Robin Williams

This saddens me in a way most premature celebrity deaths don't, and not just because it was suicide. He was a force of nature, maybe the greatest improvisational comic who ever lived. And he had real talent as a dramatic actor, too. It's a combination which is exceedingly rare.

I loved him in "Good Will Hunting," "Aladdin," and "Dead Again." He changed my life in "Dead Poets Society:" that film is one of the reasons I wanted to be a teacher.

But man, did his standup dazzle! His concerts were always amazing, but I think maybe my favorite performance of his was on "Inside The Actors Studio." His interview was funny, smart, deep; but when he got up and started doing his thing, he was phenomenal. At one point, he snags a shawl from a woman in the audience, and spends like 25 minutes using it to riff with-- like hilarious, beyond funny. I cried, I laughed so hard.

I really feel like the world is lesser for his loss. Very few performers of any kind could make me think that, but he was like a natural resource of the planet. I hope he finds peace wherever he ends up.

 

David Wong wrote an article in Cracked that is personal, hardcore, and heartfelt..
It makes some very strong points and is really worth reading.

http://www.cracked.com/quick-fixes/robin-williams-why-funny-people-kill-themselves/

 

This is one of those very mixed emotions things.
A bunch of WOW players started a petition to get Robin a regular NPC in the game.
He was a hardcore player and often talked about his addiction to the game.
Within 24 hours they had 14,000 signatures and an answer from the company.

"We're taking care of it."

Petition | Create an NPC within World of Warcraft to memorialize the late Robin Williams, an avid World of Warcraft player, and one of the funniest men alive. | Change.org

 

I really liked the Cracked article, @redravin. This whole issue is a struggle for me because of my field. I'm frustrated and angry at people who are sensationalizing his death and at the coroner's office for releasing such details. It's opening up such an opportunity for copycats. But, I'm also sad. Behind every comedian is a terrible childhood, I believe the article said. I don't think Robin Williams be happy with the state of things.
And, Fuck you, Westboro Baptist Church, if what they're saying is true. I'm going to take a break from some of the social media trending on this tragedy for a few days. My heart is heavy. For him and his family... And so many who struggle with depression. Especially since it takes something like this to bring mental health issues back into the news.

 

When I was young, I was a fairly introverted kid. In the summer of 1983 I bought his comedy album, The Throbbing Python of Love. Sure, I had watched Mork and Mindy, I'd seen his original appearance on Happy Days, but this album was something new. I listened to it over and over until I could recite it verbatim. Every cadence. Every quirk and pause.

It was the same summer that I made my first summer friends. I discovered that they liked it when I performed Robin's act for them. It made them laugh (it also got me my first kiss). I discovered a love of performance. I found a confidence I didn't know I had.

I went on to act in all the school plays, perform in the school variety shows and become a bonafide class clown. This carried on through University, where I continued to act, took a stab at standup and did a tonne of radio. I would argue that improv is how I get through every day. I make it up as I go along.

Through all these years, I have, like everyone else, watched Williams' career go from crazed comedian to serious drama and back again. He was always a force of nature. I continued to hear that he was a solid mensch. All admirable. To me he was not Mork. He was not a character. He was the guy that showed me the way.

There was an episode of Mork and Mindy where Mork meets Robin Williams. In the interview, he revealed that he was once a lonely introverted kid that liked to perform in his bedroom and found that people thought what he was doing was funny. He was the guy that showed the way.

Hearing of his death, I listened to Throbbing Python of Love. It was a salve. It's still a very funny album. I found myself mouthing the words along with him. He has always been a part of me, not that it would be obvious to anyone but me. His influence on me was small but so very important to who I think I am today.

There's no other way to put it, the news of his death left me gutted.

 

I have to heartily agree with snowy.
That is a wonderful tribute @Charlatan.

 

I have enjoyed the majority of Williams' work (both comedic and dramatic), but the one image of him that has stood out all these years was the picture of him donating blood after the 9/11 attacks.

Another story I have heard was that Steven Spielberg, during the filming of Schindler's List, suffered from depression and would call up Williams, asking him to make him laugh. Williams was more than accommodating.

Although he had talent, I think the world is also going to miss this man's generosity.

Also, because I am not as good with words as pictures, this is my own personal tribute to the man:

 

Thanks @MeltedMetalGlob
I think he would have appreciated that I know I did.

 

Jonathan Winters and Robin Williams.

 

Shrink, a 2009 "small" film that you might not have seen, features Robins Williams in a small but important role as an ageing alcoholic who sleeps wth much younger women. Kevin Spacey plays the shrink who relies on pot to keep his sanity.

 

personally there will never be anyone like himm again, he was widly populay for 30+ years. he made, us, our parents, and our kids laugh. he woll be missed

 

When I met Robin Williams, he was exactly the man you would expect him to be. He was filming a movie at the school where I work and he knew he had fans all around. If you were clearly nervous about approaching him he'd stand near you nonchalantly, glancing over and trying to keep a straight face. If you were starstruck and glancing over at him looking excited, he'd do the same right back to you. After a few seconds he'd laugh and introduce himself, genuinely happy to meet a fan.

He was filming this scene shown in this shot of Old Dogs. Between takes, if there was a big crowd watching from the balconies out of frame, he would walk up to the big window you see behind him, lift his shirt up, and press his chest against the glass while making funny faces at you.

What a hilarious, talented, likable person he was. The world is a darker place without him.

 

My favorite -
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j1Hq8L28Us

She mourned her friend Robin Williams when she overheard the phone call.