If the idea for a Robin Williams biopic was not already in the minds of Hollywood’s top dogs, the seed will have been planted thanks to an uncanny performance by relatively unknown actor Jamie Costa.
In a video released on YouTube on Monday, Costa portrays the beloved actor at the height of his Mork & Mindy fame in 1982.
The performance has since gone viral thanks to Costa’s scarily accurate portrayal of Williams, which has left many of the late actor’s fans doing a double take.
The clip has been viewed close to 900,000 times and has left people calling for the proposed biopic to be made, with Costa cast in the lead role.
“Jamie Costa will sell you on how much he needs to be in a Robin Williams biopic with this footage,” wrote author Matthew Rettenmund on Twitter.
Actor Edward Hong, said: “I am at a loss of words of how extraordinary this is.
“Jamie Costa encapsulates the essence of Robin Williams so perfectly that this ‘fan footage’ for a proposed biopic is a clear sign this truly needs to happen.”
Costa is not the only actor to turn heads for a scarily lifelike portrayal of a well-known figure. Here are five other uncanny biopic performances…
Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury in ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’
More than a few eyebrows were raised when Egyptian-American actor Rami Malek, best known for playing an introverted hacker in the TV series Mr Robot, was cast to portray Queen’s famously flamboyant frontman Mercury in the 2018 biopic Bohemian Rhapsody.
However, his performance went on to earn him the Oscar and Golden Globe for best actor the following year. More importantly, it was described as “uncanny” by those closest to the singer, who died in 1991. Malek revealed that Mercury’s bandmates, Brian May and Roger Taylor, were left speechless after watching the actor’s test scenes.
“I had to stand in between Brian May and Roger Taylor and watch myself emulate their dearest friend,” Malek said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. “I heard [May] under his breath say: ‘It’s uncanny.’”
Natalie Portman as Jackie Kennedy in ‘Jackie’
Natalie Portman’s portrayal of the former first lady in 2016’s Jackie won her much praise, not just for her uncanny likeness to the figure, but also thanks to the level of humanity she was able to bring to Kennedy as the film recounted the darkest of days.
Portman’s posture and wispy voice mimicked a dignified Kennedy as she dealt publicly with her husband’s assassination. The performance won her the Critics’ Choice Award for Best Actress, and the film landed a string of awards for costume and make-up design.
Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill in ‘Darkest Hour’
Gary Oldman has been known to transform himself for roles over the years, but none had quite the astonishing effect on audiences as his stint as Winston Churchill in 2017’s Darkest Hour. Oldman spent more than four hours in hair and make-up each day, with his castmates revealing their surprise the first time they saw him in character.
“There was an audible gasp in the room and some people stood up,” Kristen Scott Thomas, who played Churchill's wife in the film, said in an interview with Sky News. “It was really, really, really impressive, and he set the bar really high so it was easy to believe; after that, it was so helpful to us.”
“It was so complete and so transformative and so uncanny: the voice, the walk, the look – everything,” said co-star Lily James.
And critics agreed. Oldman swept the board during 2018’s award season, taking home the best actor gong at the Oscars, Golden Globes, Screen Actors’ Guild Awards, Baftas, and Critics’ Choice.
Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles in ‘Ray’
Another Oscar-winning performance as Jamie Foxx blew critics away with his portrayal of Ray Charles in the 2004 biopic, Ray. From the musician's subtle swagger to his mannerisms, Foxx seamlessly channelled the energy of the star into his performance, turning it into a career-defining moment.
Foxx, who lost 13 kilograms for the role, said in an interview with CBS News: “Once I got down to that weight, and when we got the hair together, and I put those shades on, and I listened to that music, I said: 'Watch out. Something is about to happen'."
Taron Egerton as Elton John in ‘Rocketman’
Not only did Welsh actor Taron Egerton bear a striking resemblance to a young Elton John in 2019’s Rocketman, he nailed the singing voice too. Unlike many of the other stars mentioned in this list, Egerton had the benefit of having help from the man himself, as John worked closely with the star throughout the film’s production.
John’s partner, David Furnish, who was a producer on the film, revealed the advice the singer passed on to Egerton to help him embody the character.
“Elton has told Taron: 'Don’t copy me. Don’t think you have to sing it exactly the way that I sang it. Don’t think you have to perform it the way I performed it,' Furnish told The Hollywood Reporter. “I think it’s the challenge for the actor to embody the spirit and not get into thinking they have to do an impersonation.”
The performance earned Egerton the 2020 Golden Globe for best actor in a comedy motion picture.
As You Were
Liam Gallagher
(Warner Bros)
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Cargoz%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EDate%20started%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20January%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Premlal%20Pullisserry%20and%20Lijo%20Antony%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2030%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Seed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Fight card
Bantamweight
Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK) v Rey Nacionales (PHI)
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (ROM) v Hussein Fakhir Abed (SYR)
Catch 74kg
Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) v Omar Hussein (JOR)
Strawweight (Female)
Weronika Zygmunt (POL) v Seo Ye-dam (KOR)
Featherweight
Kaan Ofli (TUR) v Walid Laidi (ALG)
Lightweight
Leandro Martins (BRA) v Abdulla Al Bousheiri (KUW)
Welterweight
Ahmad Labban (LEB) v Sofiane Benchohra (ALG)
Bantamweight
Jaures Dea (CAM) v Nawras Abzakh (JOR)
Lightweight
Mohammed Yahya (UAE) v Glen Ranillo (PHI)
Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) v Aidan Aguilera (AUS)
Welterweight
Mounir Lazzez (TUN) Sasha Palatnikov (HKG)
Featherweight title bout
Romando Dy (PHI) v Lee Do-gyeom (KOR)
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
MATCH INFO
Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD
* Second leg in Australia scheduled for October 10
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
UAE%20PREMIERSHIP
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The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
if you go
The flights
Emirates offer flights to Buenos Aires from Dubai, via Rio De Janeiro from around Dh6,300. emirates.com
Seeing the games
Tangol sell experiences across South America and generally have good access to tickets for most of the big teams in Buenos Aires: Boca Juniors, River Plate, and Independiente. Prices from Dh550 and include pick up and drop off from your hotel in the city. tangol.com
Staying there
Tangol will pick up tourists from any hotel in Buenos Aires, but after the intensity of the game, the Faena makes for tranquil, upmarket accommodation. Doubles from Dh1,110. faena.com
21 Lessons for the 21st Century
Yuval Noah Harari, Jonathan Cape
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
57%20Seconds
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Four%20scenarios%20for%20Ukraine%20war
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence