Robin Williams is trying to stop his evil twin.
The Oscar-winning funnyman has sued a celebrity impersonator and his agent for taking their act to a "reprehensible level" by using Williams' moniker, voice and likeness to allegedly con charities out of money.
The lawsuit, filed in a Minnesota federal court, accuses "Robin Williams celebrity look-alike" Michael Clayton and agent-manager Michael Pool of illicitly profiting by claiming the impersonator "is the real Robin Williams and going to great lengths to dupe innocent members of the media, general public and charitable organizations into falling for their ruse."
The suit states that Clayton, who advertises his act as "Rockin' Robin," and Pool created an elaborate charade that saw the former posing as the entertainer on the phone to "win over skeptical charity organizers," per court papers obtained by E! Online.
On another occasion, Pool purportedly arranged for journalists to interview Clayton at an airport lounge at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport without informing them of Clayton's true identity. Based on that meeting, the lawsuit says, a reporter for the Minneapolis Star-Tribune wrote a story on Williams only to later publish a retraction upon learning the truth.
The deception deepened when the pair proposed that a charity in West Plains, Missouri, that was raising funds for a local fire department pay $2,500 to cover expenses in order for Williams--really Rockin' Robin--to make an appearance, according to the lawsuit.
To seal the deal, Pool put Clayton on the phone with event organizer Shirley Collins, and he allegedly fooled her into believing he was Robin Williams, even going so far as to do a Mrs. Doubtfire impression.
Collins later found out about the hoax after reading about the impersonator in the Star-Tribune. She called Pool and confronted him, but the agent "persisted with his deception and refused to admit that the 'Robin Williams' he had promised for the charity event was really Clayton," per court papers.
As a result, the Punkin Center rural fire department canceled its fundraiser and was in the red for $45,000.
Attorneys for the real Williams say that several reporters, hotel clerks and charity organizers like Collins suffered personal and professional embarrassment after finding out that they were scammed by an impostor.
The suit seeks a permanent injunction barring Clayton and Pool from using Williams' name, voice and likeness without revealing first that Clayton is a celebrity look-alike. It also seeks unspecified monetary damages.
Clayton, who eerily resembles the comic superstar and does a more than credible job recreating Williams' manic improvisational shtick, tells E! Online that he was actually duped by Pool.
"I'm a look-alike, and the agent--I don't know this guy--he did not tell people I wasn't a look-alike. It's his job to tell him," Clayton said. "And as far as trying to sell myself as Robin Williams, it's laughable. Everyone's trying to find Michael Pool."
The ersatz Williams, who has been doing the gig for years and has traveled widely performing his routine, said that he met the agent only once. Of the airport incident, Clayton claims Pool arranged for a meeting with the media while Clayton had a stopover from Las Vegas to Florida.
"He never told them I was Robin, and they bought it," Clayton said. "If anyone was hurt by it, I sincerely apologize."
He also disavows any connection to the Missouri fire-station stunt. He says that a bout with throat cancer two years ago has left him unable to do his Mrs. Doubtfire rap.
"As far anything else goes, me contacting some lady in Missouri, I don't know what they're talking about. I'm really sorry she got fooled. They investigated my phone records, and I didn't do that," he said. "I'm openly willing to appear as witness for Robin. Please depose me.
"I've been in this business for 19 years, and everyone knows me, and that's it. The investigator with Robin Williams has been in contact with me, and we've been searching for Michael Pool."
Pool could not be found for comment.
No criminal charges have been filed against Pool or Clayton for the alleged scams.
Williams most recently appeared onscreen in David Duchovny's House of D, which opened last month. He is currently shooting his latest feature, The Night Listener, in New York.