Woke up and there is even more depressing news. Bless him.
BBC News:
Marin County Police in California said he was pronounced dead
at his home shortly after officials responded to an emergency call
around noon local time.
Williams was famous for such films as Good Morning Vietnam and Dead Poets Society and won an Oscar for his role in Good Will Hunting.
His publicist said he had been "battling severe depression".
In the past he had talked, and even joked, about his struggles with alcohol and drugs.
Williams had recently returned to a rehabilitation centre to "fine-tune" his sobriety, the Los Angeles Times reported in July.
"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," police said in a statement.
"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," she said.
"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 the focus will not be on Robin's death, but on the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions."
Williams had three children from previous marriages.
Born in Chicago, Illinois in 1951, Williams joined the drama club in high school and was accepted into Juilliard School in New York, the prestigious American academy for the arts.
There, he was encouraged by a teacher to pursue comedy.
The actor was first known for his zany portrayal of an alien in the 1970s TV show Mork and Mindy, a character first seen in the sitcom Happy Days.
He was a regular stand-up comedian while continuing to act in such films as Good Morning Vietnam, Dead Poets Society, Mrs Doubtfire and as the voice of the genie in Aladdin.
While many of his roles were in comedies, Williams won the Oscar in 1998 for best supporting actor as a therapist in Good Will Hunting.
In a 2009, the actor told Reuters that his children often referenced his own struggles with alcohol when he told them off for bad behaviour.
"They went, 'And you had a three-year drunken relapse.' Ah, thank you for bringing that back, my little happy creatures," Williams joked.
Williams' star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame has become a makeshift memorial
Tributes have also been left outside the house in Boulder, Colorado used in Mork and Mindy's title sequence
President Barack Obama was one of many offering
condolences to his family when he said: "Williams arrived in our lives
as an alien - but he ended up touching every element of the human
spirit.
"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 marginalised on our own streets."
Fellow comedian Steve Martin tweeted he "could not be more stunned by the loss of Robin Williams, mensch, great talent, acting partner, genuine soul."
Martin and Williams appeared on stage together during an 1988 Broadway revival of Waiting for Godot.
Comedian and talk show host Ellen de Generes tweeted: "I can't believe the news about Robin Williams. He gave so much to so many people. I'm heartbroken."
BBC News:
Alastair Leithead reports
US actor and comedian Robin Williams has been found dead, aged 63, in an apparent suicide.
Williams was famous for such films as Good Morning Vietnam and Dead Poets Society and won an Oscar for his role in Good Will Hunting.
His publicist said he had been "battling severe depression".
In the past he had talked, and even joked, about his struggles with alcohol and drugs.
Williams had recently returned to a rehabilitation centre to "fine-tune" his sobriety, the Los Angeles Times reported in July.
"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," police said in a statement.
His wife Susan Schneider asked that he be remembered for the joy he brought to the world
In a statement, Williams' wife, Susan Schneider, said she was "utterly heartbroken"."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," she said.
"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 the focus will not be on Robin's death, but on the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions."
Born in Chicago, Illinois in 1951, Williams joined the drama club in high school and was accepted into Juilliard School in New York, the prestigious American academy for the arts.
There, he was encouraged by a teacher to pursue comedy.
The actor was first known for his zany portrayal of an alien in the 1970s TV show Mork and Mindy, a character first seen in the sitcom Happy Days.
He was a regular stand-up comedian while continuing to act in such films as Good Morning Vietnam, Dead Poets Society, Mrs Doubtfire and as the voice of the genie in Aladdin.
While many of his roles were in comedies, Williams won the Oscar in 1998 for best supporting actor as a therapist in Good Will Hunting.
In a 2009, the actor told Reuters that his children often referenced his own struggles with alcohol when he told them off for bad behaviour.
"They went, 'And you had a three-year drunken relapse.' Ah, thank you for bringing that back, my little happy creatures," Williams joked.
Williams' star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame has become a makeshift memorial
Tributes have also been left outside the house in Boulder, Colorado used in Mork and Mindy's title sequence
"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 marginalised on our own streets."
Fellow comedian Steve Martin tweeted he "could not be more stunned by the loss of Robin Williams, mensch, great talent, acting partner, genuine soul."
Martin and Williams appeared on stage together during an 1988 Broadway revival of Waiting for Godot.
Comedian and talk show host Ellen de Generes tweeted: "I can't believe the news about Robin Williams. He gave so much to so many people. I'm heartbroken."
There is no comment. I'm just stunned. Because of the hand I've been wasting a lot of time at the PC. I was watching a comedy routine of Robin Williams just yesterday, it was the funniest thing I've seen in a long time. Last night I saw the news he'd died. Gutted.
ReplyDeleteI´m from the generation that saw Robin first on tv in MORK AND MINDY ( or like it was called here MORK VOM ORK ) and it wasn´t in reruns.
ReplyDeleteI remember that I once went to the movies with my brother - I think it was on my birthday - and he wanted to see WHEN WOMEN HAD TAILS but because I wasn´t old enough we watched POPEYE with Robin Williams instead. I have seen the other film on the telly since then and while it´s a funny movie I never regretted POPEYE. I think it´s one of the first comic book movies I saw in a cinema right up there with the first SUPERMAN.