‘Fuck suicide’
Rollins sharply criticizes Williams for his decision to take his life. The singer writes in an LA Weekly column that he admired Williams’s abilities:
On more than one of my USO tours, Robin Williams had been on the same stage a few days before me. That’s all I needed to know about him. As far as I was concerned, he was a good man.
However, he says that suicide leaves family members behind:
I think as soon as you have children, you waive your right to take your own life…Fuck suicide. Life isn’t anything but what you make it.
Williams Emmy tribute
Emmy Awards executive producer Don Mischer announces Crystal will lead a tribute to Williams during the show’s In Memoriam segment, which honors stars who have passed away:
We felt we needed to do something powerful and memorable. Billy seemed like the perfect choice.
The Emmy Awards will be hosted by Seth Meyers and be broadcast on Monday, August 25th at 8:00 p.m. ET on NBC.
‘Robin stood up for me’
Jakub, who played Williams’ eldest daughter in Mrs. Doubtfire talks about how kind Williams was to her on the set. She talks of how thoughtful Williams was in writing a letter to her school, regarding their choice in ousting her from their program, due to her extensive time on the set.
Robin stood up for me. He was in my corner. I was only 14, but I had already seen that I was in an industry that was full of back-stabbing. And it was entirely clear that Robin had my back.
Williams tribute
Williams’ Mrs. Doubtfire co-star, Mara Wilson,who played Williams’ youngest daughter, talks about her on-screen father and how kind he was on the set and how he used to improvise a lot.
Chris Columbus, our director, would let Robin perform one or two takes with what was written, then do as many more takes as Robin had variations. Sometimes I wonder why they didn’t give him at least partial screenwriting credit.
Facebook campaign
A Facebook campaign is asking the public to make one last stand in honor of late actor and comedian Robin Williams. The group, Standing Ovation for Robin Williams, is calling for people in San Francisco — and beyond — to stop what they’re doing at 1 p.m. August 18 and cheer Williams for a minute. So far, 30,000 have signed up.
Williams’ tribute
Letterman devotes 10-minutes to a tribute to Williams on his show. The two were close friends for nearly 40 years. Letterman:
Two things would happen, because Robin was on the program. One, I didn’t have to do anything; all I had to do was sit here and watch the machine. And, two, people would watch; if they knew Robin was on the show, the viewership would go up, because they wanted to see Robin. And, believe me, that wasn’t just true of television. I believe that was true of the kind of guy he was. People were drawn to him because of this electricity.
Cyberbullied
After Williams’ daughter, Zelda, receives harassing messages and disturbing photos following her father’s death and deletes Twitter from her devices, Twitter announces their policies are being reviewed. Del Harvey, vice president of trust and safety at Twitter, says in a statement to ABC News:
We have suspended a number of accounts related to this issue for violating our rules and we are in the process of evaluating how we can further improve our policies to better handle tragic situations like this one. This includes expanding our policies regarding self-harm and private information, and improving support for family members of deceased users.
Wife: Williams had Parkinson’s Disease
In a statement William’s wife, Susan Shneider gives tribute to her husband and reveals that Williams was suffering from early stages of Parkinson’s Disease.
Robin spent so much of his life helping others. Whether he was entertaining millions on stage, film or television, our troops on the frontlines, or comforting a sick child — Robin wanted us to laugh and to feel less afraid. Since his passing, all of us who loved Robin have found some solace in the tremendous outpouring of affection and admiration for him from the millions of people whose lives he touched. His greatest legacy, besides his three children, is the joy and happiness he offered to others, particularly to those fighting personal battles.
Robin’s sobriety was intact and he was brave as he struggled with his own battles of depression, anxiety as well as early stages of Parkinson’s Disease, which he was not yet ready to share publicly. It is our hope in the wake of Robin’s tragic passing, that others will find the strength to seek the care and support they need to treat whatever battles they are facing so they may feel less afraid.
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
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
‘Devastated’
Lawrence, Williams on-screen son from Mrs. Doubtfire, expresses his thoughts and feelings about Williams.
I am devastated. He was the single most important influence in my career and not a day goes by I don’t appreciate the time I got to spend with him. My deepest thoughts and prayers are with his family.
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.
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
‘Special soul’
Whitaker tweets a poem and releases a statement on the death of his Good Morning Vietnam and The Butler co-star:
The world has lost a special soul. Robin Williams touched our hearts, he gave us laughter, he gave us joy, he made us think about the impossible. I’m blessed to have been able to walk inside his universe. He forever changed this world with his presence. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and to all those who hold him dear. Rest in Peace
U touched our lives
U touched our hearts
U gave us laughter n joy
U'r a beautiful soul
U will be missed
Our love to the family
RIP Robin W.— Forest Whitaker (@ForestWhitaker) August 12, 2014
‘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.
Studio: ‘Immensely talented’
0 Comments21st Century Fox, where Williams was filming the third installment of Night At The Museum, expresses its regrets over his loss. In a statement:
There really are no words to describe the loss of Robin Williams. He was immensely talented, a cherished member of our community, and part of the Fox family. Our hearts go out to his family, friends and fans. He will be deeply missed.
‘Devastated’
Dawber says that she can find few words to express her loss at the passing of her Mork & Mindy co-star. A statement:
I am completely and totally devastated. What more can be said?
‘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.
‘Big impact on the world’
Stiller, Williams’s co-star in Night at the Museum, says:
His kindness and generosity [are] what I think of. How kind he was to anyone who wanted to connect with him. And he could not help but be funny all the time. He would do something as long as it would keep you laughing. […] He made such a big impact on the world
Ben Stiller on the death of Robin Williams: pic.twitter.com/OCI3jOiZBD
— Good Morning America (@GMA) August 12, 2014
‘We suffered from the same disease’
Chase says that himself and Williams both suffered from depression, but that he could not have expected the death of his friend in an apparent suicide:
Robin and I were great friends, suffering from the same little-known disease – depression. I never could have expected this ending to his life and to ours with him. God bless him and God bless us all for his LIFE! I cannot believe this. I am overwhelmed with grief. What a wonderful man/boy and what a tremendous talent in the most important art of any time – comedy! I loved him.