A young actor who began creating characters for the stage at Auburn Middle School has been awarded a scholarship to the Juilliard School by one if its most famous alumni, Robin Williams.

David Townsend, 26, has never spoken with his movie star benefactor. But he’s thankful. Williams’ scholarship will pay the tuition for Townsend’s last two years at school, worth more than $42,000.

It means the Auburn native has a better chance of earning the prestigious degree, an incalculable tool for an actor aiming to perform on a Broadway stage.

Famous alumni include such actors as William Hurt, Kevin Kline, Mandy Patinkin, Andre Braugher, Jeanne Tripplehorn and Christopher Reeve, who was Williams’ roommate.

Townsend is in his third year of the four-year program.

Being a Juilliard graduate doesn’t ensure work upon graduation. However, it can help decision-makers in New York theaters cast an otherwise unknown actor.

It’s a long way from Auburn.

Townsend, whose parents now live near Poland Spring, began acting in the sixth grade at the Webster School. By the time he reached Edward Little High School, the teen actor already showed promise.

“He was a tremendous character actor,” said John Blanchett, who directed Townsend in high school and with the Communtiy Little Theatre.

“He had a true gift for finding something interesting in a character,” said Blanchett. When the then-teenage Townsend played Maxwell Smart in a spoof of the TV show “Get Smart,” he immediately had the voice, the peculiar mannerisms and a talent for pratfalls, Blanchett said.

And he seemed never to doubt himself.

“When a young actor asks me if they have what it takes for a career, I always tell them, ‘No,'” said Blanchett. “If they need to ask, they don’t want it enough.”

The often-brutal rejection in show business is too tough for people with doubts, he explained. Townsend had the sense not to ask.

When he left for New York at 19, Blanchett wished him luck.

Townsend managed a few roles off-off-Broadway and studied acting for awhile.

“I did the starving actor thing,” he said.

Then he saw some Juilliard grads perform. They had a polish, an ease with language that Townsend admired.

In 2001, he was chosen from scores of actors for Juilliard’s class of 2005. There are only 16 members.

Townsend says he would have graduated without the help, though it was surely needed.

“It means I won’t have to go into severe financial debt,” he said.

The scholarship is awarded by the school’s faculty, based on academic performance and financial need.

Townsend sent a video thank-you to the Oscar winner. Williams has yet to reply.

The last two winners of the scholarship also sent thank-yous. Williams hasn’t replied to them, either, Townsend said.

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