Credit: UniversalRobin Williams (Good Will Hunting, Mrs. Doubtfire, Aladdin, Flubber) was a Hollywood icon, particularly during the golden years of his career in the 1980s and 1990s.
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Williams was a fixture in family-friendly comedies, making movie night across America better for both parents and kids. Then, on August 11, 2014, the Hollywood A-lister tragically committed suicide, proving that outward appearance is not always an indicator of the state of one’s mental health.
In recent weeks, Williams’s son, Zak, has spoken about his father’s “devastating” form of dementia — a disease known as Lewy Body Dementia — and the toll it was taking on the comedian.
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In the years since Williams’s death, his children — Zelda, Cody Alan, and Zachary Pym [Zak] — and widow, Susan Schneider Williams, have raised awareness about their father’s mental health in hopes of preventing other families from experiencing what they have gone through following the Dead Poets Society (1989) star’s passing.
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Today, the date that marks seven years since Williams’s tragic passing, Zak was one of the first to post a social media tribute to his late father:
Dad, seven years ago today you passed on. The joy and inspiration you brought to the world carries on in your legacy and in your family, friends, and fans you so loved. You lived to bring laughter and to help others. I will be celebrating your memory today. Love you forever.
Dad, seven years ago today you passed on. The joy and inspiration you brought to the world carries on in your legacy and in your family, friends, and fans you so loved. You lived to bring laughter and to help others. I will be celebrating your memory today. Love you forever. pic.twitter.com/xw2pkO4shZ
— Zak Williams (@zakwilliams) August 11, 2021
Emmy Award-winning NBC Bay Area journalist Kevin Wing wrote:
You are still very profoundly missed in this world. Life isn’t as funny as it was when you were here, big guy.
Robin Williams
July 21, 1951 ~ August 11, 2014#RobinWilliams
You are still very profoundly missed in this world. Life isn't as funny as it was when you were here, big guy.
Robin Williams
July 21, 1951 ~ August 11, 2014#RobinWilliams pic.twitter.com/XZR1TEtV0C— Kevin Wing NBC Bay Area (@KevinWingNBC) August 11, 2021
Physician Nate Bayer posted a touching tribute to Williams:
#RobinWilliams inspired me to be a doctor and a pediatrician. I watched #PatchAdams [Patch Adams (1998)] as a kid and it quickly became my favorite movie. I think of him often, especially today. Bet I’m not the only doctor he inspired.
#RobinWilliams inspired me to be a doctor and a pediatrician. I watched #PatchAdams as a kid and it quickly became my favorite movie. I think of him often, especially today. Bet I’m not the only doctor he inspired. pic.twitter.com/1je9jDTtTR
— Nate Bayer, MD (@NateBayerMD) August 11, 2021
Austin Cox shared:
The amazing #RobinWilliams will always be remembered for how he brightened the lives of so many with his comedy and acting. But he’s also one of the best examples, sadly, that behind every smile and joke can be a lot of pain. We don’t know the hurt others go through. #BeKind
The amazing #RobinWilliams will always be remembered for how he brightened the lives of so many with his comedy and acting. But he's also one of the best examples, sadly, that behind every smile and joke can be a lot of pain. We don't know the hurt others go through. #BeKind pic.twitter.com/VuA31n84eo
— Austin Cox (@C_Austin_Cox) August 11, 2021
Related: Robin Williams’s WEIRD Job Before Becoming an Actor
Podcast host Chantal posted:
7 years ago we lost one of the greatest comedic actors in movie history. A true talent. There are not enough words to describe how I feel about #RobinWilliams. He was my entire childhood! I cannot watch a single of movie of his without shedding a tear or 2 or 1,000.
7 years ago we lost one of the greatest comedic actors in movie history. A true talent. There are not enough words to describe how I feel about #RobinWilliams. He was my entire childhood! I cannot watch a single of movie of his without shedding a tear or 2 or 1,000. pic.twitter.com/UUWop22LRb
— Chantal (@Chantal729) August 11, 2021
Related: Popular Robin Williams Movie Coming Soon to Disney+
Finally, fellow Disney actor Josh Gad (Beauty and the Beast, Frozen) posted a lovely tribute to the late Robin Williams:
I still miss #RobinWilliams more than ever. Love this pic I found on Twitter. Beautiful tribute. What a legacy
I still miss #RobinWilliams more than ever. Love this pic I found on Twitter. Beautiful tribute. What a legacy pic.twitter.com/1kAij2kl0D
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) August 11, 2021
If you or someone you love is struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, reach out to the 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in the United States at 1-800-273-8255.