Image copyright 2018 Getty Images. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Actor Robin Williams appears onstage during MTV's Total Request Live at the MTV Times Square Studios on April 27, 2006 in New York City. (Photo by Peter Kramer/Getty Images)
Image copyright 2018 Getty Images. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Actor Robin Williams appears onstage during MTV's Total Request Live at the MTV Times Square Studios on April 27, 2006 in New York City. (Photo by Peter Kramer/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES (WFLA) - This weekend marks four years since the death of iconic Oscar-winning actor Robin Williams.
Williams was found dead in his California home on Aug. 11, 2014, at the age of 63. Authorities ruled his death a suicide. His family later said he suffered from dementia caused by Lewy body disease.
News of the legendary actor's death left fans all over the world shocked and heartbroken. Tributes quickly started pouring in from his family, friends, fans and fellow actors who called him a "national treasure."
Image copyright 2018 Getty Images. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Actor Robin Williams appears onstage during MTV's Total Request Live at the MTV Times Square Studios on April 27, 2006 in New York City. (Photo by Peter Kramer/Getty Images)
Image copyright 2018 Getty Images. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Actor Robin Williams appears onstage during MTV's Total Request Live at the MTV Times Square Studios on April 27, 2006 in New York City. (Photo by Peter Kramer/Getty Images)
Williams got his start as a stand-up comedian and then quickly rose to fame playing the alien Mork on "Happy Days" and the spin-off show "Mork & Mindy."
He made his big screen debut in 1977 in "Can I Do it 'Til I Need Glasses?" and made his breakthrough 10 years later in the film "Good Morning, Vietnam."
Williams later went on to star in movies like "Dead Poets Society," Hook," Aladdin," "Mrs. Doubtfire," "Jumanji" and "Patch Adams." He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1997 for his role in "Good Will Hunting."
The actor also regularly traveled on USO tours to perform for United States troops and co-hosted telethons for Comic Relief.
Throughout his career, Williams was open with his fans about his struggles with substance abuse and his sobriety.
The death of actor and comedian Robin Williams of an apparent suicide shocked and saddened Hollywood stars and movie lovers alike.
At 63, Williams left behind a career that spanned decades, from comedy to television to many unforgettable roles on the big screen. Those included a unconventional poetry professor, a kindly British nanny and a manic cartoon genie. Here's a list of 10 of his best:
Adrian Cronauer in "Good Morning Vietnam" (1987)
On of Williams' first breakout film roles was his portrayal of a radio DJ in Saigon in 1965 during the Vietnam War. Cronauer's unorthodox style wasn't too popular with his superiors, but it gave Williams plenty of opportunities to do what he did best.
John Keating in "Dead Poets Society" (1989)
Williams played a spirited English teacher at a stuffy New England boarding school who taught his students to appreciate poetry and seize the day through his unconventional teaching methods. At the end, the boys take to their desks and show their support for Keating by quoting Walt Whitman's "O Captain! My Captain." The role earned Williams an Oscar nomination.
Dr. Malcolm Sayer in "Awakenings" (1990)
Williams earned raves playing a doctor who administered a new drug that revived patients (including one played by Robert De Niro) who had been in a catatonic state for decades. As they are reintroduced to the world, he rediscovers the joys of life along with them.
Peter Pan/Peter Banning in "Hook" (1991)
Williams played a grown-up version of the boy who once refused to grow up in this Peter Pan tale. When Captain Hook (Dustin Hoffman) kidnaps his children, an adult Peter -- now a busy and absent corporate lawyer -- must return to Neverland and recapture his youthful spirit in order to rescue them.
The Genie in "Aladdin" (1992)
He had phenomenal cosmic powers and itty bitty living space -- Willaims' blue-hued, manic genie was one of the highlights of this animated Disney film. His performance is strewn with rapid-fire pop culture references, impressions and the couldn't-get-it-out-of-your-head-if-you-wanted-to song, "Friend Like Me."
Daniel Hillard/Mrs. Doubtfire in "Mrs. Doubtfire" (1993)
Talk about going above and beyond for your kids -- in this 1993 classic, Williams played a voice actor who, after a bitter divorce, poses as an elderly British nanny (one who can still kick a soccer ball and dance around with the vacuum cleaner, though) to spend more time with his children. A sequel was in the works at the time of the actor's death.
Alan Parrish in "Jumanji" (1995)
Williams played a young boy who became trapped in the magical board game of the movie's title, only to be freed by two other youngsters who stumble upon it 26 years later. He's then forced to play once again, and face the wild animals and other dangers it unleashes, until they finally finish the game.
Armand Goldman in "The Birdcage" (1996)
This remake of "La Cage aux Folles" starred Williams as the partner of a gay nightclub owner (Nathan Lane) who dresses in drag when their son brings his new fiancee and her moralistic parents home to meet them.
Dr. Sean Maguire in "Good Will Hunting" (1997)
Williams earned a best supporting actor Oscar for his role as a therapist who helps a troubled M.I.T. janitor and math prodigy find direction in his life. If you didn't already know the actor could tackle serious roles as deftly as comedic ones, here's the proof.
Theodore Roosevelt in "Night at the Museum" (2006) and sequels
There are many other movies with memorable Williams roles, but we'll finish this list with a more recent example of his comedic talents. He played a rousing Theodore Roosevelt in this family-friendly pic, and reprised the role in a 2008 sequel and a third film, "Night at the Museum: Secrets of the Tomb."
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On this day four years ago, the news of Robin Williams’ death hit headlines leaving the world in mourning.
The comedian who brought so much joy to millions of fans across the globe took his own life aged 63 at his home in California, it was thought Williams was struggling with either severe depression or bipolar disorder at the time.
Providing a statement to CNN following the tragic news, Williams’ media representative Mara Buxbaum confirmed this saying:
He has been battling severe depression of late. This is a tragic and sudden loss. The family respectfully asks for their privacy as they grieve during this very difficult time.
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While the beloved comedian and actor was never knowingly diagnosed with either depression or bipolar disorder, he was open about his mental health issues.
Discussing it on occasion in interviews, while speaking to Terry Gross on his NPR Fresh Air radio show in 2006, Williams spoke about his battle with depression.
Explaining that he does imitate mania for some of his characters on stage and screen, Williams admitted depression affected him differently:
Do I perform sometimes in a manic style? Yes. Am I manic all the time? No. Do I get sad? Oh yeah. Does it hit me hard? Oh yeah. No clinical depression, no. No. I get bummed, like I think a lot of us do at certain times. You look at the world and go, ‘Whoa’. Other moments you look and go, ‘oh, things are okay’.
It is known though Williams had a history of problems with drugs and alcohol checking himself into rehab numerous times throughout his life.
In an interview with The Guardian in 2010, Williams spoke about how his mental health issues could drive him to drink or take drugs.
He described how when he was feeling anxious he would find solace in alcohol:
It’s just literally being afraid. And you think, oh, this will ease the fear. And it doesn’t. I was afraid of everything. It’s just a general all-round ‘arggghhh’. It’s fearfulness and anxiety. I didn’t take up cocaine again as I knew that would kill me. I’d have thought it would be a case of ‘in for a penny, in for a gram?’ No. Cocaine – paranoid and impotent, what fun. There was no bit of me thinking, ooh, let’s go back to that. Useless conversations until midnight, waking up at dawn feeling like a vampire on a day pass. No.
While we have come a long way when it comes to how we consider the issue of mental health, sometimes people can still struggle to understand how a seemingly happy person could have inner battles like depression.
So you could be forgiven for being shocked by news of the inner turmoil Williams was going through as he was so often associated with comedy, laughter and fun.
In the public eye Williams was a funny man, someone who brought joy and laughter to our lives, he is ‘The Funniest Person of All Time’ in a Ranker poll, which has been viewed over half a million times.
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Many wondered how someone so cheery, with a talent for making people laugh, could have mental health issues.
But he did, as do millions of others with research suggesting one in four people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year.
We still don’t know what exactly was going through Williams mind and will never know, although recently it came out that he had been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia which affected his memory, led to physical stiffness and also personality changes.
However, there are clear signs which point to mental health issues being a major part of his life.
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Again we can’t assume why Williams struggled with depression but it could have been associated with fame and being in the public eye.
BACP member Natasha Page, Integrative Counsellor and Psychotherapist who runs This Is Me Counselling suggested to UNILAD when people become famous they may not be able to develop ways to handle the pressures which come with it.
