# RIP Robin Williams

Category: Cinema 31

## Post 1 by Blue Velvet (I've got the platinum golden silver bronze poster award.) on Tuesday, 12-Aug-2014 14:55:48

Robin Williams died of an apparent suicide yesterday morning. It's really sad to think that someone who has dedicated so much of his life to making people laugh could, himself, suffer from depression and eventually give in to that depression and kill himself. I find it
rather ironic that just last year near this time he gave a tribute at the Emmy Awards to late comedian Jonathan Winters who had been one of Robin's heros. Now in a few weeks at the 2014 Emmys someone will be doing a tribute to him.
I hope he is in heaven laughing it up with Jonathan, George Carlin, Johnny Carson and many other comedians who have died in the past.
I've been searching YouTube, and there are a bunch of clips featuring Robin. I found one with him on Letterman, and in it he mentions that David Letterman was a guest on one of the Mork and Mindy shows from more than 30 years ago. So I searched for that episode, and it was really cool to see both Dave and Robin when they were much younger.

## Post 2 by Remy (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Tuesday, 12-Aug-2014 15:13:34

Just goes to show appearances can be deceiving. It is sad.

## Post 3 by chelslicious (like it or not, I'm gonna say what I mean. all the time.) on Tuesday, 12-Aug-2014 16:18:19

it's beyond sad to think that someone could devalue their life so much, let alone that they'd feel the only option is for them to commit such a selfish act as suicide.

## Post 4 by Remy (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Tuesday, 12-Aug-2014 16:59:19

I'm generally inclined to agree, Chelsea. it's also sad when someone's life gets sufficiently unpleasant enough that exiting it seems like the best option. Whether depression, or drugs, or any of a multitude of situations and experiences cause that to seem like the best option arise, it always makes me wonder if something small could have changed it.

## Post 5 by chelslicious (like it or not, I'm gonna say what I mean. all the time.) on Tuesday, 12-Aug-2014 18:27:16

exactly.
that's what I was getting at, BG.

## Post 6 by LeoGuardian (You mean there is something outside of this room with my computer in it?) on Tuesday, 12-Aug-2014 18:41:17

Very sad indeed. He contributed so much to entertainment in general, and comedy in particular.

## Post 7 by Raskolnikov (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Tuesday, 12-Aug-2014 23:57:08

He was awesome. I've enjoyed all his movies without exception...
R.I.P. Robin Williams.

## Post 8 by Blue Velvet (I've got the platinum golden silver bronze poster award.) on Wednesday, 13-Aug-2014 10:55:27

Blind_Guardian, I don't think something small could have changed things in this case. He admitted in numerous interviews that he had a long-standing drug and alcohol problem and that he had been in rehab a number of times. It was also well known that he was diagnosed as being bipolar years ago. He checked himself into rehab again as recently as a couple months before this happened.
I disagree with those who say people who commit suicide are being selfish. Perhaps some teenagers having a hissy fit over not being allowed to do something and attempt suicide to get a message to their parents are being selfish. But I actually used to have a co-worker who committed suicide. I knew herhistory and knew she and her psychiatrist tried everything, but nothing worked for very long. I think in some cases the mental illness is so bad nothing can be done. In Robin's case, I think the fact that he was a comedian probably kept him alive much longer than if he had just been an ordinary person. He said in many interviews that being funny was how he both hid and dealt with his mental anguish.
He was a great actor in both comedies and serious movies, and he was absolutely phenominal in live comic performances. He was generous with his money and his time to worthwhile charities. He will be missed by so many people.

## Post 9 by Maiden of the Moonlight (Zone BBS is my Life) on Wednesday, 13-Aug-2014 11:15:33

Well said, blue. I think the act in and of itself is selfish, because you're leaving so many people behind with the pain of your loss, but that isn't why the act occurs and I don't think that's generally the intention behind the act. So though the intent and reasons are not necessarily selfish, perhaps commiting suicide itself is, but I think the most important takeaway from this horrible tragedy is that suicide is a very real problem, as is mental illness as a whole, and it affects so many people. I'm not about to propose the world change because of this or any other tragedy, but I think it has sparked a lot of discussion about mental illness, and that is important.

## Post 10 by chelslicious (like it or not, I'm gonna say what I mean. all the time.) on Wednesday, 13-Aug-2014 13:55:49

committing suicide is selfish, for exactly the reasons Sarah mentioned.
those who commit suicide probably don't realize that's so, cause they usually feel like no one cares about them. however, multiple people's lives are affected when this sort of thing happens, not just theirs.

