Robin Williams R.I.P.

[Bryn]

So sorry to hear of Robin Williams's suicide. He'd been fighting depression for some time but it finally got the better of him.

[Nick Armstrong]

Sounds that way. What a terrible shock for those close to him.

Very, very sad - one of the relatively few people who has had me literally weeping with laughter (I'm talking about his improv. skills rather than the movies)

RIP & thanks for all the laughs

[pilamenon]

Very sorry to hear this.
Some of the movies he played in gave me a lot of pleasure, too (with the exception of Dead Poets Society). I loved Mrs Doubtfire and his part in La Cage aux Folles.

[Stillhomewardbound]

'Cocaine is God's way of telling you you are making too much money.'

Probably his finest line and sadly prophetic for a comic genius that struggled so painfully with his demons. He was the Charlie Chaplin of our times and yet we really did not appreciate him and admire him enough. I guess he had the misfortune to be born in to a time when sophistication and cynicism had become part of the daily argot. How can you triumph in the game of comedy when everyone thinks they're a wisecracker.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

A great stand-up comedian and comedy actor - Good Morning Vietnam probably best captures his range, with One Hour Photo suggesting that were areas of his talent that the studios neglected.

A lovely man, too - a writer at Sight & Sound once sent a spoof letter to various Hollywood "names", telling them that he'd just ingerited some money and could he have an autographed photo to help celebrate. Some ignored him completely; most returned a stamped autographed studio portrait; but RW wrote a message on his, offering congratulations and telling him to enjoy spending the money.

Terribly sad that someone who gave so much side-aching laughter to so many people should end his life in this way. RIP, and thank you.

[amateur51]

How very sad that such an apparently sweet-natured and genuinely kind man should be so bereft of hope that he felt the need to kill himself. As Caliban has said, he made me weep with laughter on many occasions and I agree with ferney about One Hour Photo that demonstrated a darker side to his talents.

Many thanks for the tears of insight, surprise and joy

[hedgehog]

Very sad to read of this. Many films of his I've enjoyed, "Good morning Vietnam" of course since acquaintances of mine were (as conscripts, not voluntarily) involved in that War and, perhaps not to everyone's taste but for me "The Fisher King" possibly because of the mix with Terry Gilliam.

[Serial_Apologist]

How come I've missed out on him all these years?? "Americana" ???

I thought they were on about the pop singer.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

one did rather hope he would live for ever ....

[EnemyoftheStoat]

one did rather hope he would live for ever ....

He will.

RIP Robin and thanks for all the laughs.

[Nick Armstrong]

He will.

I could watch something like this for ever

... and each time come close to needing emergency laundry services.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

:I could watch something this for ever ... and each time come close to needing emergency laundry services.

- and it just defies the old cliché about comic timing: it's just relentless hilarity - every statement breath-takingly funny, punchline following punchline in a stream of comic improvisatory invention. Priceless; simply priceless. So sad a loss.

[johncorrigan]

I could watch something like this for ever

Thanks for that Caliban. I remember seeing Mork and Mindy when it first appeared on TV and being totally bowled over. I'd never seen anything like this guy. Over the years we've seen the different sides of his acting. I can watch 'Good Will Hunting' any time it's on - I think he won an oscar for the performance. I also loved Fisher King which I thought very underrated and also 'Awakenings'. It's so strange to see those different sides of the same guy. A wonderful talent. And of course he was just as likely to turn up on Sesame Street.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gl3e-OUnavQ

[BBMmk2]

Very sad to hear the news RIP

[Nick Armstrong]

I also loved Fisher King which I thought very underrated

Agreed!! I'd forgotten about that! Not underrated here - a gem. That ballroom sequence in Grand Central Station....