It’s been over a day since I heard that Robin Williams passed and I’m still processing it. When I look at photos of him, read his quotes or watch clips from his movies, it hurts like I knew him. He was a part of my childhood and his personality was so unique and infectious. I don’t know what to compare this to, it’s like hearing that your favorite college professor died.
There are so many stories about Williams that I don’t know what to include or where to start. It seems like everyone he met has a wonderful, touching tribute for him and genuine sentiment for what he meant to them. He was one of a kind.
Robin left behind three children: Zak, 31, from his first marriage and Zelda, 25, and Cody, 22, from his second marriage. He also leaves a wife, Susan Schneider, whom he married in 2011. Susan previously issued a statement following her husband’s death asking for privacy and asking the public to focus on the joy and laughter that her husband brought the world. His children have now issued statements and they are full of humor and gratitude for their father. These really touched me. There is also a quote here from Marsha Garces Williams, Robin’s second wife whom he was married to from 1989 to 2008.
Zak Williams, 31
Yesterday, I lost my father and a best friend and the world got a little grayer. I will carry his heart with me every day. I would ask those that loved him to remember him by being as gentle, kind, and generous as he would be. Seek to bring joy to the world as he sought.Zelda Williams, 25
My family has always been private about our time spent together. It was our way of keeping one thing that was ours, with a man we shared with an entire world. But now that’s gone, and I feel stripped bare. My last day with him was his birthday, and I will be forever grateful that my brothers and I got to spend that time alone with him, sharing gifts and laughter. He was always warm, even in his darkest moments. While I’ll never, ever understand how he could be loved so deeply and not find it in his heart to stay, there’s minor comfort in knowing our grief and loss, in some small way, is shared with millions. It doesn’t help the pain, but at least it’s a burden countless others now know we carry, and so many have offered to help lighten the load. Thank you for that.To those he touched who are sending kind words, know that one of his favorite things in the world was to make you all laugh. As for those who are sending negativity, know that some small, giggling part of him is sending a flock of pigeons to your house to poop on your car. Right after you’ve had it washed. After all, he loved to laugh too…
Dad was, is and always will be one of the kindest, most generous, gentlest souls I’ve ever known, and while there are few things I know for certain right now, one of them is that not just my world, but the entire world is forever a little darker, less colorful and less full of laughter in his absence. We’ll just have to work twice as hard to fill it back up again.
Cody Williams, 22
There are no words strong enough to describe the love and respect I have for my father. The world will never be the same without him. I will miss him and take him with me everywhere I go for the rest of my life, and will look forward, forever, to the moment when I get to see him againMarsha Garces Williams
My heart is split wide open and scattered over the planet with all of you. Please remember the gentle, loving, generous — and yes, brilliant and funny — man that was Robin Williams. My arms are wrapped around our children as we attempt to grapple with celebrating the man we love, while dealing with this immeasurable loss.
Those statements were so powerful and sad. I can’t remember ever being as affected by a celebrity death as I have been by Williams’ passing.
As I mentioned, I don’t know where to start when it comes to covering the many stories that are coming out about Williams and how he touched almost everyone he met. He had a joy for life, an authenticity and a vulnerable side that came through. As we know now, he was also profoundly depressed. The fact that one of the most beloved actors of the last few decades has taken his life has opened up a dialogue about depression and helping our family and friends suffering from it. It’s not about being sad or learning to “snap out of” it, it’s a darkness that’s hard to understand, even for people who have gone through it.
I want to share links to just a few of my favorite recent stories about Williams, but please know that these are in no way complete. It would take hours to recap the stories that have come out in just the last 24 hours about this man who touched so many. (Most links are via Reddit.)
– Robin did so many USO tours entertaining the troops that they consider him the Bob Hope of his generation.
– Robin improvised many of his lines in film, including the “fart” scene from Good Will Hunting and most all of his lines as the genie in Aladdin.
– Robin was a such a supporter of the San Francisco Zoo that they named a monkey after him.
– He met the famous gorilla Coco, who knows ASL, and had a tickle fight with her. There’s video.
– Tributes have sprung up for Robin on his Hollywood Star, on the stoop of the home where Mrs. Doubtfire was filmed, at The Mork & Mindy house, at his own home and on the bench in Boston used for his film Good Will Hunting. There are surely more I’ve missed.
– Robin was a lifelong friend of Christopher Reeve, he met him while they were roommates at Julliard in the 70s.
– When James Lipton asked Robin what he wanted to hear from God when he arrived in Heaven, Robin said “There’s seating at the front. The concert begins at five. It’ll be Mozart, Elvis and one of your choosing.
“If heaven exists, to know that there’s laughter, that would be a great thing… Just to hear God go, ‘Two Jews walk into a bar.‘”
Robin Williams’ family is asking for donations to be made to these charities that were dear to him:
St. Jude’s Research Hospital, Challenged Athletes, USO, the Mohammed Ali Parkinson Center, the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation and Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco.
Photo credit: WENN.com
“Those statements were so powerful and sad. I can’t remember ever being as affected by a celebrity death as I have been by Williams’ passing.”
I can’t think of a better way to put it.
Me too, his daughters statement was wonderful.
I believe Robin suffered for many years with depression and fought off suicidal thoughts many times. He hinted at this in interviews.
I hope his children know he fought so long for them. He said he got sober for Zac and stayed that way for Z and Cody.
He didn’t just give up on Monday ~ he just got tired of fighting.
They can be very proud of him.
He clearly raised wonderful, thoughtful and compassionate children. I’ve never heard a single bad thing about any of them – looks like he managed to keep his problems from being passed down into the family.
My heart aches for them all – it’s been two days and I’m still reeling! I’ve never felt that way about the death of someone I didn’t even know.
I’m with you, this touched me in a way that surprised me. He was such a unique talent and my heart aches for his family and friends.
Those statements are just beautiful.
I loved Josh Charles tweet yesterday and JIm Carrey’s about Philip Seymour Hoffman I believe applies here too
Josh Charles @MrJoshCharles
Your humor, like hot jazz, was topped by your sensitivity, compassion & kindness. Standing on my desk for you, always.
