⚠️This fact has been debunked
According to Redwood High School's librarian who checked the actual 1969 yearbook, Williams was NOT voted 'Least Likely to Succeed.' This appears to be a self-deprecating joke Williams told in interviews that became widely accepted as fact.
In high school, Robin Williams was voted 'Least Likely to Succeed.'
Robin Williams: The 'Least Likely to Succeed' Myth
It's one of those perfect underdog stories: Robin Williams, destined for comedy greatness, was supposedly voted "Least Likely to Succeed" by his high school classmates in 1969. The irony is delicious—a future Oscar winner and comedy legend, dismissed by his peers. There's just one problem: it never happened.
According to Redwood High School's own librarian, who actually checked the 1969 yearbook from Williams' graduation year, there's no such superlative listed. Williams wasn't voted "Most Likely Not to Succeed," "Least Likely to Succeed," or any variation thereof. The yearbook records simply don't support the claim.
How the Myth Was Born
So where did this story come from? The most likely explanation is that Williams himself started it as a joke. Known for his self-deprecating humor, he may have made the comment during an interview, and it was too good a story not to spread.
Think about it from a storytelling perspective: a shy, awkward kid who ran cross-country and wasn't part of the popular crowd goes on to become one of the most beloved entertainers of all time. Adding a "Least Likely to Succeed" label makes the arc even more dramatic. It's the kind of detail that journalists love and audiences remember.
The Real Robin Williams at Redwood
What we know for certain is that Williams graduated from Redwood High School in Larkspur, California in 1969. He was known for being funny among his friends, and he did run cross-country. But he was also quiet and somewhat solitary—not exactly the class clown you might imagine.
One classmate did recall Williams being voted "Funniest" in the yearbook, which makes far more sense given his trajectory. But the "Least Likely to Succeed"? That's pure mythology.
Why We Believed It
The story persisted for decades because it fits a narrative we desperately want to believe: that the people who seem unremarkable in youth can become extraordinary adults. It's reassuring to think that early judgment is meaningless—that the kid voted most likely to fail can win an Academy Award.
And maybe that's why Williams never bothered to correct the record (if he even knew how widespread the myth had become). It was a better story than the truth. After all, Williams built his career on understanding what makes a good story—and sometimes, the best stories are the ones we want to be true.
The real lesson? Robin Williams didn't need a yearbook superlative to prove his worth. His talent spoke for itself—whether his classmates predicted it or not.