‘The whole world is poorer’
Queen Elizabeth II speaks on Churchill’s death to his wife.
The whole world is the poorer by the loss of his many-sided genius while the survival of this country and the sister nations of the Commonwealth, in the face of the greatest danger that has ever threatened them, will be a perpetual memorial to his leadership, his vision, and his indomitable courage.
Gay man’s murder sparks vigils
Shepard’s death sparks outrage, spawns vigils, produces calls for Federal hate-crimes legislation. In Denver, mourners write messages on a graffiti wall as part of national Gay Awareness Week. In San Francisco, the giant rainbow flag that symbolizes the gay rights movement is lowered to half-staff in the Castro district. National gay and lesbian rights director:
There is incredible symbolism about being tied to a fence. People have likened it to a scarecrow. But it sounded more like a crucifixion.
We Had Him
Angelou writes a poem in memory of Michael Jackson, and asks Queen Latifah to read the poem at Jackson’s funeral.
‘He belonged in the place where your thoughts are what matter’
Doctorow at BoingBoing writes:
I met Aaron when he was 14 or 15. He was working on XML stuff (he co-wrote the RSS specification when he was 14) and came to San Francisco often, and would stay with Lisa Rein, a friend of mine who was also an XML person and who took care of him and assured his parents he had adult supervision. In so many ways, he was an adult, even then, with a kind of intense, fast intellect that really made me feel like he was part and parcel of the Internet society, like he belonged in the place where your thoughts are what matter, and not who you are or how old you are.
This morning, a lot of people are speculating that Aaron killed himself because he was worried about doing time. That might be so…. But Aaron was also a person who’d had problems with depression for many years. He’d written about the subject publicly, and talked about it with his friends.
‘A kid genius. A soul, a conscience’
Lessig writes a tribute to Swartz:
He was brilliant, and funny. A kid genius. A soul, a conscience, the source of a question I have asked myself a million times: What would Aaron think? That person is gone today, driven to the edge by what a decent society would only call bullying. I get wrong. But I also get proportionality. And if you don’t get both, you don’t deserve to have the power of the United States government behind you.
‘Made the Internet a thriving ecosystem’
The EFF offers a tribute to Swartz:
Aaron did more than almost anyone to make the Internet a thriving ecosystem for open knowledge, and to keep it that way,
Laugh Factory marquee
The Laugh Factory pays tribute to Williams on its marquee, as well as tweeting a photo of the Williams display inside the venue.
Rest in peace, Robin Williams. pic.twitter.com/ck9sfeFW5g
— Laugh Factory (@TheLaughFactory) August 12, 2014
‘Stunned’
Cosby releases a short statement and tweet to express his shock over his Jack co-star’s death:
I'm stunned! pic.twitter.com/X2RbDRyFxt
— Bill Cosby (@BillCosby) August 12, 2014
‘Thank you’
Krasinski, who was a co-star with Williams in the popular 2007 movie License to Wed, sends his thoughts via Twitter when he heard the news about Williams’ death.
To the kindest hearted man. Robin, know you will always be remembered by smiles, laughter and love. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
— John Krasinski (@johnkrasinski) August 12, 2014
‘No words strong enough’
Williams’s youngest son, Cody, shares his feelings on the loss of his father:
There are no words strong enough to describe the love and respect I have for my father. The world will never be the same without him. I will miss him and take him with me everywhere I go for the rest of my life, and will look forward, forever, to the moment when I get to see him again.
‘Brilliant human being’
Bridges reacts to the news of Williams’s death, which he received on premiere night for The Giver at Manhattan’s Zigfield Theater:
(Tonight is) wonderful, but like many elements in life, there is an underside, losing a dear, dear friend, Robin Williams. Such a brilliant human being. Gosh, I know we all miss him, and my heart goes out to his family.
