Robin Williams biography in pipeline from New York Times reporter

Dave Itzkoff will tell the late actor's life story in an as-yet-untitled book

Robin Williams' life story will be told in a biography written by a New York Times reporter (AP)

Robin Williams' life story is to be told in a biography penned by a New York Times culture reporter.

Dave Itzkoff has written extensively about the late actor-comedian, who was found dead in his California home aged 63 earlier this month.

The as-yet-untitled book has not been given a release date but will be published by Henry Holt and Co.

"Robin Williams was a cultural hero of mine, and in the encounters and interactions I was able to share with him, he was always gentle and generous, humane and thoughtful and hilarious," Itzkoff said in a press release.

Past work from Itzkoff includes a 2009 profile piece on the Oscar-winning Good Will Hunting star shortly after he underwent heart surgery following a period of alcohol abuse.

There is another biography, Robin Williams 1951-2014: When The Laughter Stops, also in the pipeline from Emily Herbert, who has written about Lady Gaga, Matt Smith and Michael Jackson.

Publishers John Blake has promised a "warm and respectful tribute to this special and extraordinarily talented man" in a book that will chart the actor's career and "shed new light on a troubled and complex genius".

Williams was honoured at both the MTV Video Music Awards and the Emmys last weekend, but both tributes were met with controversy.

The former remembered Williams through a 20-second slide show featuring random images of the star, which many criticised for "insulting" lack of effort.

Billy Crystal led the similarly "offensive" Emmys memorial attempt, which included a short snippet of a stand-up performance showing Williams borrowing a pink scarf from an audience member and wrapping it around his head like a hijab.