Jim Carrey @JimCarrey
Dear Philip, a beautiful beautiful soul. For the most sensitive among us the noise can be too much. Bless your heart. ;^{
Yes, all amazing, eloquent sentiments. I was especially struck by his youngest son talking about seeing him again someday.
And Jim Carrey’s immediately came to mind for me regarding Robin’s passing, it seems very apropos. I really do think the “noise” can be too much for certain sensitive souls, no matter how strong their support systems are.
Oh Josh, I almost forgive you for abandoning The Good Wife!
I saw the Koko video yesterday and was so touched – if you want an extra sob go to Koko’s website, where they put up pictures of her sad face at hearing of his loss (I guess she overheard the news). I’m a little obsessed with Koko now.
His family seem comforted by the public outpouring of support, it must help a tiny bit to know he was so beloved. It’s just such a sad thing, you can’t help but wonder why at this moment in time he was so overcome. I guess it’s the nature of the disease, it can strike anytime, even when someone seems to be doing well. It’s just so heartbreaking for his family.
The Koko video destroyed me.
I’d watched the Koko video about a month ago and it was one of the loveliest bits of video I’d watched. I was grinning from ear to ear by time it was over. And it really showed how sensitive and warm Robin Williams was. He seemed deeply affected by the experience and that just made adore him all the more.
The Koko stuff broke me down last night.
The koko video killed me. So sweet, they were so in sync. At the very end, that tender, loving hug got me, made me cry. It’s so hard to process WHY??? We’ll never know, but heartbreaking to realize how he suffered so much, and alone, despite millions of adoring fans and most importantly his loving family. I feel great sadness for his children. I hope he has found peace at last.
Dead Poets Society had such an impact on me as a kid. When they stand on their desks and say “O Captain, My Captain.”
Maybe he just felt that he was done and that he has said everything he had to say and that he had a good run with life on earth and that it was the time for him to go. We know so little about depression….I feel that celebrating his life is more appropriate than chewing over the circumstances of his death. He had the freedom to choose and he chose. His choice is to be respected and his life – celebrated.
Thank you for your beautiful art, RW! May your journey into the light be joyous and effortless and may you sparkle with thousands of sunshine rays in the spring and raindrops on golden leaves and on caps of forest mushrooms in the autumn and rainbows of light on miriades of snowflakes in the winter’s peaceful silence. RIP.
Yes this! It’s important to raise awareness about depression and how to help others, but also to celebrate the life of such a wonderful man 🙂
At least he had the freedom to choose not everyone gets that I guess -he must have felt a hugh level of depression which is too bad that he felt so bad about life that he felt that the next day wouldn’t offer something better.
Agree. Having dealt with the loss if both of my parents and my sister to the thief that is cancer, I try to find a balance empathizing with those who choose to end the gift that is life. I’m still working on my opinion development. I at one point was a bitter, non compassionate critic of suicides. I’ve grown to believe, and maybe I’m wrong, but I think, like cancer, maybe depression is an equally lethal disease. I’ve struggled with the whole choice vs. tragic death sentence that in spite of the fact that you did everything to live right and avoid poor health, …Bottom line, it’s sad and I wish that anyone terminally ill, that they find peace:).
Agree. Having dealt with the loss if both of my parents and my sister to the thief that is cancer, I try to find a balance empathizing with those who choose to end the gift that is life. I’m still working on my opinion development. I at one point was a bitter, non compassionate proponent of suicides. I’ve grown to believe, and maybe I’m wrong, but I think, like cancer, maybe depression is an equally lethal disease. I’ve struggled with the whole choice vs. tragic death sentence you did everything to live right and avoid. Bottom line, it’s sad and I wish that anyone terminally ill, that they find peace:).
Beautiful
I’ve never felt real sadness over a celebrity’s passing, but this has made my cry.
I guess it is due to the fact that he was a happy part of my childhood, due to his genius, his kindness and the terrible way his life ended.
I hope this helps somebody struggling with depression alone to seek help.
Rest in peace O Captain, My Captain!
Yes. My dad loved Robin Williams, so whenever he was in a movie, we watched it. I have lots of happy memories as a kid of my family watching his movies in our living room, and laughing together (or crying in a couple of them!) . Other than Princess Di, this is the only other celebrity I have shed tears over.
Loved the comments about the pigeon poop !
*sigh*
I can’t help but tear up every time I read or see something else about him.
I love the pigeon poop comment too. What a wonderful way to respond to the people making vile comments.
Oh Robin… thank you for the joy you brought to us.
This has been an incredibly sad couple of days. I haven’t been able to make it through the night without waking up, thinking about him and his children and his most dear friends. Pam Dawber for instance. I have lost friends and family to suicide. It completely guts you and you just want to wrap your arms around the person who is gone and hold them tight. When I was in high school my favorite movie of his was without a doubt Dead Poets. I have seen it countless times. The story, the acting, the beautiful scenery is really perfection. But as an adult, I think my favorite movie of his is Mrs. Doubtfire. It is also perfectly acted and a completely hilarious movie without being raunchy. Also as an adult, I try to keep some lightness in my life because I read the papers, I watch the news, I know my insecurities and anxieties very well. I get sad so I try to balance that with things that make me laugh and make me feel good. Movies, music, books that have a poignant yet positive outlook about life. Good, clean comedies are kind of hard to come by these days which is why I think Mrs. Doubtfire is such a great, stand-out film,
I hope that everybody who makes a snarky comments get their car pooped on. MAJOR.
Me too. I read on Yahoo that Zelda was taking down all her social media sites, because, while most messages were loving and supportive, a few insensitive trolls were either snarking at her for not having enough pictures of him on the sites or, much worse, were sending her photoshopped images of her father–one can imagine what those images were. Another of the many times I’m glad I don’t own a gun.
It was evident that the family was close and he even remained close with his ex wife, Marsha. I had read that they divorced primarily due to him beginning to drink again and apparently Marsha was not able to go through another battle of substances again with him
Tragic all around.
