Robin Williams RIP

[Gentle Giant]

A true improviser.

[bluenoter]

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/comedian-robin-williams-dead-apparent-suicide

Aug 11, 8:41 PM EDT


Robin Williams, boisterous comedy star, dead at 63


By HAVEN DALEY and HILLEL ITALIE
Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Robin Williams, the Academy Award winner and comic supernova whose explosions of pop culture riffs and impressions dazzled audiences for decades and made him a gleamy-eyed laureate for the Information Age, died Monday in an apparent suicide. He was 63.

Williams was pronounced dead at his San Francisco Bay Area home Monday, according to the sheriff's office in Marin County, north of San Francisco. The sheriff's office said the preliminary investigation shows the cause of death to be a suicide due to asphyxia.

The Marin County coroner's office said Williams was last been seen alive at home at about 10 p.m. Sunday. An emergency call from his house in Tiburon was placed to the Sheriff's Department shortly before noon Monday.

"This morning, I lost my husband and my best friend, while the world lost one of its most beloved artists and beautiful human beings. I am utterly heartbroken," said Williams' wife, Susan Schneider. "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."

Williams had been battling severe depression recently, said Mara Buxbaum, his press representative. Just last month, he announced he was returning to a 12-step treatment program he said he needed after 18 months of nonstop work. He had sought treatment in 2006 after a relapse following 20 years of sobriety.
. . .

More here


R.I.P.

[Chazro]

Genius can be a lonely place. RIP.

[Jazzooo]

How sad to hear. He sure entertained the hell out of me. I'm grateful to have been in the right place and time to witness his comedy.

I hope he left a hell of a note.

[Ron Thorne]

Robin certainly walked on the razor's edge most of the time, as many brilliant artists do. Sometimes he made me cringe or feel as though I'd heard this routine a zillion times before ... then he would riff on something fresh and blow my mind. He was unique and gifted, but apparently haunted as well.

What a terrible loss.




R.I.P., Robin Williams~

[Jimmy Cantiello]

I loved Robin Williams and I mean no disrespect but I'm not at all surprised at this sad news. Watching him over the years one couldn't help but come to the conclusion that he suffered from manic/depression, now known as bipolar disorder.

RIP, Robin. You were one funny guy.

One of my favorite Robin Williams bits:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wi-JlvBCl3A

[Cem]

If a man who did such great things in life can feel the need to check out early, all bets are off. I'm sorry, he was in such agony.
Farewell, Robin Williams…
This video was the first stand-up of his I saw. Lots of nervous coke energy, but some really great stuff, too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9FMrjDasBk

[Ron Thorne]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NqEKvk9F4I


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqdSagycCWc


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfFzsqgaLtM

[moldyfigg]

The loss of Williams brings to three the loss of true comic geniuses. He joins Richard Pryor and Jonathan Winters.

No one today can even come close to their comic abilities.

[Cem]

Nice piece by David Simon
http://davidsimon.com/robin-williams-a-brief-encounter/

[Ron Thorne]

This is one of the most unique and personal tributes to Robin I've seen thus far.




Norm MacDonald May Have
Just Written the Best Tribute
To Robin Williams Yet

Chez Pazienza on August 12, 2014




Norm MacDonald is the living embodiment of one of the truths about comedy that
most confounds literalists: that being a disinterested, vaguely antisocial prick is
often all kinds of fucking funny. Whether you’re a fan of his particular brand of
acerbic wit or not, though, MacDonald is a smart comic who earlier this morning
used his considerable talent for weaving a story to pay tribute to Robin Williams,
a man he idolized.

In just a few tweets, MacDonald manages to perfectly sum up everything that made
Robin so great.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Norm Macdonald ✔
@normmacdonald
Follow

It was my first stand-up appearance on Letterman and I
had to follow the funniest man in the world.
#RIPRobinWilliams
12:07 AM - 12 Aug 2014

____________________

Norm Macdonald ✔
@normmacdonald
Follow

I was a punk kid from rural Ontario and I was in my dressing room, terrified.
#RIPRobinWilliams
12:08 AM - 12 Aug 2014


Full Story

[Ron Thorne]

Classic stuff!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yw9Evwb1vtQ

[Ron Thorne]

Here are three heartfelt tributes to Robin Williams.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bVgilYncao


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_6wYQC9n3U


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qquQNxKJxw

[Ron Thorne]

Billy Crystal pays tribute to his dear friend during the Emmy Awards.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UljNDz7jiOg