And he readily admitted the debt he owed to Jonathan Winters and Bill Dana in any number of interviews. Look up his appearance on "Inside the Actors Studio". I dare you to riff for 10 minutes using nothing but a scarf as a prop. Its on YouTube. Very, very sad
No, you sour airhead. He improvised so very much of his style on his own. Influence? Yes. So many of us in this life were influenced by many. That helped us become "us." Jonathan Winters was his and yet, there was such a difference between both of them. Robin Williams didn't "steal" from "older, forgotten talents" any more than awful "puker" jocks or personalities turned out to be fake Ingram's, Morrow's, Rose's, Sherwood's, Tuna's, Ocean's, Morgan's, Stern's or hundreds of others. Thanks for the attempt at shock value..
Talent on loan from Johnathan Winters. Johnathan W. was seen as a comics comic, but by the time I started paying attention to him, Winters profound depression made itself known to the listener long before his humor did.
Just what is your point? Why bringing this up on the day of his death. Like you said many do it. Even if he did his style was his own, and I think he had enough of his own original material, that he will still be considered one of the most talented comedians, actor of our times. I wasn't a huge fan, like him best in Good Morning Vietnam, but whenever he appeared on the tonight show and others I did find him very funny.
Depression can kill, but so too can anti-depressant medication. Mr. Williams had unlimited access to help and support, yet he chose to hang himself, a signature method of a depressed person with no place to turn. Psych meds can make options disappear, and I would be amazed if the toxicology report came back negative for SSRIs.
If you've ever witnessed what happens when a depressive person MISSES taking their a-d medications for whatever reason (ran out, prescribing physician out of town, left 'em home, personal decision, etc.), you might have some idea of what Robin might have been feeling.
I've seen it happen. It's scary. People who you've known for years suddenly become completely unrecognizable, irrational, and dark-minded.
My opinion: those drugs are evil.
Robin's death is a tragedy, any way you look at it. But please remember, it's a tragedy only for us who are left behind to mourn. Robin himself is at peace now.....wherever he may be.....
Dammit man. Robin Williams, Sam Kinison and Richard Lewis are the only comedians who've ever made me cry with laughter. Much too young. Damned depression sucks. RIP
Thanks for posting this Rich. Had the chance to meet him many moons ago. He truly loved Marin so hits about as close to home as you can get. Should have gotten best actor for Good Morning Vietnam. Read in the trades he started slipping after CBS axed his show and cash flow.
Depression coupled with recent cardiac surgery which often leaves even non-depressives deep in the dumps for a year or so, post surgically, makes it easier to understand. Like many supernovas before him and after him, he only lived to be a little "old". He certainly gave us so many belly laughs, didn't he?
When I heard he killed himself, I became angry. He must have been diagnosed with cancer or ALS or another dread disease. How in the hell could a guy like that possibly come to the conclusion there was nothing to live for?
Many who have been interviewed, from all walks of life, state that Robin was a very nice, down-to-earth man. Sad ending for a guy who brought a lot of joy to this world.
America, especially the Bay Area & 415, lost a treasure. If you can, Rich, please feel free to share your own favorite Robin moment. I'm sure you could never keep a straight face, either, like the rest of us. Share any favorite SF hangout spots?
Wannabes like "the entertainers / stand up comics" are not Robin Williams, that's for sure. Improvise? Williams was a genius. He wasn't, as Larry King said, "just a funny guy." A lesson learned, hopefully, for broadcasters who hire people who say they are "comedians" just because the resume says so or because they play a few third tier comic clubs.
Robin Williams did it all, he earned it and if we only knew how deep is pain inside wise, as he worked to entertain us in so many versatile ways. His was talent. Not a "drama queen", not a "funny person", not someone who did "schtick" just to do it. No, Williams did fun, dramatic, community, family, did "understanding" of what was around him, not just trying to put an explanation mark after everything he said.
So sad for his hurt and pain; so gratified to have watched, learned and listened as that rare breed of what an "entertainer" truly is. There will be none other who improvised a life as full as Robin Williams.
Rest In Peace, Mr. Williams. The afterlife will be filled with what you will bring it's sufferers and in it's people, like many of us here, were made happy by your being
This is one of the most tragic and a shocking events ever. We knew he had demons, but I wouldn't guess in my widest dreams. As much as actresses have exposed breast cancer, we should use his passing to make sure it doesn't happen again. His loss is like having one of the parts of life that makes us laugh died with Robin. Its amazing that no one could have helped him. There was no one close to his talent. I am devastated by this. I will get over it but its really a great loss that probably could have been prevented.
I'm sure none of it mattered to Williams, but he was, and still is, due Kennedy Center Honors, the Twain Prize and a Presidential Medal of Freedom. I'm sure they were coming - people just figured we had more time with him.
Was he being treated with Meds? I don't get it. Rehab is just treating the symptoms. Oh well. Another good one bites the dust from lack of proper Medical intervention. Tell me if I'm wrong about this.
I knew Robin Williams when he was much younger, just before he went off to school at Julliard in the mid 1970s. He was a very bright, engaging, but serious young man. Always enjoyed our conversations, as he also had a wide range of interests, was curious about everything, and was very well educated and well traveled. I never realized back then that this unassuming young man I had a casual friendship with for a brief time would go to become one of the great comics in American history. It's true that many artists are sometimes manic and often tortured souls. Who's knows what kind of demons Robin Williams had to deal with during the course of his life. But we do know that he was blessed with a wonderful talent, and could make us all laugh at a moments notice. We can be thankful then for the gifts he gave all of us with his high energy, creativity and positive spirit for so many years.
This story will spiral out of control.
ReplyDeleteRIP funny man.
the bad die young too. and he wasn't that young. but he was good.
ReplyDeleteActually he stole a good bit of his material from older, forgotten comics. Not that he's not the only one to do that, but he did it a good bit...
DeleteAnd he readily admitted the debt he owed to Jonathan Winters and Bill Dana in any number of interviews. Look up his appearance on "Inside the Actors Studio". I dare you to riff for 10 minutes using nothing but a scarf as a prop. Its on YouTube.
DeleteVery, very sad
Couldn't you bite your tongue ?
DeleteNo, you sour airhead. He improvised so very much of his style on his own. Influence? Yes. So many of us in this life were influenced by many. That helped us become "us." Jonathan Winters was his and yet, there was such a difference between both of them. Robin Williams didn't "steal" from "older, forgotten talents" any more than awful "puker" jocks or personalities turned out to be fake Ingram's, Morrow's, Rose's, Sherwood's, Tuna's, Ocean's, Morgan's, Stern's or hundreds of others. Thanks for the attempt at shock value..
DeleteTalent on loan from Johnathan Winters. Johnathan W. was seen as a comics comic, but by the time I started paying attention to him, Winters profound depression made itself known to the listener long before his humor did.
DeleteJust what is your point? Why bringing this up on the day of his death. Like you said many do it. Even if he did his style was his own, and I think he had enough of his own original material, that he will still be considered one of the most talented comedians, actor of our times. I wasn't a huge fan, like him best in Good Morning Vietnam, but whenever he appeared on the tonight show and others I did find him very funny.
DeleteSO WHAT! FUCK YOU!
DeleteDepression is brutal. Magnify it by a thousand times living in the public eye..
ReplyDeleteSuch a tremendous loss. Very sad.
ReplyDeleteRIP, Robin. You made us laugh a lot. Depression can kill. Thanks for posting it, Rich.
ReplyDeleteHey....4:17....when you are 63 you will think 63 is YOUNG
ReplyDeletebravo !
DeleteDepression can kill, but so too can anti-depressant medication. Mr. Williams had unlimited access to help and support, yet he chose to hang himself, a signature method of a depressed person with no place to turn. Psych meds can make options disappear, and I would be amazed if the toxicology report came back negative for SSRIs.
ReplyDeleteSo true, Arse 5:54.....
DeleteIf you've ever witnessed what happens when a depressive person MISSES taking their a-d medications for whatever reason (ran out, prescribing physician out of town, left 'em home, personal decision, etc.), you might have some idea of what Robin might have been feeling.
I've seen it happen. It's scary. People who you've known for years suddenly become completely unrecognizable, irrational, and dark-minded.
My opinion: those drugs are evil.
Robin's death is a tragedy, any way you look at it. But please remember, it's a tragedy only for us who are left behind to mourn. Robin himself is at peace now.....wherever he may be.....
- Greg from SF
Dammit man. Robin Williams, Sam Kinison and Richard Lewis are the only comedians who've ever made me cry with laughter. Much too young. Damned depression sucks. RIP
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this Rich. Had the chance to meet him many moons ago. He truly loved Marin so hits about as close to home as you can get. Should have gotten best actor for Good Morning Vietnam. Read in the trades he started slipping after CBS axed his show and cash flow.
ReplyDeleteKnew I could come here and see Williams disrespected. Never lets me down.
ReplyDeleteDepression coupled with recent cardiac surgery which often leaves even non-depressives deep in the dumps for a year or so, post surgically, makes it easier to understand. Like many supernovas before him and after him, he only lived to be a little "old". He certainly gave us so many belly laughs, didn't he?
ReplyDeleteWhen I heard he killed himself, I became angry. He must have been diagnosed with cancer or ALS or another dread disease. How in the hell could a guy like that possibly come to the conclusion there was nothing to live for?
ReplyDeleteGodspeed.
ReplyDeleteMany who have been interviewed, from all walks of life, state that Robin was a very nice, down-to-earth man. Sad ending for a guy who brought a lot of joy to this world.
ReplyDeleteRIP.
In this writer's opinion, best film, Awakenings.
ReplyDeleteAmerica, especially the Bay Area & 415, lost a treasure. If you can, Rich, please feel free to share your own favorite Robin moment. I'm sure you could never keep a straight face, either, like the rest of us. Share any favorite SF hangout spots?
ReplyDeleteWannabes like "the entertainers / stand up comics" are not Robin Williams, that's for sure. Improvise? Williams was a genius. He wasn't, as Larry King said, "just a funny guy." A lesson learned, hopefully, for broadcasters who hire people who say they are "comedians" just because the resume says so or because they play a few third tier comic clubs.
ReplyDeleteRobin Williams did it all, he earned it and if we only knew how deep is pain inside wise, as he worked to entertain us in so many versatile ways. His was talent. Not a "drama queen", not a "funny person", not someone who did "schtick" just to do it. No, Williams did fun, dramatic, community, family, did "understanding" of what was around him, not just trying to put an explanation mark after everything he said.
So sad for his hurt and pain; so gratified to have watched, learned and listened as that rare breed of what an "entertainer" truly is. There will be none other who improvised a life as full as Robin Williams.
Rest In Peace, Mr. Williams. The afterlife will be filled with what you will bring it's sufferers and in it's people, like many of us here, were made happy by your being
Thank you.
This is one of the most tragic and a shocking events ever. We knew he had demons, but I wouldn't guess in my widest dreams. As much as actresses have exposed breast cancer, we should use his passing to make sure it doesn't happen again. His loss is like having one of the parts of life that makes us laugh died with Robin. Its amazing that no one could have helped him. There was no one close to his talent. I am devastated by this. I will get over it but its really a great loss that probably could have been prevented.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure none of it mattered to Williams, but he was, and still is, due Kennedy Center Honors, the Twain Prize and a Presidential Medal of Freedom. I'm sure they were coming - people just figured we had more time with him.
ReplyDeleteYep, 1:49... he'd a gotten all of those, and he'd a deserved 'em.
DeleteWe're left, sadly for us who knew him, with all the films and videos.
They'll all be laughing with Robin in 2114, I predict. And 2214.
- Greg from SF
Was he being treated with Meds? I don't get it. Rehab is just treating the symptoms. Oh well. Another good one bites the dust from lack of proper Medical intervention. Tell me if I'm wrong about this.
ReplyDeleteI knew Robin Williams when he was much younger, just before he went off to school at Julliard in the mid 1970s. He was a very bright, engaging, but serious young man. Always enjoyed our conversations, as he also had a wide range of interests, was curious about everything, and was very well educated and well traveled. I never realized back then that this unassuming young man I had a casual friendship with for a brief time would go to become one of the great comics in American history. It's true that many artists are sometimes manic and often tortured souls. Who's knows what kind of demons Robin Williams had to deal with during the course of his life. But we do know that he was blessed with a wonderful talent, and could make us all laugh at a moments notice. We can be thankful then for the gifts he gave all of us with his high energy, creativity and positive spirit for so many years.
ReplyDeleteVERY, VERY TRUE!!!! ANTIDEPRESSANTS AND THE PSYCHIATRISTS WHO ISSUE THEM ARE KILLERS!!!!
ReplyDelete