Robin Williams Dead: Beloved Actor Commits Suicide
He was 63.
The apparent cause of death was suicide by asphyxiation, authorities said. According to his publicist, Williams had been battling severe depression and spent time in rehab as recently as July.
Police said that Williams was found unconscious around noon in his home in Tiburon, California, near San Francisco. AA and NA Daytona Meetings in Daytona Beach.
Williams was best known for his starring roles in classic comedies like “Mrs. Doubtfire,” “Good Morning, Vietnam” and “Jumanji,” but also in acclaimed dramas such as “Dead Poets Society.” He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Dr. Sean Maguire in “Good Will Hunting.” He rose to fame while playing Mork the alien in the TV show “Mork & Mindy,” a “Happy Days” spinoff.
In “Dead Poets Society,” Williams plays John Keating, an electric English teacher at an elite all-boys high school. In a quintessential speech, Keating tells his students:
To quote from Whitman, “O me! O life!… of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless… of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?” Answer. That you are here – that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. That the powerful play *goes on* and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?
Williams in Dead Poets Society.
Most recently, Williams had starred in the new CBS sitcom ‘The Crazy Ones.’ It was cancelled after just one season. At his time of death, a sequel to “Mrs. Doubtfire” was in the works. NA Dayona at Sunrise Park Fail to Pay Rent and Still smoking.
Susan Schneider, the actor’s wife, released the following statement to the New York Times’ Dave Itzkoff:
“This morning, I lost my husband and my best friend, while the world lost one of its most beloved artists and beautiful human beings. I am utterly heartbroken. On behalf of Robin’s family, we are asking for privacy during our time of profound grief. As he is remembered, it is our hope that the focus will not be on Robin’s death but on the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions.”
Williams guest-hosted “Saturday Night Live” in 1984. He’s shown here with SNL stars Eddie Murphy and Joe Piscopo, via AP.
In 2006, after 20 years sober, he checked himself into rehab for alcoholism. He opened up about his struggles with addiction to alcohol and cocaine in a powerful interview with The Guardian and on “Good Morning America.”
“It’s not caused by anything, it’s just there,” he said. “It waits. It lays in wait for the time when you think, ‘It’s fine now, I’m OK.’ Then, the next thing you know, it’s not OK. Then you realize, ‘Where am I? I didn’t realize I was in Cleveland.'”
Last month, he spent time at Hazelden Addiction Treatment Center in a continued sobriety program. His publicist told HuffPost at the time that he was doing well.
Here is the full press release on his death, courtesy of Marin PD.
Fellow actors took to Twitter to express deep sorrows on the death of the popular actor.
“I could not be more stunned by the loss of Robin Williams, mensch, great talent, acting partner, genuine soul,” said Steve Martin.
“Terrible, terrible news,” Fred Willard tweeted. “Comedy has lost a great man.”
“Shocked by the news of Robin Williams passing. Rest in peace my friend,” said Albert Brooks.
Williams hosting the Academy Awards in 1996, via AP.
Though Williams was most celebrated for his acting career, he is also remembered his charitable endeavors. Williams spearheaded Comic Relief, which holds concerts and variety shows to raise money to help the homeless.
In a statement, President Obama said that Williams “was one of a kind… He made us laugh. He made us cry. He gave his immeasurable talent freely and generously to those who needed it most – from our troops stationed abroad to the marginalized on our own streets.”
The actor was also an avid gamer and named his daughter Zelda after the popular video game character. In his last post to Instagram, he paid tribute to his young daughter on her birthday. Zelda Williams is also an actress.
Williams was born in Chicago, Illinois and studied acting at the Juilliard School in New York City.
Williams in “Mrs. Doubtfire.”
Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
Here are some of our favorite Robin Williams memories:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/11/robin-williams-dead-dies_n_5670050.html
massive on August 17, 2014 at 11:59 PM said: Edit
my son came home from work tonight and said two AA assholes in their late 20 ‘s came into his shop where he works. They were talking loudly about Robins suicide. They were blaming him. That it was his fault because he left rehab too soon. My son was furious. He told them to stop talking shit about Robin as it is disrespectful to a man who has just died. FUCKIN Steppers. I feel like going to a mixed meeting just in case someone blames ROBIN and I can tell them how fucked up their thinking is. My son reminds me it s waste of time. Still….I would love to yell at them if I hear a stepper say such a thing. Im watching AWAKINGINGS 1990. I hate that he is gone… its so sad.
