RIP Robin Williams
 

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 on Johnny Carson 1981
 

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 :hug::grouphug:

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:hug::grouphug::hug:

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.

courage
 

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.:Good-Post:

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:hug::grouphug::hug::(:(:(

These things make me sad.

Mari. Me to. I feel sad.:( BF:(:(

He was one of the very few actors that could (and can) make me laugh.... and cry... He was an activist in children's hospitals and always helped cancer patients.... I will miss him A LOT.

I too hate when people, with zero knowledge say silly things about bipolarity, mental health, suicide, depression, etc.... they make me really mad. But ignorance is a BIG monster difficult to kill... *sigh*

Courage ? Courage is to make people laugh and smile like he did even when in the inside he was fighting his own depression and bipolar battles....

Courage ? Courage is to leave all behind, your life, your family, because you feel like your mission here is over...

He was a great man, I will always admire him. RIP Robin. God bless you and yours.

I just heard this evening that his wife disclosed that Robin was in the early stages of Parkinson's Disease, but was not willing to disclose this to the public. That, on top of his depression, might have made the odds insurmountable for him. Also, I heard that he changed since his heart surgery in 2009. But that's 5 years ago, so ya' just never know.

Yep, I heard this too tonight.

I agree it might have been the ending.

Donna :hug::grouphug:

I heard that to. Nightly News said that he was struggling with depression,and anxiety. The onset of Parkinson's Disease must have been the last straw for him. I will miss him.

Life goes on. LIFE GOES ON. My grief is starting to let up. We must not let grief swallow us up.

I wish for today to be a brighter day. BF:hug::hug::hug:

It occurred to me that some of the medications that Robin could have taken for depression could have stopped him from being funny on the stage. If he took some medications,it could have stopped the comedy flow, concentration,and memory of what to say on stage.

I know that medications help,but sometimes I cannot remember what I'm going to say in the middle of a sentence,and that I don't have the energy to start a conversation with people in daily life sometimes.

You all know how medications can zap the conversation out of you/me, especially the stronger ones before bed.

Could this be possible that he didn't take the medications that he needed to take. Poor Robin.:( BF:hug::hug::hug:

Steve.

Maybe he was taking meds for depression. We don't know. It doesn't really matter. Sometimes all of the best help at the right time simply doesn't make the difference.

Meds didn't help me at all with situational depression. At all.

:hug::hug:

A friend of his also said he saw him recently and that he looked frail and not totally present. We can all relate to that last part, I'll wager. I just can't imagine Robin Williams like that, can you?

Let's face it, we all have our struggles with something, illness and aging being at the top of MY list. :grouphug:

David Letterman said tonight that he didn't know that Robin Williams was in that much pain,even though they were both comedians at the same time in history.

Maybe there will be more efforts to help us who have had this awful affliction all of our life. We are in pain. I'm not suicidal,but many people are.

There are these two verses in the bible(2 Corinthians 4: 8-9)that I am mindful of. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side,yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed- Bible

BF:hug::hug::hug: