing Broadway auditions a few years ago.
He said he once ran out into New York by casting director Bernard Telsey, but he said, “I had no idea what I knew at all.” [he] I was against it,” he said, and had to audition in front of a “packed house” that contained a famous face.
“I think David Letterman was shooting a few blocks away, so he came in and there were guests in the audience that we were watching that night,” Lawrence explained.
The “Hot Chick” actor says he was ready to sing on the background track rather than the pianist, which urged him to panic completely and suffocate on stage.
“I didn’t know exactly in the song he was in, so it dumped me a little. “There [were] I muttered into the crowd and ran off the stage. ”
However, due to Williams’ life lessons and encouragement from his loved ones, including his brothers Joey and Andy Lawrence, Matt finally faced a fear of the “masked singer.”
“I was honored when they called to ask if I would be on the show, but… because of this fear I was like, ‘I don’t know’…and I’m so happy my family pushed me, you know you’ll do it,” he said.
The co-host of “The Brotherly Love Podcast,” which played as Paparazzo in the masked voice show, even had the opportunity to pay homage to Williams by singing Leonard Cohen’s “Harelujah.”
Lawrence described his on-stage respect as “lightning bolts of the bottle moment.” Because, except for other performances, he was “fascinated by a bullet that was dreadful and sweaty.”
“There was definitely a moment when I gave my performance better than I thought I could,” the alumni added, “Boys Meet the World.” “I think there were some mental aspects to that.”
“The Masked Singer” airs on Wednesday on Fox at 8pm and can also be streamed on Hulu.
