I will remember 11 Aug 2014 forever but for a less than joyous or celebratory reason. It is the day one of my most favourite actors and comedians, Robin Williams, took his own life in his home in the San Francisco Bay area. Robin took his own life hanging himself using his belt. Robin was 63.
I still remember the shock and disbelief I felt upon hearing the news from my colleague when I reached the office. I found myself desperately searching the newswires for more updates, all the while hoping that it was untrue. Images of Robin and his quirky, zany antics and exploits on camera and the uncontrollable laughter he drew from his mesmerised audience, kept running through my mind. How was it possible for a man who gave us so much joy and laughter and who seemed so happy doing so, suffer so much pain and anguish in his private life, driving him to commit suicide? Why did a man who brought so much joy to so many people, feel so alone and desperate, fighting his own demons that he was not able to find reassurance, comfort and solace in someone, anyone close to him?
Initial reports suggest that Robin suffered from depression. But his wife, Susan Schneider, was quick to say that Robin was in full control of his mental faculties in the time leading to his death. Robin had fought several bouts of depression and alcoholism before. There were some reports that also suggested that he had been diagnosed with early stages of Parkinson’s Disease, just before his untimely death.
Robin Williams got his first shot at stardom in the 1970s TV comedy series Mork & Mindy, where he played the alien, Mork from the planet Ork. The series gave me the first glimpse of his improv genius that has become his trademark and acknowledged by most people in the industry as being unparalleled. Robin took improvisation to new heights probably never to be surpassed. Thoughts and ideas generated at lightning speed and strung together in unimaginable fashion. They maybe seemingly unrelated but Robin gives them new life and meaning in both hilariously funny lines and sometimes poetic lithesome prose. He was an unbridled explosion of visual, physical and verbal comedy bringing together all his previous skill and experience in theatre and as a stand-up and mime artist.
Robin used to say, “You’re only given a little spark of madness. You mustn’t lose it.” Not only did Robin not lose this spark, he lived it.
Check out the video clip below which highlights this improv maestro at his dizzying best.
Robin Williams, The Improv Genius – Source – Time.com
Some of his performances in comedy that stood out for me were Popeye (1980), Good Morning Vietnam (1987) and Mrs Doubtfire (1993).
But there was more to his irrepressible comedic talent. He was also a dramatic actor who could speak to the inner depths of your soul. Some of my favourite Robin William movies were the ones where he played dramatic characters. Dead Poets Society (1989) is one where he plays the protagonist, an English teacher who inspires his students through poetry and the other is Good Will Hunting (1997) where he plays a therapist to a troubled youth on parole who is also an unrecognised genius. Robin won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for this role.
Robin not only inspired people with his acting and comedy but also his philanthrophy. He volunteered a lot of his time to many charities often bringing cheer to the poor, homeless, sick and U.S. troops stationed in bases abroad.
His words or the lines he spoke in movies are legendary and are truly inspirational to people from all walks of life – students, teachers, politicians, managers, captains of industry.
One of my favourite quotes is “No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change this world.” Those words certainly ring true for Robin who found fame and fortune in the entertainment industry which showcased his acting prowess and verbal dexterity.
Here are some more memorable quotes from Robin, courtesy of Entrepreneur.com.
U.S. President Barack Obama’s touching tribute to Robin probably encapsulates so sweetly what Robin Williams means to all of us. “Robin Williams was an airman, a doctor, a genie, a nanny, a president, a professor, a bangarang Peter Pan and everything in between. But he was one of a kind. He arrived in our lives as an alien – but he ended up touching every element of the human spirit.”
Robin Williams – rest in peace…
heraldbangras.wordpress.com 