I was so shocked to hear of Robin Williams' passing. Shocked, saddened, and tearful. Strange to shed tears for someone I never knew, but felt as if I'd known all my life. He was, as you all probably know, bipolar. He was also a genius, a consumate actor, comedian, and a warm, loving, and generous human being. I particularly loved 'Awakenings' and 'What Dreams May Come'. The world has lost a great man. That's about all I can say. I just read this quote, and thought that it covers it all:

"There are many talented, legendary, iconic people in this world but Robin WIlliams could be set aside in a category apart from everyone else," said Robyn Knapton Ridgley, a Hollywood writer/producer who worked with Williams in the past. "His scintillating genius I treasure to this day."

Robin Williams First Appearance on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qr1DSLoHni0


Happy Feet - "My Way" (singing in Spanish)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCATC0z0K0I

M

I am sad, that he is gone. But I really enjoy the tributes that have
been on tv. I really wish all people with issues of Depression, and
bi-polar would be treated so well.

He will be missed.

Donna

I listened to an interview with nPR show- fresh air: terry gross from a few years ago where he said that he did not have bipolar. Interesting.
bizi

Oh my goodness. I will miss him. I first saw Robin on a "Happy Days"rerun. He said,"No sudden moves''as if he were talking to a person with mental health issues.

I thought that he was older,but he just turned 63. I don't know what to say,but we know some of what he went through on this forum. I wish that I could have talked to him. BF

I think he was one of the best, if not the best, comedic actors of all time. Such a tragic loss.

Over and over again, we are hearing now that he was always "on." I do wonder about that....surely escaping or avoiding something.

Yes, it seems to me that he exhibited bipolar symptoms, for sure. But, he also seemed to avoid that word and/or dx. But experts know that this was likely the case. Can't help but wonder if it went so far as for him to not take the proper meds.

One positive is that so many now are talking about mental illness and the need for better treatment, care, understanding. This is a very good thing.

If he was taking meds, they didn't work well enough. If he wasn't taking meds, I'm sure he had a bloody good reason.

Today on the news they said, albeit with a sad, compassionate tone, that he didn't have the courage to live. I about blew a cow outta my nose at that!

He has had the courage to live, and really to LIVE, for sixty-three years! He breathed more life in ten minutes than many of us do in a lifetime. He breathed life into all of us in so doing.

Let us feel compassion because he felt soooooo bad, that he saw no other choice than to stop living. Let us not search his pain for courage, medications, or other things. This goes beyond our understanding... and yes, even if you've "been there".

Let us admire and respect the courage it took for him to get through states that probably came very close to this, in the past, but not only that.

Let us admire and respect in him the courage it took to be who he was, to shine. It takes courage to do that, not just genius.

waves

well said waves.

I agree. It had nothing to do with courage. Whoever said that didn't know what they were talking about. He was in pain,and tired. He had open heart surgery a while back. I don't think that he got the mental health help that he needed. They may have thought that he was joking,but he wasn't. I heard that he sought help for depression recently.

They say many Caucasian males his age do this. He had a big heart,and cared for veterans,homeless people,Saint Judes kids,Helped Christopher Reeve with his med bills,and where friends,and made him smile. He did many more good things for people. He made us all smile. He was a sweet person,on top of being funny in a way that was completely unique. His comedy was his original thinking,and he put all of his strength into it. BF

These things make me sad.