Matt Damon and Ben Affleck Honored with Robin Williams Legacy of Laughter Award

On Monday night in the Bay Area, actors Matt Damon and Ben Affleck received the Robin Williams Legacy of Laughter Award from Bring Change to Mind, a mental-health nonprofit co-founded by actress Glenn Close. The ceremony, part of the Revels & Revelations celebration, featured Williams’ children—Zak, Zelda, and Cody—presenting the award. Damon and Affleck wore San Francisco Giants caps in tribute to Williams’ longtime fandom.

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Robin Williams, who died by suicide in 2014, played a pivotal role in the 1997 film *Good Will Hunting*, starring Damon and Affleck. After reading the script, he championed it to the studio, clearing the way for production. His involvement linked the film’s focus on a young man’s mental-health struggle to his own advocacy. Bring Change to Mind, founded in 2007, has spent 15 years fostering mental-health conversations.

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Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, co-writers and stars of *Good Will Hunting*, received the award. Robin Williams, the late actor whose endorsement launched the film, is honored posthumously. Glenn Close, actress and co-founder of Bring Change to Mind, organized the event. Williams’ children—Zak, Zelda, and Cody—served as presenters.

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The evening raised $2.5 million for Bring Change to Mind, marking a financial milestone for the nonprofit’s mental-health work. The event also marked the organization’s 15-year commitment to destigmatizing mental illness.

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Damon said Williams’ endorsement removed studio obstacles and allowed the film to proceed. Affleck called the award a collective thank-you to Williams, noting the relevance of honoring a film about mental-health struggles. Both linked the recognition to the broader mission of encouraging open conversations about mental health.

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• “We should get this over with,” — Matt Damon, Actor

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• “That’s the first time in 55 years and that’s for Robin.” — Matt Damon, Actor

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• “ Related Video Affleck continued that accepting the award was “just our way of saying thank you to Robin, who is the person that made the most meaningful impact on our professional lives, bar none, and without whom so many of the dreams we had may not have come true, certainly not in the way that they did.” — Ben Affleck, Actor

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• “And also, I think it’s not coincidental that it’s a movie about a young guy struggling with mental health and needing to find someone with whom he could talk and feel safe.” — Ben Affleck, Actor

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The award highlights how storytelling can advance mental-health awareness and acknowledges Damon and Affleck’s impact on the craft. By honoring Williams and raising $2.5 million, the event amplifies the message that open dialogue and creative expression are vital tools for reducing stigma and supporting those facing mental-health challenges.

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