The Clown of the Care Circus…

Patch Adams is a 1998 biographical comedy-drama film directed by Tom Shadyac and starring Robin Williams in the lead role, Monica Potter, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bob Gunton, Daniel London, and Peter Coyote. Set in the late 1960s/early 1970s, it is loosely based on the life story of Dr. Hunter Doherty “Patch” Adams and the 1993 book Gesundheit!: Bringing Good Health to You, the Medical System, and Society through Physician Service, Complementary Therapies, Humor, and Joy by Dr. Adams and Maureen Mylander. The film received generally unfavorable reviews from critics, with criticism for the sentimentality and direction, but was a box office success and grossed $202.3 million against a $50–90 million budget.

Hunter Doherty “Patch” Adams, born May 28, 1945, is an American physician, comedian, social activist, clown, and author. He founded the Gesundheit! Institute as a not-for-profit in 1989. Each year he also organizes volunteers from around the world to travel to various countries where they dress as clowns to bring humor to orphans, patients, and other people. The film loosely depicts Patch Adams’ unusal heathcare model coming to fusion through medical school.

Adams is currently based in Urbana, Illinois. In collaboration with the institute, he promotes an alternative health care model not funded by insurance policies.

The 1998 film Patch Adams was based on Adams’s life and his views on medicine. Adams has heavily criticized the film, saying it eschewed an accurate representation of his beliefs in favor of commercial viability. He said that out of all aspects of his life and activism, the film portrayed him merely as a funny doctor. Patch Adams also said of Robin Williams in an interview:

“He made $21 million for four months of pretending to be me, in a very simplistic version, and did not give $10 to my free hospital. Patch Adams, the person, would have, if I had Robin’s money, given all $21 million to a free hospital in a country where 80 million cannot get care.” ¹

– Patch Adams

In another interview, Adams clarified that he did not dislike Williams, saying:

“I think Robin himself is compassionate, generous and funny. I like to think that that’s who I am, and so I think he was the only actor I wanted to play me, and I think he did a fabulous job.” ²

– Patch Adams

Williams also had actively supported St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for several years.

Upon hearing of the suicide of Williams, Adams released a statement that praised Williams’ comedic and improvisational skills on set; noted his compassionate and caring nature; remarked upon his introverted demeanour in private, and his desire for solitude; and thanked him for “his wonderful performance.” 

As a speaker, Adams travels around the globe lecturing about his medicine methods.

Patch Adams is the Featured Film Blog of the month for May for its real life history of a Doctor who truly cares for and about his patients! You can expect to read a critique of the 1998 film, Patch Adams, with a real-life character comparison. You can also read a recommendation for the film that includes a history of Hunter Doherty “Patch” Adams. There is also a review of the 1993 book that the film was loosley based off of, Gesundheit!: Bringing Good Health to You, the Medical System, and Society Through Physician Service, Complementary Therapies, Humor, and Joy by Dr. Patch Adams and Maureen Mylander. You can also watch a classic interview from the making of Patch Adams included in the DVD release that featured director Tom Shadyac, one of the film’s producers Mike Farrell, Patch Adams, and the late Robin Williams. There is also a Top Ten List to commemorate the film being a Featured Film Blog of the month, and for Patch Adams, the topic of the list is My Top Ten Robin Williams Movies! And finally, as a Featured Blog of the month, you can watch the Official Trailer for the 1998 film and then plan on watching Patch Adams tonight!

SCROLL DOWN AND WATCH THE OFFICIAL TRAILER!

Patch Adams is available to rent on all streaming platforms…

1.  Riccardi, Katia. “Il sorriso serio di Patch Adams ‘Non chiamatela clownterapia'”.  la Repubblica May 4, 2010 ↩︎
2.  “Real Patch Adams – Movie True Story”. Chasingthefrog.com. January 2, 2012. ↩︎