When I think of Robin Williams, I think of a happy, smiling comedic actor. A grown man with a constant twinkle in his eye. Who better, then, to portray the eternally youthful Peter Pan in Steven Spielberg’s “Hook?” But that smile is now extinguished as the world bids farewell to him today.
At first I thought it was an internet hoax, but when the news reports began pouring in, I realized that the beloved actor had, in fact, died. His publicist stated, “Robin Williams passed away this morning. He has been battling severe depression of late. This is a tragic and sudden loss. The family respectfully asks for their privacy as they grieve during this very difficult time.”
Though his death is being considered a possible suicide, no official cause has been released as of the writing of this article.
And while Williams has appeared in many shows and movies in his nearly forty year career, I will forever identify him with “Mork and Mindy” and, of course, “Hook.” And in my grief I nearly forgot about him voicing the Genie in Disney’s “Aladdin.”
But there were many others: “Good Will Hunting,” “Dead Poets Society,” “What Dreams May Come,” the “Night at the Museum” series, “Jumanji,” “Mrs. Doubtfire,” and more recently “The Crazy Ones” television series with Sarah Michelle Gellar. And let’s not forget “Popeye.” I actually remember that movie from my childhood and loved it. He also had other projects in the works, including a sequel to “Mrs. Doubtfire.” And if you’re not familiar with “Popeye,” here’s a link to one of the songs:
He called Steven Spielberg during the production of “Schindler’s List” to cheer him up: “I think I only called him once, maybe twice. I called him when I was representing People for the Valdheimers Association. A society devoted to helping raise money to help older Germans who had forgotten everything before 1945. I remember him laughing and going ‘thank you.'” This is the kind of person he was. He made people smile. And he shall continue to do so, with all the wonderful films he has given us.
Robin Williams was 63.