## Post 11 by Remy (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Wednesday, 13-Aug-2014 14:29:53

I agree with Blue and Chelsea (And...sarah?) This is never one of those black and white areas of life. I'm so grateful mental illness is being taken more seriously in this day and age. it's still got a long way to come, but we're getting there. I've always considered both drugs and booze to be dangerous things to fool with. Yes, I'm aware some people can use both and still be fine, but it seems so often they're the cause of far more problems than they solve. As for suicide, I think a lot of people have at least contemplated it, even if only fleetingly. To do it however is the climax of a dark road. That it becomes even a viable option is shows how bad a person must be feeling. Many of the people who find me worth talking to have in the past or are currently suffering from, if not actual mental illnesses, than something approaching them. As for myself, I've battled with - if not an actual mental illness - than at least many bouts of self-deprication and feelings of worthlessness and sloth for years. Unlike some, I have never been able to channel it or find a means to distract from it. For someone with a true mental illness bolstered by the influences of narcotics ... I can't even imagine the inner termoil they would go through, especially for as old as he was.

## Post 12 by season (the invisible soul) on Wednesday, 13-Aug-2014 20:06:30

I agree on what Becky and sarah post. But i think its not fair to consider everyone that
commit suicide under mental health illness is selfish.
And, it is also no place for those that have not experience depression or any other mental
health disorder to consider it as a selfish act.
When your depression is so bad, the only thought you have is to kill yourself, because you
have found no joy in living, no purpose and no life at all, suicide become a very real and
definite one and only option.
This is different from a teenager that break up with his or her lover, and got heartbroken,
and can't seethe road ahead but commit suicide, it is very different from a man or a
woman that got break up with his wife or her husband, and can't take it longer and
commit suicide.
Mental Health itself is selfish, its a problem, and it just prove again and again, it can
happen to anyone anyware, regardless of your economic, social status.
What worries the most is that those who act as normal, and grieving within themselves.
In fact, if you look at suicide statistic, the more likely to commit suicide for real and
succeeding it is those that have more than likely not voicing the thoughts of suicide with
their friends or family or health professionals.
It is sad, heartbroken even for some to even consider suicide as an option, but, it is not
plainly selfish or careless.
Yes, it might be selfish for those that love him, that care for him, but unless you are in
that mentality of mental health, so serious that you can't care to live, can't bother to
breathe, because breathing is hurting for whatever known or unknown reason, commit
suicide is a very real and dangerous way out.

## Post 13 by Blue Velvet (I've got the platinum golden silver bronze poster award.) on Thursday, 14-Aug-2014 11:36:34

I agree with everything that PinaColada said above. Having known a person who did commit suicide and having a friend whose wife suffers from depression, I know how these people struggle on a daily basis, and I understand how sometimes they simply are not capable of caring to stay alive. This does not make them selfish. People don't have any control over it and don't ask to feel this way just like people don't have any control over their eye color or who their parents are.
Now, having said that, I'd rather not have this topic be a discussion of suicide in genral. I started it because I really liked Robin Williams and wanted to mention his passing to let others who appreciated his talent express their feelings.
A general discussion of suicide should probably be started on another board topic.

## Post 14 by Maiden of the Moonlight (Zone BBS is my Life) on Thursday, 14-Aug-2014 17:13:42

*waves* Yes, I'm Sarah! Hi! :P
Sounds fair, Becky. There is certainly a lot of great memories to celebrate from Robin Williams. I read today that his wife said he was suffering from the early stages of Parkinsons's Disease. Perhaps that is related to his decision to end his own life. Such a shame. :( He was rather young, all things considered. Sixty-three, right?
Side note, we get so sidetracked on board topics. I rather enjoy it though. But I can respect the poster's testaments.

## Post 15 by forereel (Just posting.) on Thursday, 14-Aug-2014 18:17:04

People who are not artist don’t understand what I call the artist soul.
You are, life, and all are intense and very different from people that enjoy your art.
Your life is your life to do with as you choose, so if you take it is not selfish.
How can it be selfish? What if you weren’t that artist?
Many artist choose this road, and we don’t often understand how someone with so much talent is so sad, but this is the artist soul.
It will happen again.

## Post 16 by Voyager (I just keep on posting!) on Friday, 15-Aug-2014 0:46:08

I frequently have to explain to people that actors' names mean nothing to me because I can't recognize their voices. Robin Williams was a HUGE exception. I could recognize a few of his voices, though probably not all of them. He was a part of my childhood because he starred in several movies that my family watched. My dad's side really liked movies and took to watching their favorites over and over again. I remember seeing Miss Doubtfire and Aladin when I was very young. And Flubber. As an adult I saw Mork and Mindy, and The Bicentennial Man, which I liked because I'm an Asimov fan.
I never knew or even thought about who the real man was. A suicide committed by someone I've never met usually doesn't sadden me, but this is different.

