Robin Williams: The world mourns a legend

THIS MORNING the world mourns the sudden and tragic death of famous actor Robin Williams.
The 63-year-old star who was well known for his roles in classic movies like “Good Will Hunting” and “Good Morning Vietnam” was found dead at his home in Tiburon, northern California, shortly before midday, police said.
The veteran actor’s publicist said the funnyman had been suffering from depression prior to his death, and Williams had spoken openly in the past about his battles with alcoholism and drug abuse.
“Robin Williams passed away this morning. He has been battling severe depression of late,” Mara Buxbaum said in a statement.
His heartbroken wife Susan Schneider urged the father-of-three’s millions of fans to remember his genius for creating laughter.
“This morning, I lost my husband and my best friend, while the world lost one of its most beloved artists and beautiful human beings,” said Schneider, who became the actor’s third wife when the couple married in 2011.
“I am utterly heartbroken. On behalf of Robin’s family, we are asking for privacy during our time of profound grief.
“As he is remembered, it is our hope the focus will not be on Robin’s death, but on the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions.”
After beginning his career as a stand-up comic, Williams rose to fame in the iconic US television sitcom “Mork & Mindy”, channelling his anarchic, high-energy style as an extra-terrestrial struggling to fit in on Earth.
He later reeled off a string of big-screen hits throughout the 1980s and 1990s in roles which often showcased his phenomenal fast-talking, improvisational skills.
US President Barrack Obama, on holiday in Martha’s Vineyard, referenced Williams’ array of beloved performances as he led the tributes to the entertainer.
“Robin Williams was an airman, a doctor, a genie, a nanny, a president, a professor, a bangarang Peter Pan, and everything in between. But he was one of a kind, ” Obama said in a statement.
“He arrived in our lives as an alien — but he ended up touching every element of the human spirit,” he added, referring to Williams’ breakthrough television role as the extraterrestrial visitor Mork.
“He made us laugh. He made us cry. He gave his immeasurable talent freely and generously to those who needed it most — from our troops stationed abroad to the marginalized on our own streets.”