Broadway Legend Joined: 6/25/14
I spent the day with my nephew who loves anything and everything to do with Peter Pan. In an attempt to have him watch something Pan related that he hadn't seen a million times over, I found on Netlifx, and shared with him one of my all time favorite movies, Hook. That's a movie that has always put a lump in my throat towards the end, no matter how many times I see it. However, it put more of a lump in my throat this time around because as the credits were just starting to roll, I got a push alert on my phone from the NY Times regarding the passing of Robin Williams.
All I can say is that he's been one of my favorite performers for years and had great depth as an actor. Not only going from comedy to drama, but also had the strong ability to create touching and memorable characters in both genres as well. RIP Mr. Williams, and thanks for the memories.

(Image from the Sesame Street Twitter feed)
I can't imagine what it is like to live with so much pain. How extraordinary that he was able--for so long--to turn that pain into pleasure for others.
Rest in Peace.
This honestly makes my heart hurt. I don't know if I have ever been so saddened over the loss of a celebrity. He was a genius. Depression is a horrible beast.
So many of his movies are such a part of my life.
Even the ones that weren't good were always worth watching just for him.
Hell, I even laughed at RV.
I'm just stunned. I haven't been so shocked by a celebrity death since Lennon was shot.
My aunt passed away yesterday as well and I suspect in a similar fashion. She battled the same demons and was almost exactly the same age as Robin Williams. I hope they are both finally at peace.
So sorry to hear that, Matt. Hugs.
Somewhere your aunt is laughing hysterically at Robin Williams heavenly stand up routines.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
Ugh. Sorry Matt.
Sorry to hear about your aunt, Matt. This really does feel as hollow as John Lennon's death, although at that we could feel anger and bewilderment at an assailant. With suicide, there is just bewilderment, even though we know all about depression and substance abuse and their interactions, and we know all about the sadness of clowns. But he had a life force that seemed somehow superhuman...or was that just the Superman shirt that Mork used to wear?
The world is less bright today because the Genie is gone.
So sorry about you auntie Matt. Be kind to each other.
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/14/05
My wife and daugheters spent 15 minutes with Robin Williams on Michigan Avenue a few years ago. He was mocking and immitating the girls and their phone use! Very funny. They all fell in love with him that day!
Our friends are still reeling from the tragic suicide of a husband and father of three last year. Untreated depression is so scary!
I just read this on a website called the daily love. It's founder Mastin Kipp wrote this about depression and Robin Williams' passing so I'd thought I'd share it with you all because it truly resonated with me:
Addiction is no joke. Depression is no joke.
The problem is that for as much as we know about life and technology, there’s still a lot we don’t know about addiction and depression.
They are issues of the spirit, the mind and the body. They cut deep. And when you are in the throws of either, it’s almost impossible to see your way out.
The human soul is meant to feel free. It wants to grow. It wants to connect. It want’s to be happy and fulfilled.
And there are so many things that can get in the way.
In my work with people, I often see that the people who are the most giving to others are not that great at giving to themselves. Those who are most loving towards others are those who are not that great at loving themselves.
In many ways, life is an outward projection of what we desire most. We can be great at making others feel a certain way, but at the end of the day come up short.
Robin Williams made the whole world happy, the whole world minus one, very important person – himself.
Robin's Daughter on twitter;
I teared up.
From The Little Prince
Well...faggot. If suicide were so cowardly, why don't more people do it? Lord knows you should!
Broadway Star Joined: 12/7/05
I read The Daily Love almost every day. Mastin's really grown it into an empire, and it remains insightful most of the time. Saw Mastin's blog about Depression, today, and he can relate based on his own story, as can I, and many other entertainment/theatre types who are either the subject of, or read, BWW.
There is a story out of NorCal where Williams lived, reporting he hung himself over financial troubles. Oy. Though I am wary of posting "what if" kind of stuff that the internet is full of in cases like this, this looks like it contains reliable information:
http://www.mercurynews.com/entertainment/ci_26321767/robin-williams-hanged-himself-didnt-leave-suicide-note
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/13
He freely spoke of his financial troubles over the last year in various interviews. While his depression and addiction battles were most likely the root of the problem, I imagine his recent financial trouble was the final straw. We'll never know for sure, though.
They're confirming that he hung himself. Horrible.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/13
Jordan. Had I never read the interview where he spoke so in-depth about his financial troubles, I would have never given it a thought. I'm not sure that many people are actually aware of how bad it was. It is far from "obvious," in my opinion. But there's no need to argue... Robin Williams is dead and that's a tremendous loss for all of us.
Can we have at least one thread where board members aren't cr@pping all over each other?
The Little Prince is my all time favorite book. That's a beautiful passage. This is so, so sad. Prayers to them for strength.
Josh Gad wrote a lovely piece today.
Olaf remembers his friend and idol, the Genie
That was incredibly touching.^^^^^^^
No more demons, calm waters now. Oh captain, my captain.
Starting to know how everyone felt when Princess Diana died now.
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