'Frozen 2' Cast Josh Gad Touching Tribute to Robin Williams Reveals Olaf is Inspired by Actor

Disney does not run out of loveable sidekicks - after all, they're among the best reliefs of the show. But when one epic sidekick looked up to another as his hero, there is something there that makes it even more sad when his hero dies.

In this case, it was Olaf who played a tribute to his idol, Genie.

Josh Gad, who played "Frozen's" loveable snowman sidekick, Olaf, had the chance to watch Disney's "Aladdin" as a child, and later on got to meet the Genie, Robin Williams, who made him realize what wishes he wanted to come true.

Gad has previously said in an interview with HitFix  that Williams's performance in "Aladdin" inspired his work in "Frozen".

In memory of his childhood idol and friend, Gad wrote a moving tribute for USA Today. In it, he discussed how growing up watching Williams had inspired him to want to bring joy and laughter to people.

"I remember sitting through Hook and watching as Peter Banning remembered what it was like to be a boy again; to fly above the clouds and to remind us all that the power of imagination and childlike wonder is as ageless as the stories of Neverland."

But those weren't the reasons why he wanted to be a voice actor. It was the Genie from the lamp. He said, "I remember sitting in a dark theater in South Florida in the winter of 1992 and watching a Genie come to life in 'Aladdin' and tear a hole in the very fabric of space and time for me. It was at that moment that I realized ... That's what I want to do with my life."

As for his performance as Olaf, Gad explained, "As many know, my performance as Olaf in 'Frozen' is inspired by the great Robin Williams. When I first met with the film's directors, I told them I wanted to create a character as free and as wonderfully surprising at every turn as the greatest Disney sidekick I had ever known: the Genie. Olaf will never remotely touch the tour de force that is Robin's Genie. Because there is only one Robin Williams. But the joy and laughter that my little snowman has brought to children is because of the man who has left this world far too early. A man who taught me to be free, to be childlike, and a man who taught me to get out of my own way as a performer. His gift was to take all of our pain away and to allow us to escape. If only we could have returned the favor."

Read Gad's full essay here.