There are some people in this world so unique that you know you will never see their like ever again.
Robin Williams was one such individual.
I grew up in the seventies so of course Robin Williams is an important part of my adolescent memories.
In fact I first heard some of his humor coming out of the mouth of a friend of mine who had gone to San Francisco for a school break and watched his act before he became famous.
I thought my friend was incredibly brilliant, and as he regurgitated the comedian's jokes he had me laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes.
A bit later I saw Mork completely blow the Fonz's mind on Happy Days, and I went "Hey wait a minute...."
Later Robin was on Mork and Mindy, which was "must see TV" in my house.
I remember seeing his first appearance on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, and how unlike every guest in the history of the show he refused to remain in the seat to be interviewed, but kept jumping up to act out bits and to do crazy voices.
Robin did not have restless leg syndrome, he had restless everything syndrome.
After a few minutes Carson was laughing so hard that I wondered if he could finish the show.
After that I NEVER missed an interview with Robin Williams on late night television.
I have worked with kids much of my life so I cannot even begin to tell you how many times I have seen Aladdin, Jumanji, or Hook, but it has been a lot.
For myself my favorite performances were in Good Morning Vietnam, Dead Poets Society, and Good Will Hunting. (For that last one Robin improvised this scene which cracked both Matt Damon and the cameraman up so much they barely got through it.)
I could literally go on forever about the talents of this man, and his enormous impact on my life, and the life of others. But that would be self serving, and there are other, infinitely less important things we must discuss today.
I am going to try and crack a smile or two in memory of this comedy god, and I suggest that you do the same.
After all he would want us to laugh, not cry.
Thank you for this beautiful post, I needed that this morning. Just so profoundly sad at the loss of this brilliant man. I hope he will be remembered for all the laughter and joy he brought to the world and not how he left us. Peace
ReplyDeleteYou speak for me.
DeleteAnonymous6:38 AM:
DeleteDitto!
That first appearance on Carson left me awestruck. And Jonny just let him fly! It was memorable. I loved this man.
ReplyDeleteWatch Patch Adams, then One-Hour Photo. Two sides of the same brilliant coin. And a piece of him in each.
ReplyDeleteSo very true. I couldn't believe it was Robin playing that role in "One Hour Photo", he made the character so believeable. Truly a great talent.
DeleteThanks, Gryphen.
ReplyDeleteAnd if you really want to have a good cry, just watch him in "What Dreams May Come." He will break your heart. It's my favorite of his movies, though I dearly love "Hook" too.
ReplyDeleteThat's my daughter's favorite as well.
Delete'The World According to Garp'- one of my favorites.
DeleteMoro and Mindy..loved it as a kid.
ReplyDeleteBe kinder to each other. You never know what someone is going through.
Sid Caesar, Jonathan Winters & Robin Williams walk into a bar ...
ReplyDeleteHilarity ensues...oh fuck yeah.
DeleteAll three were madder than a hatter!
DeleteJonathon Winters, I think, is one of the funniest men to ever walk this earth. He couldn't not be funny even if he tried.
DeleteRemembering Robin Williams In Photos
ReplyDeletehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/11/robin-williams-photos_n_5670445.html
It's so hard not to cry. But you are right, he'd hate that. Such a shock. I just really hate to think about how depressed he must have been. To have that burden of sadness when he brought so damn much joy and laughter to others. Thanks Gryph. The world is a little less funny place today.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine the emotional pain he must have been in to kill himself. He was a wonderful actor. I guess "Garp" is my favorite RW movie, but I liked most of the others, too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind words about him.
As I posted to Malia, it astounds me how many "what a waste" comments I've read online. Clinical depression is a serious illness that he struggled with his whole life. That he could not handle it anymore is a tragedy. He brought joy to so many, may he finally be at peace.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written, with great understanding of the toll depression takes and how exhausting it is to deal with the constant erosion of your will to live, knowing that you are facing a demon you can never slay.
DeleteI grew up in the 70's as well and loved Robin Williams both in his comedic and dramatic roles, as well as the great stand-up routines he did - what an absolute genius. One of my favorite movies of his was "Awakenings" and I also loved "What Dreams May Come." I also will never forget the HBO special he did a few years ago - the one where he talks about the origins of golf. I don't think I have ever laughed so hard in my life.
ReplyDeleteMy favorites were "Good Morning Viet Nam" and "Awakenings" - thought him an outstanding actor. RIP Robin Williams.
ReplyDeleteRobin Williams' Daughter Zelda Posts Inspiring, Heartbreaking Quote In His Honor
ReplyDeletehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/12/robin-williams-daughter-tweet_n_5670661.html
I can't get past the image and quote and how painful it might be for Williams' family to wonder whether loneliness was a factor in his death and whether he felt they had failed him. Depression is a devastating illness that can, itself, be the source of feelings of hopeless loneliness. I hope his family and friends can cope with their grief.
ReplyDeleteI had a friend named Roger in high school who was the typical class clown. Everyone loved him and he was the life of the party. Like so many others, the humor hid a lot of pain underneath. Tragically, no one suspected.
DeleteOne year, Roger missed being in the Stage Crew picture for the yearbook. One of his friends wrote his name on a piece of paper and held it up for the camera. It became a joke and, the next two years, Roger stood by as a paper with his name took his place in the picture. Little did we know that it was more of an omen than a joke.
When Roger was home from college on a break, another friend came by to visit. As he was leaving, he asked Roger what he was going to do for the rest of the day since his family was away and he was alone. Roger said, jokingly (it seemed at the time), "Oh I think I'll kill myself." The other friend laughed and left, thinking he'd see Roger before they both returned to college.
When Roger's family arrived home the next day, they found him in the car in the closed garage. The car was turned on but had long run out of gas. There was a note scrawled in marker on the side of the fish tank in the living room saying, "There is something terribly wrong"
That was 35 years ago, but I doubt that the friend has forgiven himself to this day.
Devastating story. I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend.
DeleteThe Most Poignant Tweet You Will Ever See about the Tragic Passing of Robin Williams (Image)
ReplyDeletehttp://aattp.org/the-most-poignant-tweet-you-will-ever-see-about-the-tragic-passing-of-robin-williams-image/
He was wonderful in Awakenings, playing a sensitive soul, who he obviously was in real life. He spent so much time helping charities, entertaining troops and privately helping people who needed assistance such as his good friend Christoper Reeve. He paid Reev's medical bills after his accident and promised to care for him the rest of his life, which he did for instance. He was a genius, a gifted clown with great sadness and it is a tragic loss. I'm sure his family tried to help him, but sometimes the demons inside win. Rest in peace dear man.
ReplyDeleteThe Truth about Depression BBC Full Documentary 2013
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5YubjEqbZ8
If Robin Williams’ Death Can’t Get America To Take Depression Seriously; Perhaps Lost Profits For Companies Will
...An estimated 1 in 10 Americans suffer from some kind of chronic depression. Still the disorder is stigmatized by many and ignored by more.
...Depression is estimated to cause 200 million lost workdays each year at a cost to employers of $17 billion to $44 billion — 81 percent due to reduced performance while at work, the World Health Organization has reported.
As many as 8.4 hours are lost per employee per week as a result of major depression, the Journal of the American Medical Association estimates. That’s 26 lost days per year compared to 17 days for cancer.
http://www.alan.com/2014/08/12/if-robin-williams-death-cant-get-america-to-take-depression-seriously-perhaps-lost-profits-for-companies-will/
Thanks for the link! Both the interviewer and Robin Williams' are very impressive--interesting and thought-provoking.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very moving and informative article about how comedians are often the most emotionally troubled people.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cracked.com/quick-fixes/robin-williams-why-funny-people-kill-themselves/
I remember the change in Jonathan Winters' routines after he was treated for depression. A lot of the wit was gone.
DeleteRush Limbaugh Blames The Left For The Death Of Robin Williams
ReplyDelete"Rush Limbaugh demonstrated that there is no low that the right won’t sink to in order to push the Republican ideological agenda. On his radio show today, Limbaugh blamed the left for the death of Robin Williams...
...Limbaugh was exploiting a man’s personal pain and tragedy to push an ideological agenda. Ignoring Rush Limbaugh, or Fox News, or the Republicans in Congress won’t make that agenda go away. Limbaugh’s attempt to use the death of Robin Williams was a window into right-wing thinking. The politics never stops, and everything is political for many on the right. "
http://www.politicususa.com/2014/08/12/rush-limbaugh-blames-left-death-robin-williams.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+politicususa%2FfJAl+%28Politicus+USA+%29
I am surprised they haven't blamed it on President Obama.
Oh, THAT was discussed at c4p yesterday. The marxist commie imperial responds...blah blah blah....even worse was "too bad he didn't know the Lord" from the usuals, which has absolutely NOTHING to do with clinical depression/bipolar disorder. This is tragic, and screw Rush. Oxy addict.
DeleteYes, I too was exposed to the genius of Robin Williams starting with Happy Days and then Mork and Mindy.
ReplyDeleteHe did something very rare. He made me laugh out loud, uncontrollably. Something I rarely do at home watching TV or even at the movies.
He did this repeatedly throughout his life.
I was in awe of his energy, his talent, the speed of his mind to improvise.
He burned brightly and much to fast.
I think e. e. cummings comes close to describing it:
the lesson of the moth
i was talking to a moth
the other evening
he was trying to break into
an electric light bulb
and fry himself on the wires
why do you fellows
pull this stunt i asked him
because it is the conventional
thing for moths or why
if that had been an uncovered
candle instead of an electric
light bulb you would
now be a small unsightly cinder
have you no sense
plenty of it he answered
but at times we get tired
of using it
we get bored with the routine
and crave beauty
and excitement
fire is beautiful
and we know that if we get
too close it will kill us
but what does that matter
it is better to be happy
for a moment
and be burned up with beauty
than to live a long time
and be bored all the while
so we wad all our life up
into one little roll
and then we shoot the roll
that is what life is for
it is better to be a part of beauty
for one instant and then cease to
exist than to exist forever
and never be a part of beauty
our attitude toward life
is come easy go easy
we are like human beings
used to be before they became
too civilized to enjoy themselves
and before i could argue him
out of his philosophy
he went and immolated himself
on a patent cigar lighter
i do not agree with him
myself i would rather have
half the happiness and twice
the longevity
but at the same time i wish
there was something i wanted
as badly as he wanted to fry himself
archy
I haven't read e.e. cummings for ages. Thanks for that.
DeleteSorry. As corrected below this is Don Marquis, not e. e. cummings.
DeleteThanks for the link. Cowardly and selfish ought never to be used in the same sentence as suicide. Never.
ReplyDeleteA Williams tribute at Esquire gives the background, unknown to me, for the quote at the top of the post. If anyone else didn't know and is interested, the quote is a line from World's Greatest Dad.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.esquire.com/blogs/news/robin-williams-dead?click=smart&kw=ist&src=smart&mag=ESQ&link=http://www.esquire.com/blogs/news/robin-williams-dead
The lesson of the moth and other stories by archy are the work of the great DON MARQUIS. I think Robin would want me to set the record straight since he was also a fan.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I did a google search and e. e. cummings came up. My carelessness in trusting the internet.
DeleteAs someone who suffers from major depression I agree, it's not a selfish act, it's desperation. When someone dies from suicide their obituary should read...He/she lost their battle with depression. Just like you would read about someone with any other disease.
ReplyDeleteI was in shock when the news broke. It was almost surreal, my husband was calling me outside to see the moon through the telescope, and we happened to see parts of a meteor shower. I felt overcome with sadness and told my husband the news. I couldn't stop thinking of him and his family because I lost a cousin to depression and mental illness, and knew what his family must have felt like.
ReplyDeleteI loved watching this man's career grow over the years. He was a talented actor, comedian and humanitarian. I read his daughter's tribute, and she mentions him in the stars, being the one that could make the others laugh, and I thought of the meteor shower and smiled.
I liked him best in his interviews. He was smart, funny and brutally honest about his fight with depression. When he, Whoppi, and Billy Chrystal did Comic Relief, he was the one that made me roll with laughter to the point of tears. He was a natural at improvisation. I'll miss him and hope he knows how much he was loved.
I'll bet he and Jonathan Winters are making them howl until they pee their pants in heaven. Taking turns with Red Skelton, Danny Kaye and Johnny Carson.
DeleteMan, I want a ticket to that show.
Me too, mlaiuppa. Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others are truly talented. Humor's gotten me though some tough times, I think that's why this death is sadly ironic.
Delete