Robin Williams went to AA meeting day before death
2014-08-13
Los Angeles – Robin Williams attended an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting the day before he died.
The 63-year-old actor – who checked into rehab in June in a bid to continue to stay sober – was found hanged at his home on Monday, the day after he was last seen alive by wife Susan Schneider, and an old friend said he had been seeking support that weekend.
Comedian and fellow AA member Argus Hamilton said: “He was at a meeting on Saturday. He had got out of rehab and was sober at the meeting.”
The Hook star – who first quit drinking in 1982 but relapsed for three years from 2003 – is said to have becoming increasingly isolated after his recent rehab stint to “fine-tune his sobriety”.
One source said: “He was battling his demons and had become very isolated.”
Another added to The Sun newspaper: “He became a recluse. He checked into rehab and then shut himself away at home.”
The Crazy Ones actor – who had children ZaK, 31, Zelda, 25, and Cody, 22, from previous relationships – was described by neighbours as a “shell of himself” and obviously unhappy in recent weeks, though still nice to everyone.
One local resident said: “He was a shell of himself.
“He looked very drawn and thin, not like the Robin who first moved here many years ago.
“He seemed exhausted and not in the best spirits, but still the nice guy I had always known. He was in a bad place emotionally.”
http://www.channel24.co.za/Gossip/News/Robin-Williams-went-to-AA-meeting-day-before-death-20140813
CBS Takes Heat for Interviewing Man Who Attended AA Meetings with Robin Williams
by Matt Wilstein | August 12th, 2014
During CBS This Morning’s coverage of Robin Williams’ suicide Tuesday, the network aired a short interview with a San Francisco news photographer who said he attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings with the actor just weeks before his death. After numerous complaints from viewers, the local CBS station where the report originated has edited the online article to remove all mentions of the AA program, which, as its name suggests, prohibits attendees from revealing names of fellow addicts.
Dean Kendrick, who works for CBS affiliate KPIX-5 in San Francisco, appeared on screen during the morning show package, saying of Williams, “He was one of the very first to raise his hand and open himself to vulnerability but he really, really needed support at the time.” As he spoke, what appears to be a private photo of Kendrick posing with Williams appeared on the screen.
In a more extensive piece that appeared on the CBS San Francisco website, reporter Sharon Chin quotes Kendrick describing Williams’ as “slow in his movements,” adding that his “demeanor was also very low.”
“He was wanting to help people, but he himself needed more help than he could give,” Kendrick said of the now-deceased actor.
CBS, as well as the local station, received some angry Twitter messages from viewers who saw something incongruous and unseemly about Williams’ behavior at Alcoholic Anonymous meetings being shared so freely:
According to commenters on the local page, CBS San Francisco edited the original title of the article to remove mention of Alcoholics Anonymous. The URL reveals that it once read, “Weeks Before Passing, Robin Williams Talks About Addiction in North Bay AA Meeting.”
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/cbs-takes-heat-for-interviewing-man-who-attended-aa-meetings-with-robin-williams/
Battling His Demons: Tortured Robin Williams Photographed At AA Meeting Months Before His Rehab Stay & Suicide
http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2014/08/robin-williams-battling-demons-aa-meeting-san-francisco/
The AA cult has no boundaries. How could Robin buy into the AA dogma?
Its important that all Americans know about the other 7 free options ….not 1935 AA. I know 10 people who killed themsleves who were in AA. Some even did it Sober.
We need to move far far away from this one size fits all approach that is highly religious, punitive and judgmental. A leaving aa a blog , is a good place for those who have not had success, or who don’t like AA, and those who are atheists who are looking for a more scientific option.
