Rolling Stone cover
Rolling Stone devotes its cover to Williams. A tribute from Tom Hanks to Williams’s start in television:
The legend is true. In 1978, word came from the set of TV’s Happy Days. That week, Fonzie’s ultracool was threatened by a stranger from another world. The guy playing the alien was hilarious.
Emmy tribute criticism
Some viewers criticize the Emmys tribute to Williams for including a clip of a joke about an Iranian woman that they consider racist. In the gag, Williams covers his face to simulate an Islamic headscarf, and says:
I would like to welcome you to Iran… Help me!
The person putting together the Robin Williams segment for the Emmys decided to use his racist material.
— hannah story (friend to all) (@hannahmstory) August 26, 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
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
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
‘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.
‘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.
‘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
‘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
‘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.
Radioman sighting
Bridges reminisces on working with Williams after sighting New York character Radioman, who resembles Williams—and is said to have been the inspiration for his character in The Fisher King—at the film party for The Giver at the Central Park Boathouse:
I remember pulling up to the Boathouse where we had our party and I’m sitting there with my wife, gathering myself and I look out of the window and I say, what? Is that Robin? Is that his ghost? No! It’s Radioman. And it brought back all of these wonderful feelings of what an amazing time we had together here in New York shooting The Fisher King. And I got out of the car and embraced Radioman, looked in his face. And I remember when we were shooting Fisher King—Radioman, he knows where all the movies are shot somehow, I don’t know how he magically does that. But, I remember seeing Radioman and he could not believe that Robin’s character was here in the flesh in reality. And there he was. And so we embraced Radioman, I felt Robin’s spirit as I’m feeling it here now in this room with us.
‘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.
‘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
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
Decision to return to television
Williams tells Parade magazine that there are financial considerations behind his decision to return to television. On his role in The Crazy Ones:
The idea of having a steady job is appealing. I have two (other) choices: go on the road doing stand-up, or do small, independent movies working almost for scale … My life has downsized, in a good way. I’m selling the ranch up in Napa. I just can’t afford it anymore.
On how much his divorces have cost him financially:
Well, not all. Lost enough. Divorce is expensive.
Parade interview
Williams is interviewed by Parade Magazine about his role in CBS’s The Crazy Ones, his first series since Mork and Mindy 30 years earlier.
It’s fun. I’m having such a blast doing it with Sarah. She’s a sweet woman. And the idea of a father-daughter relationship—since I have a daughter, I’ve done the research on that.
Letterman Interview
Williams interviews with Dave on the David Letterman show to promote William’s new movie Old Dogs but ended-up cracking jokes about Sarah Palin, the former Governor of Alaska.
It’s wonderful, I went looking for her book and I found it in the fantasy aisle. With Sarah you get the feeling she was voted least likely to write a book and most likely to burn one. You look at her and wonder ‘Where did they find her, Project Running Mate?’