Glen Powell embraces comparisons to the late Robin Williams in his new Hulu series Powers of Chad continues to spark conversations ahead of its release.
The actor caused buzz while attending the 2026 Golden Globes in Beverly Hills on Sunday, January 11, making it clear that he viewed the comparison as an honor rather than pressure.
Powell, 37, stars in Powers of Chad like Russ Holliday, a former star quarterback whose career collapses after a costly mistake during a national championship.
Years later, Holliday attempted a comeback by disguising himself as “Chad Powers” to join the struggling South Georgia Catfish football team.
The transformation involves heavy prosthetics, a creative choice that has led many viewers to draw parallels to Robin Williams’ iconic performance in Mrs. Doubtfire.
Speaking on the red carpet, Powell acknowledged the comparisons while expressing his deep admiration for the legendary actor.
“Robin Williams was one of the greats,” Powell said.
“He really made films that were fun in terms of the joy they gave people, but they also had a lot of heart. He understood that duality.”
The comment reflects Powell’s appreciation for Williams’ ability to balance comedy with emotional depth, which audiences see reflected in Powers of Chad.
Williams portrayed a divorced father who disguises himself as a Scottish housekeeper in the 1993 film Mrs. Doubtfire.
He committed suicide at the age of 63 on August 11, 2014, at his Paradise Cay mansion in San Francisco, after battling an undiagnosed case of Lewy body dementia, a debilitating brain disorder.
While Powers of Chad is fictional, the character has real roots.
Former professional football player Eli Manning originally created Chad Powers during a 2022 episode of ESPN’s Eli’s Places.
In the viral segment, Manning had professional hair and makeup done to disguise himself as a walking quarterback at Penn State.
Powell later explained how the series developed this idea, saying Hello America“We took that concept and that inspiration and doubled the prosthetics, updated them, improved them, a new model, a new Chad, and we’re putting on a hell of a show here.”
As anticipation builds, Powell’s reaction suggests he understands why the comparisons exist and why being mentioned alongside Robin Williams is something to be grateful for, not afraid of.
