I know this may seem late, as the great legendary actor and comedian Robin Williams passed away lat week. I was stunned by the news, as I think everyone else was. I didn’t want to believe it. I hoped it was a hoax. I wish it was just a hoax. But sadly it was real. It was true. The world got a lot less funny when Robin Williams decided to take his own life.
I grew up watching his films. He was one in a million. He brought joy and laughter to my life and the lives of millions of others around the world. There was no one else quit like him. Not only was he a comedic genius, but an amazing actor as well. He proved time and time again that he he wasn’t just the funny guy.
But behind his public mask of laughter and joy was a tortured soul. It’s hard to believe but in most cases the happiest people are also the saddest. Robin’s life is proof of that. He’s not the only actor who has struggled with mental illness such as depression. There are many other, many who would probably shock and surprise you. The unfortunate thing with mental illness is that you can’t “see” it. So often times it gets ignored or people in general just don’t take it seriously.
“Oh you’re depressed? So am I but you don’t see me sulking about it.” That seems to be the general attitude towards mental illness, and it shouldn’t be. Just because you can’t see it like cancer doesn’t mean it’s not real. And saying things like “Just get over it” don’t help. You don’t just “get over it.” You can’t.
Robin Williams, you will be missed. You left a mark on the world that we wont forget. Wherever you are now, I hope you are at peace. Your suffering is over. RIP
And now I’ll share some of my favourite quotes by the legend:
You’re only given a little spark of madness, and if you lose that, you’re nothing. –Â A Night at the Roxy (1978)
And that’s when you realize that God gave you a penis and a brain, and only enough blood to run one at a time. –Â Live on Broadway (2002)
You know the difference between a tornado and divorce in the south? Nothing! Someone is losing a trailer. –Â Weapons of Self Destruction (2010)
They made porn movies, of my movies! Good Will Humping? Okay… Wet Dreams May Cum? All right… Snatch Adams? That was scary. A clown with a strap-on. –Â Weapons of Self Destruction (2010)
No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world.
If women ran the world we wouldn’t have wars, just intense negotiations every 28 days.
Comedy is acting out optimism.
Do you think God gets stoned? I think so … look at the platypus.
Politics: âPoliâ a Latin word meaning âmanyâ; and “tics” meaning âbloodsucking creaturesâ
Marijuana enhances many things, colors, flavors, sensations, but you are certainly not fucking empowered. When you’re stoned, you’re lucky if you can find your own goddamn feet. The only way it’s a performance-enhancing drug is if there’s a big fucking Hershey bar at the end of the run. Then you’ll be like a Swiss ski jumper going, “I’m there!”
[to troops in Iraq] I’m looking at a group of heavily armed people here. I’m telling myself “If you’re not funny, it’s a problem.”
[While accepting the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for Good Will Hunting (1997)] Most of all, I want to thank my father, up there, the man who when I said I wanted to be an actor, he said, “Wonderful. Just have a back-up profession like welding.”