## Post 17 by Shadow_Cat (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Friday, 15-Aug-2014 23:14:15

Somehow, when I saw Williams interviewed, or even a lot of times when I'd see him in movies, I could tell there was a darkness under the humor. It seems that's the case with comedians a lot of the time. He was an amazingly talented man. It takes that kind of talent to be good at both comedy and serious drama. Most people are only good at one or the other, he could do both well, and mix them together. It makes me sad that the darkness got the better of him. What were some of your favorite Robin Williams movies? If we're talking about stuff he actually appeared in, I'd say Mrs. Doubtfire. But my favorite movie that he lent his voice to was Aladdin. He is what made that movie good.

## Post 18 by Blue Velvet (I've got the platinum golden silver bronze poster award.) on Saturday, 16-Aug-2014 12:11:05

I also loved Mrs. Doubtfire. In spite of the fact that it was panned by the critics, I laughed my ass off at Patch Adams. I also liked Dead Poet's Society. And the old TV show Mork and Mindy was hilarious. You can definitely see the manic phase of his bipolar in that character. I saw an interview with Gary Marshall, the producer of the show, and he said Robin stood on his head during the interview for the part. I've also seen a number of his live comedy routines on HBO that had me in stitches.

## Post 19 by Remy (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Saturday, 16-Aug-2014 14:41:08

I always enjoyed his live material, and Alladin was something special. The second one, despite being decent for a disney sequal was just not the same without him, and it was better when he returned for the third. He is incredibly tallented. There was also a movie though, I believe it was called One Hour Photo, and that one ... it brought a very dark side to his character.

## Post 20 by Raskolnikov (I'll have the last word, thank you!) on Saturday, 16-Aug-2014 20:09:37

His character in Insomnia took me by surprise. He plays the role of an author who lures an underaged girl. But I suppose his reputation as a humanitarian and overall funny person worked to great affect for his controversial part as a child predator.
Good Morning, Vietnam! Awakenings, Good Will Hunting, and the Fisher King are among my favorites. But there are several of his movies I’ve yet to watch, and I will soon do so as a tribute to his memory.

## Post 21 by chelslicious (like it or not, I'm gonna say what I mean. all the time.) on Saturday, 16-Aug-2014 20:20:55

for the record, I said what I said about suicide because I've been there myself, a number of times, throughout my life.
so, just as it's important to carry on Robin William's ability to make people laugh, so, too, is it just as important to discuss the suicidal aspect of his story, if for no other reason than to get a dialogue going, as has previously been said.

## Post 22 by Blue Velvet (I've got the platinum golden silver bronze poster award.) on Saturday, 16-Aug-2014 20:41:09

Ever since it was revealed that he was diagnosed with Parkinson's recently, I've been reading up on this disorder. I read that sixty percent of Parkinson's patients suffer from depression because Parkinson's changes one's brain chemistry and can cause depression as well as the shaking and trembling most people associate with this condition. So Robin, who had been battling depression for many years before, then got Parkinson's, and his depression got worse. I heard a radio D.J. say that he had seen pictures of him showing that he was very skinny during his last few months of life. His wife reported that he was sleeping up to 18 hours a day and had lost his appetite. These are classic signs of depression. I think the Parkinson's made it worse, and even with professional help, he just wasn't able to pull himself out of it this time.

## Post 23 by Blue Velvet (I've got the platinum golden silver bronze poster award.) on Sunday, 17-Aug-2014 13:01:09

When George Carlin died, HBO reaired a bunch of the standup shows he did for them. Robin Williams didn't do as many as George, but I've been hoping HBO would do the same as well as show some of his movies. But I haven't seen anything yet indicating they plan to do this.
This morning while listening to another tribute to him, I heard about a movie I don't remember hearing about before. He made a movie called Man of the Year which was about a comedian running for President. I'd love to see that one.

## Post 24 by Imprecator (The Zone's Spelling Nazi) on Monday, 18-Aug-2014 12:48:46

Only movies with him that I can recall are Aladdin and Misses Doubtfire, both awesome performances. RIP.

## Post 25 by BryanP22 (Novice theriminist) on Tuesday, 19-Aug-2014 21:11:16

There's also Hook, one of my favorites.

## Post 26 by Shadow_Cat (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Wednesday, 20-Aug-2014 3:52:09

As far as the suicide issue, I've been there before too. When I look at it with my rational mind, yes, it is very selfish. However, at least in my experience, when I was in that dark of depression, my fucked-up, depressive logic basically said that if my family and friends really loved me, they wouldn't want me to live the way I'd been living, and yes, they'd be hurt, but they would go on. The mind does some pretty screwed up stuff when you're that far in the dark.
On the lighter side of this topic, Dead Poet's Society was a good movie, too.

## Post 27 by Maiden of the Moonlight (Zone BBS is my Life) on Saturday, 30-Aug-2014 4:07:34

These movies are all so good. I think I might get a few and watch this weekend.
Yeah, I think I could sense the darkenss Alicia talked about, especially in his more candid stand-up routines.

## Post 28 by BryanP22 (Novice theriminist) on Monday, 13-Oct-2014 12:54:17

He always struck me as a really nice guy.