Robin Williams
Robin Williams is known as one of the funniest comedians of all time. He had an incredible career playing various roles and all types of people. In the early days of his career, he starred in TV shows, including Eight Is Enough, Mork & Mindy, and Laugh-In. Later, he started acting in films. Some of his most popular movies include Good Morning, Vietnam, Mrs. Doubtfire, Hook, Jumanji, Jack, and Good Will Hunting, among others. He also lent his voice for popular cartoon films such as Aladdin and Happy Feet. The last two credits he had as an actor before his death were Night at the Museum, Secret of the Tomb in 2014, and Absolutely Anything in 2015, where he was the voice of Dennis the Dog.
Robin’s Death
On August 11, 2014, Robin Williams committed suicide. According to the autopsy report, the cause of death was asphyxia due to hanging. The autopsy showed that drugs and alcohol didn’t play a part in his death, and he had prescription drugs in his system, but all were at therapeutic levels. This means that he was taking his medication as directed. According to his wife, he had become severely depressed after being diagnosed with Lewy body disease. This is an umbrella term that includes Parkinson’s disease, dementia, and dementia with Lewy bodies. She says that he was struggling with his condition and difficulty coming to terms with it. The world mourned his death, and many people had great things to say about him.
Ricky Gervais
Fellow comedian, Ricky Gervais, told the Huffington Post a story of when the two men worked a gig together. He said that there are many new comedians that neither men had heard of who was performing that night. Rather than sitting in his dressing room until it was his turn, he stood at the side of the stage the whole night. He watched everyone’s act carefully, and according to Ricky, he was laughing louder than anyone. This was just who he was.
Lisa Jaku
Lisa Jaku is the actress who played Robin’s daughter in Mrs. Doubtfire. While filming, the teachers at her school weren’t prepared for a non-traditional student, and she was kicked out of the school. Lisa was devastated. She wanted to go to school like the rest of her friends, but because of her job, she wasn’t allowed. When she told Robin about what happened, he decided to do what he could to help. He wrote a heartfelt letter to the school, asking them to reconsider their decision. Unfortunately, his gesture was unsuccessful, and Lisa couldn’t get back to school, but she never forgot how he stuck up for her. She says that he was kind and caring toward the cast and crew.
Helping Strangers
Robin’s kindness didn’t just extend to his costars and fellow comedians. He was also kind to strangers. When an actor or actress signs a contract, they often have a rider in place. This is where they can make demands for what they expect onset. Many actors will ask for things to make them more comfortable or to make their time onset more convenient. Robin always had a rider in every TV show and film he starred in, but he was unlike most. Before signing on for a project, he requested that the production company provide a certain number of jobs to the homeless. He wasn’t asking that they get leading roles in the productions, but there were plenty of other off-screen jobs that needed to be filled. Robin wanted to make sure that the homeless who were looking for work would get a shot.
Paying Tribute
The news of Robin Williams’ death instantly became international news. People were surprised that such a funny person was capable of suicide. After his death, there were plenty of tributes. Talk show hosts all over the world paid tribute to their fallen friend. Other actors and actresses and even the United States President, Barack Obama, released a statement. In his speech, the President said, “Robin Williams was an airman, a doctor, a genie, a nanny, a president, a professor, a bangarang Peter Pan, and everything in between. He arrived in our lives as an alien but ended up touching every element of the human spirit. He made us laugh; he made us cry. Then, he gave his immeasurable talent freely and generously to those who needed it most, from our troops stationed abroad to the marginalized on our streets.”
During the 66th annual Primetime Emmy Awards, Robin’s fellow comedian, Billy Crystal, presented a tribute to Robin. He referred to him as “the brightest star in our comedy galaxy. Robin Williams Always Had One Demand For Directors – And It Will Change How You See His Movies He was an amazing man.