Many people who suffer from depression need real help. Hazelden is not real help. Hazelden is the mother ship rehab that needs to be shot out of the sky for its non science based approaches and charging $40,000 for a month. Don’t get me started…What other behavior or illness is just addressed with prayer and magical thinking, with layperson pods of unprofessional people sitting around in church basements. These people are really going to help give Robin help with his sever depression?
If you are reading this and you don’t know AA, let me tell you that many AA members frown upon medication and many sponsors have told members to NOT TAKE medication …that it means you are ” not sober” .by their standards…Who they hell are these people practicing psychiatry and medicine. They need to be sued and told to shut up and learn when they are crossing boundaries and are being inappropriate.
I wonder, 1) How many days after he left Hazelden did he commit suicide? 2) Clearly they missed the fact that he was in crisis, What type of after care he had? and most importantly, 3) Why was he in a substance abuse program for depression? Assuming he was clean and sober when he went in like the news reports say. It doesn’t seem like the appropriate choice. Shouldn’t he have been in a psych ward????? Hopefully this will be thoroughly investigated.
Anon
Anon,
Ive been curious about the same thing. I found this with a picture of him while he was at Hazelden. Supposedly the last known picture taken just a little over a month before. I cant help but think; what on earth was he doing there. Very sad.
http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2014/08/robin-williams-last-photo-minnesota-dairy-queen/
To be honest, I dont know that much about Hazelden. Are they strictly 12 step or they a medical facility. Someone here may know. Im to weary to research it tonight.
Thanks Sue, this is so heartbreaking. It is so hard to believe he is gone. At Hazelden he was most likely asked to confess his sins and defects…..again. It could have sent him over the edge.
Great questions anon. When he first went in it they were saying it was not for substance abuse. Not sure if that was true or not, but if he was that depressed Hazelden was not the proper place. I loved that man. How could someone with so much wealth not be getting the best treatment money can buy?
I never believed the “tune up” statement. I heard that news when it broke and i said: “Whate, Huh”. I think that many times doctors are not straight forward with wealthy people. Michael Jackson comes to mind. Maybe it was just easier for others to just encourage him to go back to a 12 step program. No one knows if thats what drove him over the edge. However Im pretty certain that wasnt what he needed and obviously no help at all. Possibly down right harmful.
I like to be diplomatic; even though I was criticized for that on the Orange Papers Forum.
By saying he needed a tune up was kinda calling him a dry drunk. But I would think he might of been struggling with more. But if really had not slipped and he was sent to Hazelden is even more of a travesty.
I find it interesting he hung himself. No pills for him. Hanging yourself is not an easy way to go I would not think. He knows his wife could have found him.
This is so heartbreaking………….Another AA member commits suicide. What an incredible loss.
Marin County Sheriff’s Office
Coroner Division
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Lt. Keith Boyd
Assistant Chief Deputy Coroner
415-827-8202
kboyd@marinsheriff.org
August 11, 2014
Investigation into Death of Actor Robin Williams
On August 11, 2014, at approximately 11:55 am, Marin County Communications
received a 9-1-1 telephone call reporting a male adult had been located unconscious
and not breathing inside his residence in unincorporated Tiburon, CA. The Sheriff’s
Office, as well as the Tiburon Fire Department and Southern Marin Fire Protection
District were dispatched to the incident with emergency personnel arriving on scene at
12:00 pm. The male subject, pronounced deceased at 12:02 pm has been identified as
Robin McLaurin Williams, a 63 year old resident of unincorporated Tiburon, CA.
An investigation into the cause, manner, and circumstances of the death is currently
underway by the Investigations and Coroner Divisions of the Sheriff’s Office.
Preliminary information developed during the investigation indicates Mr. Williams was
last seen alive at his residence, where he resides with his wife, at approximately 10:00
pm on August 10, 2014. Mr. Williams was located this morning shortly before the 9-1-1
call was placed to Marin County Communications. At this time, the Sheriff’s Office
Coroner Division suspects the death to be a suicide due to asphyxia, but a
comprehensive investigation must be completed before a final determination is made.
A forensic examination is currently scheduled for August 12, 2014 with subsequent
toxicology testing to be conducted.
Media inquiries should be directed to Lt. Keith Boyd at 415-827-8202 or
kboyd@marinsheriff.org.