She said:
I think that many people are impacted on by the pressures of today’s fast paced living, social media, and general pressure to succeed. This can be heightened for celebrities because they are in the public eye and self image is such a intrinsic part of their role. This may lead to them being at greater risk of experiencing poor mental health because of the constant pressures they may feel to be or act a certain way. Sometimes they may not have developed healthy ways of coping with these pressures that they face and may adopt negative ways of trying to cope.
Importantly though, Page also emphasised we must remember ‘celebrities’ are ‘human’ too meaning they are ‘susceptible to poor mental health’ just like any of us.
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Williams’ career as a comedian and his mental health issues could have been associated – a study conducted by Oxford University in 2014 suggested funny men (and women) may be more disposed to ‘high levels of psychotic personality traits’ and thus anxiety and depression.
But according to Dr Mark Widdowson, a psychotherapist and counsellor, it is actually the other way round with those with mental health problems being drawn to comedy as a form of therapy.
Dr Widdowson explained how performing stand-up gives those with mental health problems a sense of control which they are searching for:
A lot of people with mental health illnesses are good at covering them up, they hide it really well and that is why it is often a surprise for us when famous people and comedians for instance reveal their problems. And because they are being funny it is hard to imagine they are feeling bad inside. Yet comedy is also absolutely perfect for them because they are not going to be in a situation where they don’t know what to say. They have their sets completely planned out. On stage they can dish out the teasing which they are normally on the receiving end of. It gives them a real strong sense of control but get them off the stage, where it is all unpredictable, then they will probably struggle.
This could make sense for Williams; he was bullied throughout his child for being overweight.
Spending a lot of time alone at home, Williams soon realised he could use his talent for making people laugh to gain respect from his peers which is what he also did in his career too.
While fame may have impacted on Williams’ mental health, it also may have affected the way he spoke about it in public.
As seen in his interviews with The Guardian and NPR, Williams spoke about his struggles with anxiety and depression but only ever briefly.
Page explained to UNILAD this may have been because of the outwardly happy persona Williams wanted to have:
It was possibly down to the pressures of being a celebrity and the expectations he may have placed on himself to portray himself as the happy character that people associated him with. Many clients I work with also find it hard to articulate it into words and struggle to express the deep sadness that can live within them. Depression is an illness that can creep up on individuals or be triggered by life events. They may not view the struggles they are having as a serious enough issue and may feel that they are not worthy of feeling low in mood comparing their lives to others.
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Finally, the stigma surrounding mental health still lingers, though less potent than before, it may also explain why Williams wasn’t too open about his issues.
Even today mental health can still be misunderstood and it does not have equal weighting with physical health.
But if you are suffering remember you are not alone, and there is help and support out there.
Here are just a few of the top tips from our new talking therapy information. Hit retweet for anyone that might need them > https://t.co/AGWKdnowGo pic.twitter.com/UDazK0t2f0 — Mind (@MindCharity) July 8, 2018
Williams left us with an amazing body of work that brings us joy and laughter.
But he also left us with the message that we need to talk about mental health, reduce the stigma and prevent other tragedies from happening.
Rest in peace, Robin Williams.
If you or someone know you is affected by any mental health issue then you can contact the charity Mind on 0300 123 3393 or visit their website.
John Travolta has paid tribute to Robin Williams on the fourth anniversary of the comedy star’s death.
Oscar-winner Williams took his own life in 2014, aged 63.
Travolta shared a photograph of the duo together with his nearly 700 000 Instagram followers.
Remembering a man who brightened the world. We miss you, Robin. A post shared by John Travolta (@johntravolta) on Aug 11, 2018 at 9:47am PDT
He wrote alongside it: “Remembering a man who brightened the world. We miss you, Robin”.
The pair had starred together in 2009’s Old Dogs.
The Alienist star Luke Evans also remembered Williams, sharing a photograph and quote of the star’s on Instagram.
“What’s right is what’s left if you do everything else wrong.” – #robinwilliams RIP A post shared by thereallukeevans (@thereallukeevans) on Aug 11, 2018 at 1:26am PDT
In 2016 his widow, Susan, wrote in an essay published in the Neurology journal that doctors had only discovered after the Mrs Doubtfire star’s death that he had been suffering from Lewy body disease.
Williams’ film career spanned more than thirty years and he was the recipient of countless awards including numerous Golden Globes and an Oscar, awarded to him for his 1997 role in Good Will Hunting.
- Press Association