Has it ever been mentioned why his current spouse had not seen him since 10:00 p.m the night before?
Does it matter why his wife hadn’t seen him?
Actually, yes. To me it does. My apologies if a genuine question, asked out of curiosity offended you.
I don’t think you can speculate or wonder why wasn’t someone there. It’s happened and he didn’t want to be in this world anymore. Let’s just celebrate his amazing gift and life and not ponder on the who was or wasn’t there. All in All I have found the graphic information surrounding his death to be TMI and disrespectful.
Unfortunately, California law with the public figures is open information. Hence, it comes out eventually. There was a huge press conference about it.
Sounds like she had an appointment or maybe work. Nothing too specific yet, but with investigating his death that won’t be released until after it’s all done.
Robin and his wife slept in separate bedrooms. She went to bed in her room at around 10 pm (Robin was in his own bedroom at this time). His wife got up early the next morning to do errands. Robin’s assistant found his body in his bedroom. He had taken his life during the night.
How sad that it’s often the assistants who find them. Says a lot.
I don’t think people should try to read into that. I have married friends who sleep in different bedrooms because of the husbands horrible snoring problem. It isn’t necessarily the sign of a problem, so we shouldn’t jump to that conclusion (not that you were, Cora).
This is the problem with having 24/7 access to news now, people believe they are entitled to every detail about another’s life or death. No, it does not matter why she had not seen her husband since the night before. It does not change the outcome, and I find it incredibly tacky to question or speculate about that point. I think we’re all so deeply devastated by this mans passing, however, not every detail needs to be discussed. Let’s just leave it at what a loss the world has endured and remember the wonderful ways he touched and inspired millions. The only thing that needs to be addressed regarding the circumstances of his death, is for a more open dialogue about depression to begin.
I agree, but unfortunately not much will, if ever change, the way the news and access for public figures person information especially surrounding deaths, sadly.
Actually, Marsha stayed with him the three years he was back on alcohol. Then the family had an intervention and he went to rehab. She left him after he got sober again, but he said some things can’t be undone, the horrible things you’ve done and they’ve seen and the damage it does. He would drink to the point of blacking out and didn’t have to remember a lot of the things he did during that period.
Yes people ask how come he felt his Life was so bad and why the anxiety…let me tell you, I did drugs Before and even no when I’m sober, the horrible guilt and remorse over thins i did back then and how my family suffered , I sometimes beat myself up about it to no end…and yes whn I’m down those thoughts and feelings have made me suicidal. However I have taken a firm decision tht Iwill not do that never ever since I mustn’t hurt my family more.
But I can imagine what he posibly Went through…and I feel his pain.
RIP.
The vido with koko ..so tuching.
Eliza- I’m sure he planned the timing so his wife would not check on him too soon. He probably knew she was going to be up early for errands and he may even have asked her to let him sleep late.
I love what Norm MacDonald tweeted about him.
+1, wonderful story.
Thanks for that, I just read it. How wonderful a man he was.
Here’s a link to the tweets:
http://uproxx.com/webculture/2014/08/norm-macdonald-told-a-wonderful-robin-williams-story-on-twitter-that-sums-up-everyones-loss/
Never Have I ever Thought until today Norm McDonald would make me Laugh…Or Cry
I know it’s the popular thing, but I really wish he would have told that story on a different format. All the twitter break ups, links, & hashtags are so distracting it really does take away from the story.
wow.
QQ, well put.
It’s been a day and I still can’t wrap my head around it. How is it possible for such a beautiful soul and talented artist to be gone from this world? I miss him like I knew him. It’s just so sad, I can’t believe it.
The more statements I read the more my eyes gets itchy..
Who knows? maybe there is a bigger picture here and he came to this world to touch many people and be so beloved that his passing in this particular manner will create a new awareness about depression and suicide.
He could be the angel sent to us for that purpose!
I’ve never cried at the passing of a celebrity before. It’s ironic though that he is the one that made me laugh the most. I remember asking for rainbow suspenders for birthdays and christmas ( never got them ) Mork and Mindy was my candy when I was a kid.
I’m at work and trying not to cry right now. So beautiful .. I really loved Robin Williams – I grew up with him as many have and I made sure that my kids saw most of the movies that made me laugh when I was little ..
My mother’s Mom died from suicide when my Mom was 14 and later my uncle died the same way (he was the one to find their mother) – it’s always something that has left a shadow in her life, like there is always sadness in her. My Mom has also suffered from great depression (she has MS and is bipolar – and has been suicidal) so this is a subject that is hard for me ..
I’m really sad right now that this great man’s life had to end this way – so alone yet so loved by so many.
Oh my goodness, two such tragedies in one family – your mother must be incredibly strong to have survived those ordeals. There’s no way for something like suicide not to leave a mark, but I am glad to hear that your mother’s a fighter. Sending many, many hugs and good thoughts you way!
Thank you, there is more tragedy in her family – she also lost her oldest brother to a bar fight when she was 9 (he was 21).. We also almost lost my brother to a ski accident when he was 15 ..
I just found out that she has been feeling off and is going to emerg to get her medications fixed .. she recognizes when she needs help and is going to get it .. It’s tough – always a fight but she’s a fighter..
He was a generous and gentle person, my condolences to his family, I hope this loss would help to raise sensibility for all those who battle everyday with depression.
I’m with most people that this is the only celebrity death that has affected me. I feel like I’ve lost a close family friend. This is the only celebrity death I’ve shed a tear for. Robin was obviously extremely depressed after hearing about how he committed. I was hoping this was a huge death hoax, but sadly, it is not. It was a huge part if my childhood.
I had a friend write on Facebook that suicide is cowardly and selfish. It made me angry, before I could repsond someone went into detail about mental illnesses and severe depression, and how it’s so much different, how she’s worked with those depressed. I used to think it was, but doing more research, it’s not, and being suicidal myself at one point in life.
