Childhood & Early Life
Marsha Garces was born on June 18, 1956, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US, to Leon Garces and Ina Rachel Mattila. Her father was an Ubay, Bohol born Filipino while her mother was Finnish. Leon Garces relocated to the US in 1929, and served the United States Navy during the ‘Second World War.’
Marsha was raised in Shorewood, Wisconsin, where she studied at the ‘Shorewood High School.’
Marsha was married to Timothy F. Teteak for some time since June 11, 1977, and to Robert Francis Lamirande for some time since April 5, 1982.
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Association With Robin Williams
Marsha, who was earlier a painter and worked as a waitress, got introduced to Robin Williams in 1984 when she was inducted as a nanny for the actor’s son, Zachary Pym "Zak" Williams. According to reports, Marsha and Robin fell for each other and started an affair in 1986, and Marsha became pregnant with Robin’s child when the actor was still married to his first wife, Valerie.
Robin divorced Valerie in 1988, following which he married Marsha on April 30, 1989. However, in the documentary ‘Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind’ (2018), Valerie mentioned that it was only after she separated from Robin that the latter began an affair with Marsha. Marsha’s first child with Robin, a daughter, Zelda Rae Williams, was born on July 31, 1989. Zelda, who was named after Princess Zelda from ‘The Legend of Zelda’ video game series, followed footsteps of her father to become an actress. In 1991, Marsha and Robin welcomed their son, Cody Alan.
Meanwhile, Marsha started working as personal assistant to Robin in several films. These included the 1987 American comedy-drama war film ‘Good Morning, Vietnam’ and the 1989 American drama film ‘Dead Poets Society,’ both of which starred Robin, and emerged successful.
In 1991, Marsha and Robin launched a film production company, ‘Blue Wolf Productions.’ The couple also founded the philanthropic organisation the ‘Windfall Foundation’ to raise fund for different charities.
Marsha joined hands with Robin and Mark Radcliffe to produce the comedy-drama film ‘Mrs. Doubtfire.. The film, directed by Chris Columbus, starred Robin Williams in the lead role and released in the US on November 24, 1993, and became the second-highest-grosser of that year across the globe. It won the ‘Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.’
Marsha co-produced the semi-biographical comedy film ‘Patch Adams.’ Although the 1998 film starring Robin Williams, Bob Gunton, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Monica Potter received negative reviews, it became a box-office hit grossing $202.3 million against a budget of $90 million. She also co-produced the Robin Williams starrer remake of the 1975 East German-Czechoslovakian Holocaust film ‘Jakob der Lügner’ titled ‘Jakob the Liar,’ in 1999.
Her works as producer also include ‘Robin Williams: Live on Broadway’ (2002), which earned a ‘Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Special’ nomination, in 2003.
Her marriage with Robin hit the rocks after almost two decades and Marsha filed for divorce in March 2008 citing irreconcilable differences. The couple got divorced in 2010. Marsha stood by Robin in his struggle with addiction for years and according to some sources, his relapse after attaining sobriety played a role in the couple’s divorce.
On October 4, 2018, she auctioned many of Robin’s belongings, including furniture, sculptures, and forty watches. She donated the proceed to charities that the couple supported.
Other Endeavours
Marsha was the producer of the 2014 documentary ‘Extinction Soup.’’
She is associated with organisations like the international humanitarian medical NGO called ‘Doctors Without Borders’ and the non-profit charitable organization ‘Seacology.’
She speaks at different events, including the fundraising events for several organisations, such as the ‘Christopher Reeves Foundation.’
