Robin Williams (July 21, 1951 – August 11, 2014) was an American stand-up comedian and actor. Williams had an addiction to cocaine in the 1970s and early 1980s. Luckily in 1970’s, he quit drugs and moved on. On August 11, 2014, Williams committed suicide; Williams suicide was by hanging himself at his home in Paradise Cay, California.
His wife (Susan Schneider) says he committed suicide because of a disease, Dementia with Lewy bodies. This is a type of dementia that worsens over time. Most people say he did what he did because of depression. While others say it’s because he didn’t want to be famous anymore. Williams began his career doing stand-up comedy shows in San Francisco in 1970’s. His first performance took place at the, Holy City Zoo, a comedy club in San Francisco. He moved to Los Angeles and continued doing stand-up shows at various clubs.
Williams has credited other comedians with having influenced and inspired him. Jonathan Winters became his “idol” early in life; Williams first saw him on television at age 8 and paid him homage in interviews throughout his career. Williams said that partly due to the stress of doing stand-up, he started using drugs and alcohol early in his career. He further said that he never drank or took drugs while on stage but occasionally performed when ill with a hangover from the previous day.
“It’s a brutal field, man. They burn out. It takes its toll. Plus, the lifestyle—partying, drinking, drugs. If you’re on the road, it’s even more brutal. You gotta come back down to mellow your ass out, and then performing takes you back up. They flame out because it comes and goes. Suddenly they’re hot, and then somebody else is hot. Sometimes they get very bitter. Sometimes they just give up. Sometimes they have a revival thing and they come back again. Sometimes they snap. The pressure kicks in. You become obsessed and then you lose that focus that you need” Williams describing the life of stand-up comedians.
Robin Williams was and still is a star, he is known for a comedian and a survivor of Dementia with Lewy bodies. Personally one of my favorite movies of his is Mrs. Doubtfire. Robin Williams was an actor and a stand-up comedian and an amazing person, but he died before his time. Williams was ready to go but his friends were not.