It’s obvious Robin has a very kind, and helping soul. I hope that his overcomes his demons in the afterlife. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
I used to think the same way about suicide – the selfishness and cowardice. That was when I was a teen. As an adult, I have much more compassion and understanding about the true nature of chronic depression – and ironically, my understanding is due to a few high profile deaths and the resultant conversations about depression. At the very least, I hope Robin William’s death will lead to more understanding and more attention for those who are suffering as he did.
I just read an article that said that Fox News is calling Robin Williams a coward because of his suicide. WTF?
I know, I think it was Shep Smith, he’s an idiot of epic proportions for that comment and I don’t accept his apology. It’s an insult to Robin’s memory, and his loved ones who are seriously grieving. I hope Shep gets what he deserves, he’s so stupid and insensitive.
Shep’s got some bird shit coming his way
Interestingly Shep has been called a coward for being in the closet and working for anti Gay Fox News.
@Kim1 Wow really? And he has the nerve to call someone else “cowardly”, he should know better.
What kind of a news organization allows their news anchor to express a personal opinion like that? I thought Journalism: 101 taught anchors to never editorialize?
Oh right, it’s FOX NEWS.
Once again, Fox News gets tasteless in order to give a ding to something that could remotely be seen as liberal (Robin). NO STANDARDS. NO INTEGRITY.
Agreed Dani2
People were also sending abusive messages/images to his daughter on her social media accounts, to the point where she left them.
There are some damned horrible people out there.
Agreed, it’s ridiculous though. Severe depression and suicide are tough to learn and understand.
Seriously? WTF? I am glad she addressed that in her comments about the pigeons. What assholes some people are out there! Ugh.
Sociopaths seeking to enjoy causing pain for others.
people are so cruel
The way he raised his kids and the way they look up at him now is the true legacy.
Their words are truly moving.
Reading about the way he chose to end his life is heartbreaking. Superficial cuts on his wrist while a knife lied next to him tells that he didn’t plan his way out in advance. It seems like he changed his mind and opted for a quicker, less conscious and maybe less painful death.
I do have lots of respect for him. He was intelligent and he knew he had a problem. tried to fix it many times but it was bigger than him.
I just can’t imagine the pain of the moments before his final act.. demons in his head and not being able to see clarity. I hope he found the peace he longed for.
I agree, his children reflect very well on him. I have noticed the repeated use of the word “gentle” when people close to him describe him. Sigh.
Yes always “gentle” and “generous”. He sounded like a really wonderful person.
my heart breaks for his family.
i am also surprised by how affected i am by this. like most, i knew him only from movies, but i guess he was someone we all have “known” most of our lives.
rachel maddow has henry winkler on the show on monday evening, it was great to hear him talk about meeting robin on the set of “happy days,” working with him, and being friends with him. you could tell that her had a profound effect on people, and was a kind, gentle, caring man.
a professor from my law school also killed herself several weeks ago while deeply depressed. she left a husband and two little kids behind. it’s beyond sad, and very eye-opening to think that these people who have all these resources and support available to them, and who are aware of their condition, still can feel so profoundly lonely and so dark.
I’m surprised by how affected I am by this as well, I’ve been thinking about him a lot and I still can’t quite process the fact that he’s gone. He definitely makes me want to be a better person and bring good into other peoples lives because that’s clearly the kind of life he lived. He was a really rare sort of person and he will be missed so much.
I’ve long thought Henry Winkler was the nicest, sweetest man (listen to a podcast with him and try to think otherwise) and it seems fitting that he’d speak for Robin, who by all accounts was very much the same kind of guy.
I hope it’s a comfort to his children and family that so many loved him, both those who knew him personally and those who knew him through his work.
we went to NYC specifically to see a broadway play that robin williams starred in called “bengal tiger at the baghdad zoo.”
we knew nothing of the book/play, but made the trip just to be in this extraordinarily talented man’s presence.
i am so glad that we did.
the world lost an immense talent; a genuinely sweet and kind man by all accounts from those who knew him well.
i personally can’t wrap my head around it – how someone who brought such joy and laughter into my life through his work could have been in such despair that he believed that he had no other option than to leave this world.
incredibly sad.
RIP robin williams.
condolences to his family who are left behind.
I’m so glad you got to see his performance as well. I am sure it was an amazing evening.
The one thing I’ve been wondering since yesterday is that his wife said she saw him at 10:30 pm before she went to bed and then assumed that he was sleeping the next morning and left the house without seeing him. If my boyfriend is asleep, usually all I have to do is roll over in bed and he is right there. Then his assistant in his/her statement said that she got no response when she knocked on Mr. Williams bedroom door. Were he and his wife not sharing a bedroom/bed? I know recently in interviews he spent a some time talking about how his divorces were financially and emotionally difficult on him. Is it possible things were going bad between him and his wife and that helped add to his depression? Maybe it’s just me trying to find a way to make some sense from this tragedy. I’ve been crying on and off since I heard the news and I almost feel like if there could be some concrete reason for what happened then maybe it wouldn’t hurt as bad? The thought that he brought so much joy to people for decades but was unable to find lasting joy for himself brings me to tears every time I think about it.
I’m sure we will found out more info in the coming weeks, especially once toxicology results come back. I think that there’s also the possibility that he as put on meds for his depression that could increase suicidal thoughts. I knew a close family friend that was put on meds that increased those thoughts, and hung himself a couple weeks later.
I know long time married couples that don’t share bedrooms due to health reasons, jobs,etc. so, that’s up in the air.
I agree with your comment about the meds. In some cases anti-depressant meds can cause an increase in suicidal thoughts (especially in teens and young adults, but a possible side effect for any patient). As it sounds like he had been battling depression for a good part of his life, he may have been quite adept at covering up and hiding his thoughts.
my husband snores, so we sleep in separate bedrooms.
sometimes if i leave very early in the morning, we don’t see each other, and i assume he’s still sleeping in his room.
doesn’t mean anything about our marriage, except for that he snores and i need to sleep.
I agree, different bedrooms doesn’t mean something was wrong in their marriage. Sometimes it is about snoring, different sleep schedules, people who toss or kick in their sleep, etc.
