Robin Williams dead at 63

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I couldn't believe it when I woke up in the morning and what really got to me was when I heard a clip from Aladdin, where he played Genie, on the radio :'(
 
This may seem corny but this is a poem I wrote last year for a loved one who died. Its cathartic for me to share it now.


NEW BEGINNINGS
I stood at the street corner, not knowing why;
I just knew I had to wait there under churning clouds and a lightning cracked sky.
The street was familiar, and I realized with but a sudden thought,
Those who lived here were all the sadness, pain, and fear in life I ever fought.

It was lonely on that corner, until down the street a carriage pulled on up.
Majestic black steeds pulled it, and by me halted their gallop.
The carriage driver with a face that was kind,
Held out his hand, and motioned to take mine.
I hesitated and thought to myself I’m not sure if I want to take this journey.
The driver smiled, and he said, “Be not afraid,
for this journey is a rule all must abide, and I promise
That loved ones will be there to welcome you on the other side.”

I took his hand, and he helped me into the seat, a strangely comfortable thing.
“But I have no baggage for the trip,” I said.
“Is there anything I should bring?”
He laughed a bit and said “No, your baggage has to stay; we cannot take it in tow.
Your baggage is what dwells on this street, and now is the time to let it go.
Where you are going, never again shall you and it meet.
But all the things you ever truly needed await on another street.”

The driver started the carriage in motion, and pulled away from a place that I was starting to barely notion.
As we rode, the light of the sun broke through the clouds of my mortality.
Those clouds receding, would never return,
And I would never again see finality.
I knew that sun was the light of God, and He was calling me to come home.
Where there is no despair, and never fear of having to be alone.
“You lingered on that street for too long,” He said.
Now peace and love live with me throughout eternity instead.
 
Robdraggoo said:
source? I cant imagine this. he was a pretty humble guy
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Don't know if that's true, but I read about it as well in the paper here. His assets where estimated at being worth 12 million or so, but apparently he gave an interview a couple of years back where he said his divorces cost him most of his money (the same thing happened to John Cleese, among others), and that he would have to sell his house and stuff.

Who knows if that's the issue. We probably shouldn't speculate too much about that stuff. It's horrible that he felt so bad about himself and what his (resurfaced) addiction did to him, and that's worthy of discussion because so many people identify with that.

Very sad about this, and a lot of feelings I overcame some time ago came rushing back with this. Making some effort to spend some time with my loved ones the next couple of days. Don't really want to feel alone at the moment. Celebrity deaths are always a bit distant for me, but this hit a little bit too close to home. He was a childhood hero, heard him talk about his addiction and depression on a couple of podcasts some months ago, and now he left like this. It's fucked. Keep thinking about the friends and family who have to live through this. Reinforces the feeling that I'm happy my own attempts failed all those years ago, and that I never want to go down that road again. But man, I wish it didn't have to happen like this.
 
I've been sad about this all day. He was one of my favourite actors and starred in so many of my favourite childhood movies such as Aladdin, Mrs.Doubtfire and Jumanji.

I'm really sorry for his family and my condolences and thoughts are with them.
 
Robin Williams joked about losing half of his half of his money through divorces (was even going to name his special about alimony). But I think going from Hollywood superstar (who was still exploited by Disney) to just making the minimum scale including a quickly cancelled sitcom (which he admits was a financial necessity, needed a regular source of income) must've hurt him more than just financially. On Letterman he joked about "where's that thing? oh that's right it's gone now". He was overworked and over-stressed at 63, RIP

Sanjuro said:
I haven't heard anything about this.
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This is a decent article chronicling the tortured soul that was Robin Williams since 1983, RIP:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jesse-kornbluth/robin-williams-1983-even_b_5670346.html
 
vpance said:
Seems to me it was the multiple divorces and failed TV show that drove him to this.
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entrement said:
Yeah, it seems he was done with ''working'' which at his age and income level isn't a bad thing. He put his hours in.
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Not to mention his heart surgery, depression, etc. The roles and pay he was offered must have made him feel like a terrible punchline too. RIP Robin Williams. I am going to cry again
 
The Real Abed said:
But he had a current loving wife and best friend. And TV shows fail all the time.
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TV shows offer a regular source of income and less travel. For Robin Williams he would have to battle through a lot of stress to reschedule and make things work. Plus it hurts more than just financially.
 
The Real Abed said:
But he had a current loving wife and best friend. And TV shows fail all the time.
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If his ex-wives were getting alimony--I don't know--that could've easily eaten away at his income, especially since alimony can be lifetime in California, increasing financial pressure and need to work.
 
http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/12/opinion/gottfried-robin-williams/
Gilbert Gottfried on Robin.
To see Robin perform was an experience. He was more than a comedian. He was a comedy force of nature. I remember hearing that Robin was once doing a press junket in Germany. One of the reporters asked him, "Why is it that Germany is not known for comedy?" Robin answered, "Well, you killed all your funny people." I laughed out loud when I heard that. I thought, how sick and how wonderfully truthful.
 
At work. Saw this. Finally shed a few tears.

A tribute to Robin Williams by Eric Goldberg (Supervising Animator of Genie):
iU6fbFx0TCQHU.jpg
 
To have such a career while being mentally sick is truly astonishing. To make other people laugh and focus as long as he did.

What strength he had. Wow!
 
Frog-fu said:
Sorry if it's a repost, but has anyone seen this shit?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxpTe-GKPlI
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Don't think I've ever been so angry about something I've watched on the Internet since the Internet was invented. So angry I don't even know where to start. The only coward here is the ignorant idiot spouting nonsense about things he doesn't understand, or even want to the the time to understand. How is Fox News still on air in the US anyway? They'd have been shut down in the UK by now with the unimaginable amount of Ofcom complaints they would have had over the years.
 
The Real Abed said:
But he had a current loving wife and best friend. And TV shows fail all the time.
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Yeah but he's in the twilight of his career, and life for a relatively big celeb as he was should be easy. Instead he was still probably reeling from the alimony payments and prospect of bankruptcy. Maybe it wasn't the main reason why he did it, but a probable tipping point I'd say.

entrement said:
If his ex-wives were getting alimony--I don't know--that could've easily eaten away at his income, especially since alimony can be lifetime in California, increasing financial pressure and need to work.
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Some Yahoo article I read said he was paying out sums in the area of 30M to his (each?) ex wives.
 
I searched the thread and didn't see this posted, but Fresh Air is replaying an interview with Robin in 2006. It's incredibly funny and insightful, with Robin even touching on the topic of depression. When the interview is over, you could almost hear the radio announcer's voice break when he reminds the listener that this is a replay of an interview and that Robin Williams has died. I felt a lump in my throat towards the end of the interview, and I think you will too when you listen to it.

http://www.npr.org/2014/08/12/33982...ing-for-laughter-you-have-to-be-deeply-honest
 
pswii60 said:
Don't think I've ever been so angry about something I've watched on the Internet since the Internet was invented. So angry I don't even know where to start. The only coward here is the ignorant idiot spouting nonsense about things he doesn't understand, or even want to the the time to understand. How is Fox News still on air in the US anyway? They'd have been shut down in the UK by now with the unimaginable amount of Ofcom complaints they would have had over the years.
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Don't really feel like derailing the thread with this but if I don't I doubt anyone else will post it so here goes nothing: Shepard Smith Clarifies and Apologizes for Robin Williams ‘Coward’ Remark
 
Can't believe it when i saw the news last night, i loved his comedic movies during my childhood as well as his more dramatic roles when i grew up. I will really miss him. R.I.P Robin
 
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