MAY 2024:
![Directed by Tom Shadyac, Screenplay by Steve Oedekerk, Based on "Gesundheit: Good Health Is a Laughing Matter" by Patch Adams and Maureen Mylander, Produced by Mike Farrell, Barry Kemp, Marvin Minoff, Charles Newirth, and Marsha Garces Williams, Starring: Robin Williams, Monica Potter, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bob Gunton, Daniel London, Peter Coyote, with Cinematography by Phedon Papamichael Jr., and Edited by Don Zimmerman, with Music by Marc Shaiman, Production companies: Blue Wolf, Bungalow 78 Productions, and Farrell/Minoff, and Distributed by Universal Pictures (1998)](https://i0.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Patch-Adams-.jpeg?resize=525%2C783&ssl=1)
To Him, Healthcare is a Joke…
Patch Adams is a biographical comedy-drama film directed by Tom Shadyac and starring Robin Williams in the lead role, this 1998 movie is loosely based on the life story of Dr. Hunter Doherty “Patch” Adams.
![Directed by Tom Shadyac, Screenplay by Steve Oedekerk, Based on "Gesundheit: Good Health Is a Laughing Matter" by Patch Adams and Maureen Mylander, Produced by Mike Farrell, Barry Kemp, Marvin Minoff, Charles Newirth, and Marsha Garces Williams, Starring: Robin Williams, Monica Potter, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bob Gunton, Daniel London, Peter Coyote, with Cinematography by Phedon Papamichael Jr., and Edited by Don Zimmerman, with Music by Marc Shaiman, Production companies: Blue Wolf, Bungalow 78 Productions, and Farrell/Minoff, and Distributed by Universal Pictures (1998)](https://i0.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Patch-Adams-Header-1024x576.jpeg?ssl=1)
![Director Tom Shadyac arrives at the 8th Annual Education Through Music Los Angeles Benefit Gala at the Skirball Cultural Center on December 10, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Amanda Edwards/WireImage](https://i1.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Tom-Shadyac-.jpeg?ssl=1)
![(L to R) Robin Williams & Hunter Doherty "Patch" Adams circa 1998. Photo Credit: Google Images](https://i1.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Robin-Williams-and-Patch-Adams-.webp?ssl=1)
![Robin Williams as Hunter Doherty "Patch" Adams in "Patch Adams" (1998) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures/Getty Images](https://i1.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Robin-Williams-1.png?ssl=1)
![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. Adams is currently based in Urbana, Illinois. In collaboration with the institute, he promotes an alternative health care model not funded by insurance policies. Photo Credit: @patchadams/X](https://i0.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Real-Patch-Adams--1024x578.jpeg?ssl=1)
Set against the backdrop of the late 1960s/early 1970s, Patch Adams follows the journey of a man who dared to challenge the status quo in the medical profession. Inspired by his own experiences and the teachings of his mentor, Patch believes in a holistic approach to healing—one that prioritizes compassion, empathy, and humor.
![Robin Williams as Hunter Doherty "Patch" Adams in "Patch Adams" (1998) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures/Getty Images](https://i2.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Robin-Williams.png?ssl=1)
![Robin Williams as Hunter Doherty "Patch" Adams in "Patch Adams" (1998) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures/Getty Images](https://i1.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Robi-Williams-6-1024x572.png?ssl=1)
![Robin Williams as Hunter Doherty "Patch" Adams in "Patch Adams" (1998) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures/Getty Images](https://i2.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/RObin-williams-4.png?ssl=1)
![Robin Williams as Hunter Doherty "Patch" Adams in "Patch Adams" (1998) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures/Getty Images](https://i0.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/robin-WIlliams-6-1024x576.png?ssl=1)
Robin Williams delivers a tour de force performance as Patch Adams, infusing the character with his trademark wit, warmth, and humanity. His portrayal captures the essence of Dr. Adams’ unconventional spirit and unwavering commitment to making a difference in the lives of others.
![Robin Williams as Hunter Doherty "Patch" Adams in "Patch Adams" (1998) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures/Getty Images](https://i0.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Robin-Williams-3.png?resize=525%2C792&ssl=1)
The supporting cast is equally impressive, with Monica Potter shining as Patch’s love interest, Carin Fisher, and Philip Seymour Hoffman delivering a memorable turn as Patch’s skeptical classmate, Mitch Roman. Bob Gunton and Peter Coyote also deliver standout performances, adding depth and nuance to the film’s rich tapestry of characters.
![(L to R) Robin Williams, and Monica Potter in "Patch Adams" (1998) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures/Getty Images](https://i2.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Monica-Potter-5-1024x674.png?ssl=1)
![Monica Potter as Carin Fisher in "Patch Adams" (1998) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures/Getty Images](https://i0.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Monica-Potter.png?ssl=1)
![(L to R) Monica Potter, and Robin Williams in "Patch Adams" (1998) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures/Getty Images](https://i0.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Monica-Potter-2-1024x651.png?ssl=1)
![Philip Seymour Hoffman as Mitch Roman in "Patch Adams" (1998) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures/Getty Images](https://i1.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Philip-Seymour-Hoffman--1024x576.png?ssl=1)
![(L to R) Robin Williams, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman in "Patch Adams" (1998) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures/Getty Images](https://i1.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Robin-Williams-and-Phillip-Seymour-Hoffman.png?ssl=1)
![Bob Gunton as Dean Walcott in "Patch Adams" (1998) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures/Getty Images](https://i0.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bob-Gunton--1024x424.jpeg?ssl=1)
![Peter Coyote as Bill Davis in "Patch Adams" (1998) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures/Getty Images](https://i0.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Peter-Coyote-.jpeg?ssl=1)
What sets Patch Adams apart is its ability to blend humor and heartache seamlessly. While the film is filled with laugh-out-loud moments, it also tackles weighty themes such as loss, suffering, and the human condition with sensitivity and grace. Through Patch’s interactions with his patients, the audience is reminded of the transformative power of empathy and the importance of human connection in healing.
![(L to R) Monica Potter, and Robin Williams in "Patch Adams" (1998) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures/Getty Images](https://i0.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Monica-Potter-and-Robin-Williams.png?resize=525%2C329&ssl=1)
Loosely based on Dr. Hunter Doherty “Patch” Adams‘ own memoir, Gesundheit!: Bringing Good Health to You, the Medical System, and Society through Physician Service, Complementary Therapies, Humor, and Joy, the film stays true to the spirit of his story while taking creative liberties to deliver a compelling cinematic experience. It offers a poignant reminder that laughter truly is the best medicine and that even in the darkest of times, there is always room for hope and healing.
![The American physician, social activist, clown, and author Hunter Doherty "Patch " Adams attends a conference as part of the International Festival of Social Innovation FiiS 2015 at Bicentennial Park Vitacura on October 24, 2015 in Santiago, Chile. Photo by Sebastian Vivallo Onate/Agencia Makro/LatinContent via Getty Images](https://i1.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Patch-Adams-2.jpeg?ssl=1)
![In 1971, Dr. Adams and a few colleagues founded the Gesundheit Institute in Northern Virginia. During the next 12 years, they operated a home-based family medical practice and managed to treat over 15,000 people without payment, malpractice insurance, or formal facilities. Royalties will fund the Gesundheit Institute, a 40-bed free hospital in West Virginia. Published: January 1, 1992 Publisher: Robert Heard Publishing](https://i2.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Gesundheit-Good-Health-Is-a-Laughing-Matter-by-Dr.-Adams-and-Maureen-Mylander.jpeg?ssl=1)
![American physician, social activist, clown, and author Dr. Patch Adams delivers a speech during opening ceremony of the 1st Annual Ascent Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center, on February 28 .The Ascent Expo, produced by eWorld Media, is an assemblage of cultural creativity, conscientious capitalism, and philanthropy to explore the future of commerce, sustainability, environmentalism, health, and self-actualization. Photo by Mintaha Neslihan Eroglu/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images](https://i0.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Patch-Adams-7.jpeg?ssl=1)
![The American physician, social activist, clown, and author Hunter Doherty "Patch " Adams attends a conference as part of the International Festival of Social Innovation FiiS 2015 at Bicentennial Park Vitacura on October 24, 2015 in Santiago, Chile. Photo by Sebastian Vivallo Onate/Agencia Makro/LatinContent via Getty Images](https://i0.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Patch-Adams-3.jpeg?ssl=1)
![The American physician, social activist, clown, and author Hunter Doherty "Patch " Adams attends a conference as part of the International Festival of Social Innovation FiiS 2015 at Bicentennial Park Vitacura on October 24, 2015 in Santiago, Chile. Photo by Sebastian Vivallo Onate/Agencia Makro/LatinContent via Getty Images](https://i2.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Patch-Adams-5.jpeg?ssl=1)
![US doctor and clown Hunter "Patch" Adams (C) jokes with clowns during the photo call of "Clown in' Kabul" shown in special events at the 59th Venice Film festival, 07 September 2002. This film is the story of Hunter " Patch" Adams and 20 other doctors from all over the world, specialists of children, who went to Afghanistan to help children as doctors and clowns during the war. Photo by Gabriel Bouys/AFP via Getty Images](https://i0.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Patch-Adams-6.jpeg?ssl=1)
Patch Adams is a timeless classic that will leave you laughing, crying, and ultimately inspired. Whether you’re a fan of Robin Williams, a lover of heartfelt dramas, or simply in need of a feel-good movie to lift your spirits, this film is guaranteed to leave a lasting impression. So grab some popcorn, settle in, and prepare to be moved by the extraordinary story of Patch Adams and his quest to bring joy and compassion to the world of medicine.
![Directed by Tom Shadyac, Screenplay by Steve Oedekerk, Based on "Gesundheit: Good Health Is a Laughing Matter" by Patch Adams and Maureen Mylander, Produced by Mike Farrell, Barry Kemp, Marvin Minoff, Charles Newirth, and Marsha Garces Williams, Starring: Robin Williams, Monica Potter, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bob Gunton, Daniel London, Peter Coyote, with Cinematography by Phedon Papamichael Jr., and Edited by Don Zimmerman, with Music by Marc Shaiman, Production companies: Blue Wolf, Bungalow 78 Productions, and Farrell/Minoff, and Distributed by Universal Pictures (1998)](https://i0.wp.com/moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Patch-Adams-Header.png?resize=525%2C374&ssl=1)
Patch Adams is available to rent on all streaming platforms…
Archives
- June 2024
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022