I guess it’s just hard for those of us who don’t do that to wrap our heads around it. I don’t know I just don’t think I’d ever leave the house without checking on someone if I knew someone else was there. Especially if I hadn’t seen them since 10pm the previous night and was leaving the hour at 10am or whenever she left. It wasn’t early. The only time I might justify it is if we had a fight the night before, but even then it’s hard to say I would.
Don’t read negativity into this or judge. For many reasons, people who don’t work 8-5 often drift into sleep schedules that others may find odd. Many couples use different BRs, at times, to avoid disturbing the partner. It isn’t all that unusual when space permits. I know loving married couples who live in different towns & spend weekends together.
So Celebitchy must be the land of the snoring spouse! Yeah we don’t always share the same room asleep but honestly I worry about the snoring and I do actually check to make sure he’s in the land of the living next day. So yeah, the nosy person in me does kinda wonder about that.
I truly believe it’s time to let him rest in peace.
Unfortunately, that won’t happen anytime soon. Especially, since the there are still tests that are still pending(toxicology), plus a standard investigation to find out why.
This man made a huge impact on the generation as we can see. So, it will be a while. As long we focus mostly on the positive aspects, and it brings attention for depression instead of it being brushed on the table, I’m not too bothered.
Siri- I’ve read countless stories and comments on the passing of Robin Williams. Yours is the first I’ve felt compelled to respond to. You’re absolutely right.
I have honestly never felt the way I feel now about a celebrity death. Robin Williams was seemingly everywhere. I remember him as a child on Happy Days and Mork & Mindy. Him turning into a bonafide movie actor – and then a seriously well-respected actor in Good Will Hunting and Patch Adams. Finally, enjoying him in his voice roles watching with my now 12 year old son as he grew up – Aladdin, Happy Feet, Robots…..so many. What a loss.
‘When James Lipton asked Robin what he wanted to hear from God when he arrived in Heaven, Robin said “There’s seating at the front. The concert begins at five. It’ll be Mozart, Elvis and one of your choosing. “If heaven exists, to know that there’s laughter, that would be a great thing… Just to hear God go, ‘Two Jews walk into a bar.‘”
Priceless.
Some celebrities, actually very few in my opinion, make such a connection that you lose sight of their fame and they seem in some odd way to be a ‘friend’. Someone we feel we could sit down and hang out with and there would never for a moment be a feeling that they felt they were better than you, more important than you or too big and famous to grace you with their presence. Robin Williams to me was one of those exceptional people.
I read an article last night talking about his childhood and how his affluent parents basically never had the time for him, and often sent him up to the attic to play with his toys. He would be there by himself playing for hours, often frightened as there was poor lighting and half of the attic was dark. It was there that his comic genius, and sense of loneliness was born. Someone said that he had about 4 hours of material just stored in his head and that what many saw as improvisation was just him using one of the comic bits he had floating around in his mind. His mom was a socialite and ex-model and pawned him off on the nannies. He was scared of his dad and wasn’t really allowed to be around him except when his dad wanted to trot his son out when guests were over. Very sad that someone’s gift of bringing joy to so many was created out of his own isolation and lack of love. 🙁
oh, god, that story about his childhood is heartbreaking. 🙁
Well, he didn’t repeat his parent’s mistakes. That takes strength.
That’s the first I’ve ever heard of his childhood – my god, what a terrible situation in which to grow up but what wonderful things he translated that loneliness and pain into. And then to hear about what a wonderful and attentive father he was to his own children…
My heart is full 🙁
http://www.cracked.com/quick-fixes/robin-williams-why-funny-people-kill-themselves/
There is an old saying which goes like this…”The voice of the people is the voice of God.” Surely, whatever God/Creator we all believe in, He/She has surely welcomed this son home, after his all too brief, but perhaps in the end too difficult journey. Rest well Robin , my heart breaks, yet it is happy that you are finally home.
Yes, Robin’s home. And he’ll never feel the fear of being alone and in the dark again.
I was doing good until I read your comment. Can’t fight the tears any longer.
+1000
Beautiful comment. I lost it again.
I loved this quote I read by him…
“I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone. It’s not. The worst thing in life is to end up with people that make you feel alone.”
I get this quote so much it hurts.
Russel Brand , wrote an excellent , and insightful piece about Robin for the Guardian U.K, entitled “Robin Williams’ divine madness will no longer disrupt the sadness of the world.” In it he says….”What platitudes then can we fling along with the listless, insufficient wreaths at the stillness that was once so animated and wired, the silence where the laughter was? That fame and accolades are no defence against mental illness and addiction? That we live in a world that has become so negligent of human values that our brightest lights are extinguishing themselves? That we must be more vigilant, more aware, more grateful, more mindful? That we can’t tarnish this tiny slice of awareness that we share on this sphere amidst the infinite blackness with conflict and hate?” Well said.
Robin Williams was a comedic GENIUS. He was one of my all time favorites!
I love seeing pictures of him, he had such kind eyes, and it’s really wonderful to read people’s stories of meeting him, he always took the time to talk to people, make them laugh, ask them about themselves, what an amazing man.
I am generally a cynical and skeptical person, but I think if there’s a way that his spirit is around somehow, it would be quite nice for him to see how much he touched so many across the world. Not only with his art but by being such a beautiful person.
Thank you Robin!
i know this is a few years old, but i just read it recently, and thought it was lovely – Have a Physicist Speak at Your Funeral:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4675953
That is SO lovely – thank you for sharing.
Wow, that is amazing!
“You want the physicist to remind your sobbing mother about the first law of thermodynamics; that no energy gets created in the universe, and none is destroyed. You want your mother to know that all your energy, every vibration, every Btu of heat, every wave of every particle that was her beloved child remains with her in this world.”
That is my perspective as well. I tried to explain this to my mom when we had the whole “God (less) talk”, and I don’t think she got it.
As they sang in Fame, “and in time, and in time we will all be stars”…in the cosmic sense. We come from the universe, we return to the universe.
So impressed by the eloquence of his children, especially his daughter. I’ve lost both my parents already, and was so overcome with emotion, could cerainly not have written that. What loving tributes to him — I wish he were alive to hear them. For someone who gave so much laughter & light, it shocks me that he must have felt such darkness.
What lovely, heartfelt sentiments expressed by his children. What a terrible, tragic loss for them.
I’ve been waiting for Billy Crystal’s statement. I think that one’s gonna be a weeper.
While I agree that the coverage is excessively prurient, I think it may serve a purpose. I think it’s important that people understand the depth of misery and hopelessness a person can experience – even one who is wealthy, famous, successful, and well loved by family and the world. It hurts to know how desperate he was to end his life, but if it helps just one person to understand, perhaps Robin would approve.
It would seem that he didn’t simply hang himself – jumping off a chair and having no alternative but to strangle. He was seated and persevered through the panicked reflexes that would have saved his life. It’s awful and I understand why people want to look away – out of respect and the desire to not have that image in their head. But I think it’s important that those who can listen to those details do.
Yes, and also Matt Damon’s, if he releases anything.
Agree that the silver lining could be an increased understanding of depression and mental illness.
Matt and Ben released statements yesterday. Billy tweeted ” No Words”
Having been through the hell of depression, and over it thank god as mine was not chronic but triggered by having my daughter and subsequent issues, I understand how Robin could take his own life despite, as his son says, having so much love around him. There is nothing more cruel than depression at its worst, it is a relentless, crushing beast, and unless you’ve been through it you simply can’t comprehend that it can lead to this. Robin had to go, you can’t live like this forever, and I understand that. The sadness and tragedy is that it happens to anyone in the first place. Robin gave so much happiness despite all if is own happiness being taken from him by this most sinister of illnesses. I hope there’s a heaven for Robin.
It was his daughter that said she couldn’t understand how he could kill himself with all the love he had.
@Denise very well said.
I still can’t process it either.
I just sit…and stare.
This morning on the way to work, I heard on the radio that for several years, he quietly donated all the proceeds from his stand up comedy shows here to the local food bank. To the tune of $50 MILLION! Sometimes people just give so much of themselves making sure everyone else is happy, that there’s just nothing left for their own happiness. RIP Robin Williams. May your laughter finally find your own soul.
Thank you for writing this detail – it is so beautiful that he quietly fed people.
I couldn’t stop crying yesterday morning–watching clips from Dead Poets Society completely did me in. I am like a lot of you, feels strange to feel so much for someone I have never met. His struggle with depression hits close to home.
I thought this article at CNN was helpful in that it lists links to descriptions of how debilitating depression can be. It is not something you can “snap out of” or “pick yourself up by the bootstraps”. If something good can come out of the tragedy of losing such a good person as Robin Williams, maybe it is an increased program to help those with mental illness, and less stigma attached.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/22/living/going-public-with-depression/index.html?iref=allsearch
When I was a kid living in McAllen, Texas during the mid to late 70’s, my oldest brother hooked up or house with the brand new movie channel HBO. Robin WIlliams “Reality~What a Concept” was the very first~and to this day, still most profound~stand up comedy that I ever saw. He has literally shaped parts of my life, with his humor and comedy. What a horrible loss~
Sarah Michelle Gellar saying her kids called him “Uncle Robin” and that he was the father she always dreamed of having made me really emotional.
I also feel sad for her husband. Freddie’s dad (also a comedian) committed suicide, too.
Cody’s statement affected met the most. I don’t know if heaven exists but I do believe the soul/spirit goes on.
I live on a small island in the Caribbean and everyone here was talking about his passing and how much of a sad and unexpected shock it was. Reading all of the outpouring of love and remembrances makes it all a bit bearable somehow.
“I can’t remember ever being as affected by a celebrity death as I have been by Williams’ passing.”
I can. John Ritter.
I just can’t with this. It’s too much! Celebitchy is the only place I’m getting my information and even then I can barely read the comments. He was so God blessedly Good! A good natured, beautiful, loving man that delighted me with his every expression. I’m with Bedhead- I don’t remember a time a celebrity death has ever made me so sad. And his daughters words: “I’ll never, ever understand how he could be loved so deeply and not find it in his heart to stay” was one of my first thoughts when I was able to be rational. I know I’m fending off tears. This is all I can share right now.
Ugh. It’s like my black heart has grown 3 sizes and it sucks. I grew up without a dad in the picture through the late 80’s early 90s which were Robin Williams’ best years. He was everything little kid me wanted in a father figure; warm, generous, and funny as hell. Pretty sure I’m not the only person in their mid to early thirties now who feel the same because he was such a pervasive force in our childhoods. That is what I think makes this such a punch in the gut to so many of us. Still it’s nice to see that his kids unlike so many in Hollywood have intelligence, class and both feet on the ground. Whatever his faults they’re a credit to Robin Williams.
Keep sending love to his family. Trolls are using this to post evil things to his daughter’s Twitter and Dylan Howard of Radar Online is posting his medical records and pictures of him at AA meetings.
I saw an article about the trolls I can’t believe there are people being so cruel in this situation. Last I read, she’s taking a break from twitter and will decide if she will keep it or not.
I’ve read that too. I am disgusted. No one celebrity or not deserve this.
I don’t cry over celebrities, actors, movie stars. I’m crying over Robin whom I’ve watched for decades, I think, because he seemed like a sweet, gentle, decent human being, a mensch. Combined with a genius which could make me laugh, he was beyond rubies.
Depression is a black hole that sucks the life out of you, annihilates all that is good and true and blinds you to anything that isn’t dark and bleak. It’s like being possessed by demons because you believe it all.
His children are an abiding legacy- he would be be so proud. He gave something to this world on the plus side in so many ways. I only wish we all could have helped him.
May “flights of angels sing thee to they rest”, dear man. And to laughter.
The last time a celebrity death sucker-punched me was when Gilda Radner passed. That one was rough.
As to the question as to why Robin was in a separate bedroom, let me speculate: with depression routinely comes insomnia. Big time. So why should two people be up all night? At least let somebody get some sleep.
So he had his own bedroom. To spare his wife a lack of sleep.
I bought the USA Today newspaper today, and there was a great article by a reporter that was in the same area as Robin in Marin County, and they had a chance encounter at a restaurant and ate lunch together. Imagine walking up to a man eating lunch alone and asking if you could sit there and eat also and he answers yes, and then you realize the man you were asking was Robin Williams. It was just several months ago. It’s a nice article.
http://archive.floridatoday.com/usatoday/article/13948075?odyssey=mod_sectionstories
As tragic as it sounds, and as upset as I am by his passing, his passing doesn’t surprise me. Its usually the ones who try so hard to make other people happy that are drowning themselves. Often, behind the comedy mask, there’s a tragedy mask lurking, just below the surface.
If, nothing else, hopefully his tragic end will inspire others to look beyond the surface, and seek/reach out to the people that need it. It takes one second to do something kind, but that second could save someones life.
oh, I just want to write this . .
i’m more affected by this loss than I understand. I grew up watching Robin Williams – starting with Mork and Mindy reruns on Nick at Night when I was a kid. I think we all recognized him as some kind of wild, original comic genius, but the thing that struck me – really really struck me – was his tenderness. There are moments in his films, through his characters, in his eyes – Good Will Hunting & Dead Poets Society, especially – moments of such sensitivity, honest vulnerability and kindness. I wish now that I had the opportunity to briefly meet him – just to give him a hug and tell him how much his work meant to me.
I am so deeply saddened to think of the suffering that would bring him to seek this release and relief. As someone who has experienced depression myself, I understand how it can feel. I wish his friends and family comfort and love as they come to terms with the loss of his physical presence in their lives.
My love to anyone reading this who struggles with the monster that is depression. You are not alone. Even in your darkest moment, you are not alone.
**May your spirit be free, Robin Williams. I pray that you are in a better place and that you can feel the incredible love that is here for you. Your presence and your talent was a blessing here.
My soul hurts with this particular celebrity death. Ugh. he was such a great person.
This is hitting all of us harder than we thought it seems.
Watched What Dreams May Come last night and had a good sob.
His childrens statements are beautiful. Such a void he’s left in the world.
oh, god, i can’t watch that movie without crying.
I lost it last night when I read about Koko, then watched Jimmy Fallon.
He broke down, genuinely, and then went into impersonations of Robin Williams. They showed clips of him on Johnny Carson, then Fallon got on his desk and recited “O Captain, My Captain.”
First his tears got me, then when he took the step to climb on his desk. I ugly cried.
I think all of the video of Williams is making it harder. He was so engaging and talented that I still find myself enjoying a clip and laughing, and then it’s over and it hits me all over again that he’s gone.
I was recently diagnosed with Bipolar II disorder. For the last two and a half years I had been in an endless cycle of severe, clinical depression where I lived in a pit of despair and worthlessness and a roaring voice telling me I couldn’t go on; that life would only be full of more pain and unhappiness. A voice in my heart would attack everything that I was, and tell me I was unlovable, hopeless, and black on the inside. That voice told me I was a bad person and that everyone around me deserved better. The times when I would surface above the darkness were few and far between, and I would wonder whether it was possible to use up all the liquid in my body with my endless tears. I would wake up crying and go to sleep crying, I would burst into tears for no reason. I would have multiple panic attacks all day, everyday.
I am now seeing a psychologist twice a week, and take mood stabilizers and anti-depressants/anxiety medications every day. It took a lot of effort on behalf of my psychiatrist, psychologist, family, and myself to figure out the meds and the dosages, and finally get back to stability.
It has now been a full month. Of feeling hopeful, positive, and fine. It is such a deep, deep, deep relief like you wouldn’t believe. Like I can finally take a full breath without feeling like I was choking on despair.
I so wish Robin Williams could have found that relief. His death has hit me so hard because I grew up with him. He was Genie and Mrs. Doubtfire and Peter Pan and the bat in Fern Gully; Jack and Teddy Roosevelt and Patch Adams and the man trapped in a board game in Jumanji. He was Sean Maguire, John Keating, and the King of the Moon. He was generous, kind, and unique. He filled my heart and home with laughter and happiness. His death also hit me hard because I understood; I’ve been there. And it pains me so much to know how much and how deeply he must have been hurting in those last weeks/days/hours up until his final moments. I’ve been crying, grieving from my very core all day.
My heart and soul go out to everyone who loved him; fellow admirers of his work, his spirit, his sense of compassion, and his infectious, relentless, and bright personality. My thoughts and positive vibes of encouragement also go out to those of you who have gone or continue to go through something similar. I wish you so much happiness, light, and laughter. Mental illness is not your fault– it is a condition or disease that needs to be treated and managed like any other. You are not alone, and there are people who will understand and listen and help. You are worth it, your happiness is worth it.
Aysla – so glad to hear you’re better. hang in there. with the right support, medication, and therapy, “miracles” do happen. 🙂 i was long-term severely depressed a few years ago (what you said about crying really resonated with me), and switching doctors several times and trying many, many medications (before finding a combo that worked) was nothing short of amazing for me. the relief finally helped me climb out of the hole i was in, get out of a shitty relationship, and just change my situation. now, my life is so freaking different and i am so happy that it’d difficult for me to believe that that was also me. so, don’t ever think that you’re alone either. as a wise friend of mine said, “depression lies to you.” hugs.
Aysla….I cannot tell you how glad I am that you have found relief and hope. I will never see your face or hear your voice, but just by reading what you wrote, I would be honored to call you a friend. I know the the fight against that heavy darkness is hard, but I believe 100% that you will not only make it through, but come out the other side and find what joy belongs to you. We all deserve joy and happiness, and it can be found. If that unending darkness or that lying voice tries to come for you, remember you are not alone. Inside of you is a core of strength, tougher than steel, and a light so bright, it will make that darkness run away. Keep fighting, keep living. Robin Williams was a gift to millions of people. So are you. Thank you for coming here and sharing your struggle and your triumph with us.
Beautifully said, and huge hugs for you! It’s a struggle, a journey, through the darkness, but there is light. There is always light. It’s just hard to remember sometimes. And mental illness is really the most gifted liar of all, and a thief of that light.
Hope your progress continues 🙂
He was just too damn good for this world. There seems to be overwhelming proof of that, but the most shining of all, his beautiful children. Still absolutely gutted by this.
I hope after taking all the time she needs, Zelda does come back to social media. That she was able to pen that, with grace and humor, after this…it’s a testament to her character and how she was raised. And as possibly nosy as this may sound, I think I’d like to hear what she has to say sometime, about whatever she’d like to talk about. The world needs more like her. Much love to her and her brothers.
I never realized his upbringing, the child of a well-to-do family, but his parents were distant and uninvolved with him, and his father sounded beyond cold. He was a lonely child, who was only allowed to play with his toys up in the attic, which kind of frightened him up there. It’s how he developed his imagination, and always trying to be funny for his mom to get her attention. He said the maid, basically, raised him. He has two stepbrothers he was not raised with, one,his mother’s first child, raised by her parents, and his other stepbrother from his father, raised by the ex-wife. But they grew close when they became adults and considered themselves family,
We went to the movies today and one of the trailers was for the next Night at the Museum and it made us sad to see Robin Williams in the trailer, worse because you’re supposed to be happy seeing that he’s in the picture. Damn. He is going to be MISSED!
While I think that this is really sad, I did not know Robin Williams and cannot say that his death has impacted me beyond the method. I am so saddened for his children and hope that they can heal from this tragedy.
There have been heated discussions on depression but the only thing that I know for sure is that those left behind are very much victims. My cousin at the age of 17 found her mother hanging in the basement and I can safely say that 30+ years on she is still traumatized by this event and I am angry and hurt for her.
Robin’s childrens’ statements are beautiful, reflect on the happy memories their father left them and as someone mentioned eloquent. Kind & warm souls like their dad. Those kids loved their father immensely and adored him despite his unfortunate battle with depression.
I wasn’t aware of the hoax autopsy picture not until I looked up his name on twitter, there it was. It was f*cking disgusting that another humanbeing tweeted that crap to his child. Sick, sick people. Where has the compassion gone in some folks? What do you gain by adding to someone’s grief by tweeting a doctored graphic photo? Grow a conscious.
I was so upset to hear about how he died because he was in so much pain. I hear the coroner has to give these details, it is their obligation. I assume its something that they have to comply to. His story about his childhood was heartbreaking.
Never has a death of a celebrity affected me so much as Robin’s.
The biggest issue I have with celebrity deaths is that the media will relentlessly harass and exploit the grief of the families concerned. We all wish Robin could see the overwhelming amount of love the whole world had for him and the profound part he played in each and every person’s life around the world.
They throw around the phrase ‘a light has gone out in the world’ but right now this couldn’t be more true.
It’s weird, right? How a person we never met or knew in private has left such a mark on us all. He just came through so strongly in personality.
Ugh. People are awful. Why torment a family like that with a fake photo. I can’t deal with these threads.
Yes, Zelda closed her Twitter account because of that. Disgusting…
He seemed to be doing so good four, five years ago after getting sober. I found this interview when he was in Atlanta after he did a comedy show at The Fox Theatre. His son Zak was with him. The heartbreaking part was Zak saying pretty much they gave him an ultimatum to get sober back when he was drinking because they didn’t think he would live much longer if he didn’t stop. (paraphrasing). Then after the heart surgery and facing his mortality, it seemed to give him a new lease on life and more emotional.
He was so cute in the interview when talking about the meet and greet he had just done and a woman telling him he helped her beat cancer.
“Asked why he still commanded such devotion from his audience after a three-year period in which he has contended with alcohol dependency, divorce and heart surgery, Mr. Williams sat up and let loose a loud, joyous cackle. “I know what you’re saying,” he said. “What’s my credibility? Why are they looking to me for advice? Isn’t there someone more qualified?”
I can just envision him getting a kick out of the irony of that.
I genuinely could not concentrate at work the next day when I found out. I wanted to cry the entire day. He’s really touched more people than he ever knew.
I never thought I would be this crushed when a celebrity passed. I remember being in school, when Cobain died, and they had to bring in grief counselors. And I was wondering wtf was wrong with everyone.
Now I know.
Poor Zelda had to close her Twitter account because troll sent her that phony autopsy pic. Disgusting.
There’s a special place in hell for those types of people. Who can be so soulless to do something like that?
When I heard, I just stopped dead for a moment, it hurt me so much. Mork, oh Mork. Yes, I am that old, so I remember Robin first as Mork, from Mork and Mindy. I truly love Robin Williams. The great depth of that man’s soul was always, always visible in his work, in his person. This one just hurts. But, I was not surprised. At all. I’ve read lots about Robin’s depression. It was severe. It was relentless. So he finally threw in the towel. And you know, I have not one ounce of blame for him. I’m sorry that his family is hurting so bad. I’m sorry that his fans are hurting so bad, but thank God HE is not hurting so bad anymore. And if he felt he had had enough, then so be it. I want to knock people out when they say it was selfish. They don’t know. They don’t understand. Robin gave the world so much joy for so many years, he is the last person on earth who should be accused of selfishness. If that dear, sweet soul couldn’t take anymore, then who has the right to ask him to? I doubt even his family blame him. Nobody could if they knew how much he suffered.
If you truly reap what you sow, that man should have been the happiest person on earth. His work gave so many people laughter and joy that to think he was denied those simple things himself is just cruel. But we know from psychological studies that the funniest people often have the deepest well of sadness and hurt. Perhaps that’s why they struggle so much to make others laugh. To find humor in life. To give others amusement and relief from the grimmer moments in life. If laughter is the best medicine then Robin healed billions. If only it could have healed him.
So to Mork I say Bon Voyage, sweet, funny man. I hope God is telling you his favorite Two Jews joke right now. I thank you for the gift you made your life to all of us. I love you.
beautiful thoughts and heartfelt words