Oscar-winning actor and comic Robin Williams died Monday at 63 of an apparent suicide, the Marin County Sheriff’s Office confirmed.
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Tragic. I hope he found Neverland.
Thanks for the laughs.
#RIP Robin Williams.
That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.
I think Mork and Mindy did a lot to help me totally embrace my inner geek.
I’m going to miss him, so much.
Mork and Mindy was my first exposure to him, too. Then I saw him do standup and sketch and said to myself “I didn’t know Jonathan
EdwardsWinters had a son!”On some of the conservative blogs there have been people who have said “Good, another beacon of the left gone.” You should know that they have been quickly shouted down by the vast majority who are sad that such genius who brought laughter and joy and thought to so many people is gone. I never paid much attention to his (or any other entertainer’s) political opinions. It’s sad that someone who did so much for other people couldn’t help himself. It’s my understanding that the classic concept of tragedy is someone great who is brought down by the very thing that makes them great. On that basis this is a true tragedy.
Do you mean Jonathan Winters, Ron?
Marc Maron had an enlightening interview with him at RW’s home four years ago that’s worth listening to (interview starts at about 4:25):
http://goo.gl/dwqDYZ
Jake, indeed I did. Gah. Junior year high school English class rears it’s head.
Amp – can you fix that for me? Thanks!
There was a great “60 Minutes” episode where Winters and Williams met and improv’d together. Indeed, kindred spirits – but at least one or two roles/skits made each of us feel kinship with him, didn’t they? The candor beneath the crazy.
What’s shocking to me is that he was in an milieu with considerable awareness of mental health and substance issues…. a figure like this would be just as likely to come forward and discuss their battle with depression, and be supported for it.
Awareness isn’t cure. I don’t believe he kept his issues a secret and we know that he’d certainly solicited and received treatment. But depression and addiction aren’t like strep throat – penicillin doesn’t fix it. There’s no one cure all for everybody suffering from those afflictions.
I’ve suffered from depression since at least age 9 and, while it’s nice to get, support from friends and family does nothing to alleviate the symptoms. It does nothing to prevent recurrence. When it’s bad, that support barely reaches the threshold of noticeable. For a lot of us, antidepressants don’t help and therapy doesn’t help.
It’s in no way surprising that somebody suffering from chronic, severe depression didn’t make it. Even if that person was in an aware, supportive environment. But it’s always sad.
Well said, Jake Squid. My experience mirrors yours, including the early onset, and I don’t think I could have said it so succinctly and clearly.