Robin Williams, addiction, suicide and being famous
Actor, Robin Williams died recently at the age of 63 due to suicide cause by severe depression. According Marin Country assistant chief deputy coroner said that William's cause of death is suicide due to asphyxia but there will still be an investigation to be conducted to determine the circumstances of the actor's death.
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| Photo from: The Schmoe Ville |
Her wife, Susan Schneider released a statement calling everyone to focus on the legacy of Robin Williams rather than his personal problems and death:
“This morning I lost my husband and my best friend, while the world lost one of its most beloved artists and beautiful human beings,” she said in the statement. “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 that the focus will not be on Robin’s death, but on the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions.”
I am an avid fan or Robin Williams and had watched most of his movies. My personal favorites includes "Bicentennial Man", "Mrs. Doubtfire" and "Night at the Museum.". I was shocked when I heard of the news and cannot believe even that someone like Williams would commit suicide and had depression.
Why did he end up in a situation like this? What happened to him?
According to TIME Magazine,
Williams had entered a rehab facility earlier this year to “fine-tune and focus on his continued commitment” to sobriety, according to a rep, after struggling with alcohol and drugs in the 1980s and then again around the time he sought more help in 2006.
Depression is a chronic thing. When someone feels that you are no longer in control of yourself and there seems to be no more solution to your problem, the easiest escape would be to end your life. Many says that it is cowardly to commit suicide, so thus this mean Robin Williams is a coward?
For many years I have hold into that notion but this one case made me think again of what is really going on inside his mind? It could be a simple overdose and then again, it could just be a plain giving up on the stress of his daily life.
The life of a showbiz star is not easy. I have seen then upfront during personal shoots for television. They do not have enough sleep, do not have time for themselves and the notion of privacy is commonly shattered. They are the subject of intrigued and they cannot live without being bothered by other people. These are for me the most stressful of all things which if you fail to handle, it would destroy you.
I think, it is better to remember Robin Williams as an inspiration to us all. He might have decided to leave us on his own will but that one mistake or that one action should not in anyway be the mark of who he is. Williams is an inspiration, someone who we can all learn from.
As fans, we can still see Robin Williams in 4 films which he managed to finish before his untimely death. These films includes:
- Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb which he stars as Teddy Roosevelt
- Merry Friggin’ Christmas, co-starring Wendi McLendon-Covey, Lauren Graham and Oliver Platt
- Absolutely Anything. where he voiced the animated character of Dennis the Dog.
- Boulevard where he starred opposite Bob Odenkirk (Breaking Bad).
References:
- http://time.com/3102046/robin-williams-dead-hollywood-television-movies/
- http://time.com/3101990/robin-williams-dead-63/
