Filming Mrs. Doubtfire gave one teenage actress a place in a movie that generations of families would come to love. Away from the cameras, however, the experience also brought an unexpected problem for Lisa Jakub where her education was concerned—and a memorable act of kindness from Robin Williams.
According to Yahoo Entertainment, Jakub was still a high school student in Canada when she worked on the 1993 comedy. She tried to keep up with school by mailing assignments back and forth while filming, but a few months into the arrangement, her school told her not to return. Williams noticed how deeply the news affected his young costar and decided to step in.
Robin Williams Tried to Help Lisa Jakub Stay in School
View this post on Instagram
Jakub was only 15 when the school ended its long-distance arrangement with her. At a time before students could simply upload assignments online, she had relied on the mail to send completed work back to her teachers. Losing that connection to school while already navigating the pressures of acting left her devastated.
Williams saw that something was wrong and asked what had happened. After hearing her story, he wrote directly to the principal and urged the school to support both her education and her career. His intervention did not persuade the school to invite her back, but the gesture stayed with Jakub. Williams later helped her again by writing a recommendation letter when she applied to college.
‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ Also Taught Her a Different Kind of Lesson
The classroom situation became only one part of what she learned while making Mrs. Doubtfire. Working with Williams exposed the young actress to a completely different approach to performing. She had grown accustomed to scripts that clearly told her when to speak, but Williams constantly brought spontaneity and improvisation into scenes.
That unpredictability forced her to stay present rather than simply wait for her next line. The experience added another layer to the legacy of a movie that audiences still associate with Williams’ quick humor and warmth. Behind the famous disguises and comedy, Jakub also saw firsthand how closely he paid attention to the people around him.
Decades later, the story of him writing to her school offers another reminder that his generosity often continued after the cameras stopped rolling.