On his role in the film, based on Lois Lowry’s dystopian novel about a future where human feelings no longer exist:
I’m filled with such mixed emotions tonight. I’m playing the Giver, I’m supposed to withhold all these emotions in the story you’re about to see, and it’s very difficult for me to be here holding the emotions I’m feeling tonight.
‘He made my dreams come true’
Affleck thanks Williams for his friendship and his role in Goodwill Hunting, which won Affleck and Matt Damon the Academy Award for Best Writing and launched their film careers:
Heartbroken. Thanks chief—for your friendship and for what you gave the world. Robin had a ton of love in him. He personally did so much for so many people. He made Matt and my dreams come true.
What do you owe a guy who does that? Everything.
May you find peace my friend. #RobinWilliams
‘True genius’
Lopez posts a tribute to her Jackco-star on Instagram:
Sad, sad, day… My condolences to Robin’s family & friends. He brought light to every room he entered & was a true comedic genius. The world will miss you, Robin! #RIPRW
‘Lightning storm of comic genius’
Spielberg praises the actor he directed in the lead role of Peter Pan in Hook for his intense comedic performances:
Robin was a lightning storm of comic genius and our laughter was the thunder that sustained him. He was a pal and I can’t believe he’s gone.
‘Incredible, delicate, funny, dramatic human being’
Winkler describes how he saw Williams before his loss:
This incredible, delicate, funny, dramatic human being is gone.
His reaction to Williams’s performances:
My only job was to keep a straight face and it was impossible because no matter that you said to him – no matter what line you gave to him, he took it in, processed it and then it flew out of his mouth, never the same way twice… You knew, Oh boy, you’re witnessing the beginning of something unbelievably special. He was electric — electrifying – and he was like, that no matter what he did, all the time…No matter what he did, he was that…It was just an amazing thing to witness.
Mork & Mindy house tribute
Fans pay tribute to Williams at the house where Mork & Mindy was filmed in Boulder, Colorado.
#Vigil outside #MorkandMindy house in #Boulder @Colorado, #RIPRobinWilliams #RobinWilliams #epitaph @TMZ @EW @etnow pic.twitter.com/bxcgELNvNp
— Mariano Oreamuno (@Oreamuno) August 12, 2014
Emmy Award tribute
The 66th Emmy Awards will pay tribute to Williams. Producer Don Mischer is still planning the tribute to make it meaningful. Mischer:
It’s about what can we do to properly remember Robin and create perhaps an emotional moment about Robin, knowing all that he did for all of us who love entertainment and love comedy.
Genie In The Stars
Disney releases artwork titled Genie in the Stars paying tribute to Williams, created by Genie at Disney supervising animator Eric Goldberg. CEO Robert Iger:
We’re deeply saddened by the loss of Robin Williams, a wonderfully gifted man who touched our hearts and never failed to make us laugh. An incredible actor and a comedic genius, Robin will always be remembered for bringing some of the world’s favorite characters to life, from his zany alien on ABC’s Mork & Mindy to the irascible genie in Disney’s Aladdin. “He was a true Disney Legend, a beloved member of our family, and he will be sorely missed. We join Robin’s friends and fans everywhere in mourning, and offer our thoughts and condolences to his family during this difficult time.
A tribute to Robin Williams by Eric Goldberg (Supervising Animator of Genie): pic.twitter.com/hZOiwNMZgz
— Disney (@Disney) August 12, 2014
Walk of Fame tribute
Fans pack Williams’ Walk of Fame star in Hollywood, placing flowers, drawings and letters in tribute to his life. Iraq veteran Chris Mulrooney, who met Williams while on tour in Iraq:
He brought joy to me when I was most depressed … I wish we could have been there for him when he needed love and support.
Mashable: On Walk of Fame, a Vet Remembers Robin Williams: 'He Brought Me Joy':
LOS ANGELES — Police barricad… http://t.co/Bxpqa3hraL— Markedia (@Markedia) August 12, 2014
‘A true legend’
Morgan says of Attenborough:
Dear dear Dickie: a true legend of the screen and a delightful man. Very sad news. RIP.