Production assistant Victor Scicluna (sixth from left) with sculptor Michael Stroud (second from left), art director and set designer Wolf Kroeger (fifth from left) and other craftsmen responsible for creating the cast for Popeye’s arms.

From voicing the wisecracking genie in Aladdin to donning a fat suit for the crazy Mrs Doubtfire, comic genius Robin Williams will be remembered for the eclectic mix of funny and serious characters he infused with irrepressible life.

Yet for a number of Maltese, the actor is immortalised as the one-eyed sailor man with bulging muscles and plenty of attitude in the 1980 film Popeye, which was shot entirely in Malta.

A treasured photo belonging to Yvonne Zarb Cousin, who served as a wardrobe mistress, encapsulates Williams’s friendly and hilarious nature.

He autographed the photograph with a personalised message: “To Yvonne, Thanks for that wonderful night in Filfla.”

At the time of filming, he was going through some marital difficulties with his first wife, Valerie Velardi, which affected him greatly. But he was a genuinely lovely, humble and down-to-earth person to work with

“He was hilarious,” she laughed. “He was very funny but he could also be serious. At the time of filming, he was going through some marital difficulties with his first wife, Valerie Velardi, which affected him greatly.

“But he was a genuinely lovely, humble and down-to-earth person to work with.”

Williams and his co-star Shelley Duvall, who played Olive Oyl, even attended the wedding of Ms Zarb Cousin’s daughter, Luciana.

“We were very much like a family on set. So when I told them that my daughter was getting married, they popped over.

Pageboy Stefan Jones, left, and Darren Jones with Williams at the wedding of Ms Zarb Cousin’s daughter in 1980. Photos: Matthew Mirabelli, Yvonne Zarb Cousin

“My nephew [Stefan], the page boy, also managed to snap a photo with him. It was a very happy occasion.”

Michael Kissaun, who served as a production assistant, remembers Robin Williams as constantly practising his role, with the pipe firmly lodged in his mouth.

He helped him dull his sorrows by spending two nights getting drunk in a discotheque in Buġibba, he reminisced with a laugh.

Narcy Calamatta, who at the time was the managing director of the Mediterranean Film Studios, also dealt directly with the actor a number of times.

Popeye Village remains a popular tourist attraction in Malta. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Ms Zarb Cousin gets a hug from Williams on the set of Popeye in Anchor Bay.

The set in Anchor Bay, which now serves as Popeye Village, was built between September and December 1979.

Filming began in January. Mr Calamatta recalled that after the last scene was filmed, the choreographer who was responsible for Williams’s dance numbers returned home.

However, director Robert Altman realised that he wanted the last scene to be a song and dance number, with Popeye dancing on the water in the middle of the sea.

Since the choreographer had already left, Williams choreographed the whole scene himself.

“It shows how technically prepared he was,” Mr Calamatta said.

One evening, he, Williams and another four men headed to the Danish Village, where the crew was staying, following a barbecue that Williams felt was overcrowded.

“We switched on the television set and there was a wartime movie being broadcast. We muted the sound and Robin improvised the characters’ voices in German and Jewish accents, peppered with jokes and innuendos.

“We were rolling about with laughter – it was incredible how fast he could think and improvise.

A photo of Robin Williams in costume, snapped by Victor Scicluna. On the floor behind him is the cast used to form Popeye’s silicone muscles.

“It was a very precious moment which he later repeated in a performance as the genie in Aladdin, where he changed his voice and accent in rapid-fire succession.

“It’s very difficult for a comedy actor to also be good at stand-up comedy. Not even Charlie Chaplin could do it.

“To my mind, he should be crowned as the best comedy actor.”

Victor Scicluna was only 19 when his father, who was the props manager, got him a summer job at the production’s art department.

“I was just a coffee boy but I had the opportunity to meet Robin Williams several times,” he recalled.

He even helped prepare the silicone arms that Williams wore as Popeye. He was given two pairs every day – they were quite uncomfortable so he would tear off the first pair at lunch.

“I always treasure how down-to-earth he was with us. He often took a coffee from our humble thermos can and chatted with us – not as the great Robin Williams but as a simple, nice, down-to-earth guy, which made him so special.”