One of America's most Beloved entertainers Robin Williams, is dead.
The actor whose career has spun over 35 years was found dead in his apartment, in what is suspected to be suicide due to asphyxia(suffocation).
Born in Chicago in 1951, the four-time Oscar nominee and one-time winner started as a funnyman and soon proved he could also captivate America with his skills as an improvisor and dramatic actor.
He is survived by his wife of three years Susan Schneider and children Zachary Pym, 31; Zelda Rae, 25; and Cody Alan, 19.
President Obama has led the tributes to Robin Williams after the comic genius was found dead aged 63 from an apparent suicide in his home, police in California said on Monday night.
Praising the Oscar winning actor's versatility, the president issued a touching statement saying:
'Robin Williams was an airman, a doctor, a genie, a nanny, a president, a professor, a bangarang Peter Pan and everything in between. But he was one of a kind. He arrived in our lives as an alien - but he ended up touching every element of the human spirit.
'He made us laugh. He made us cry. He gave his immeasurable talent freely and generously to those who needed it most - from our troops stationed abroad to the marginalized on our own streets. The Obama family offers our condolences to Robin's family, his friends, and everyone who found their voice and their verse thanks to Robin Williams.'
Emergency crews were called to the legendary comics house in Marin County, just north of San Francisco at approximately noon and his third wife, Susan Schneider issued a statement confirming the 63-year-old's death.
Speaking of her ‘profound grief’, Schneider, who Williams married in a Napa Valley ceremony in 2011 said, 'This morning, I lost my husband and my best friend, while the world lost one of its most beloved artists and beautiful human beings. I am utterly heartbroken. As he is remembered, it is our hope the focus will not be on Robin's death, but on the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions,' said Schneider.
Williams, who won an Academy Award for his supporting role as a fatherly therapist in the1997 drama Good Will Hunting, had been suffering from severe depression recently and had sought treatment for his ongoing alcoholism.
A statement by the Marin County Sheriff's Department in California said:
'On August 11, 2014, at approximately 11:55 am, Marin County Communications received a 9-1-1 telephone call reporting a male adult had been located unconscious and not breathing inside his residence in unincorporated Tiburon, California. The male subject, pronounced deceased at 12:02 pm has been identified as Robin McLaurin Williams.'
Williams' last tweet and Instagram came on July 31, - 11 days before his apparent suicide - in which he wished his daughter, Zelda Rae, a happy 25th birthday, posting a picture of himself with her as a child. 'Quarter of a century old today but always my baby girl,' he captioned the photo.
Tragic: Last instagram: Robin Williams uploaded this picture to Instagram two weeks ago to celebrate the 25th birthday of his daughter, Zelda Rae Williams
William and his daughter Actress Zelda Williams
Robin William is best known to many for his role as a nanny in Mrs Damn Fire picture above
The death of Williams shook Hollywood, and colleagues mourned the loss of what many called a big-hearted man and one of the most inventive comedians of his time.
Genie is gone! he Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences posted this touching message to social media to mark the passing of Robin Williams on Monday
Personal favorite: Dressed in drag for one of his most famous roles as Mrs Doubtfire, Robin Williams brought joy to millions with his performance as the Scottish nanny in the 1993 Hollywood hit movie
ROBIN WILLIAMS: ICONIC ROLES OF AN INCOMPARABLE COMIC GENIUS
Robin Williams first entered America's hearts as Mork in Happy Days and then Mork & Mindy
The kinetic bundle of energy that was Robin Williams took on many forms during a long and versatile career. He may have been best known for his fast-talking, funnyman roles, but he mesmerized in serious ones as well - creepy ones, too - and was memorable well beyond the big screen: on television, on the comedy stage, even on Broadway. Here are 10 of Williams' most distinctive roles - and the list could be much longer:
GOOD WILL HUNTING (1997) - A rare but welcome serious role for Williams, who played the stubborn yet empathetic therapist who was somehow able to help math prodigy Will Hunting (Matt Damon) figure out how to handle his life. Won a supporting actor Oscar.
MRS. DOUBTFIRE (1991) - Who couldn't love a bumbling dad who dressed up as a portly nanny - with a latex mask, a wig and a Scottish accent - in order to spend time with his young kids? (A sequel was in the works.)
ALADDIN (1992) - Will it ever be possible to see a cartoon genie and not think of Williams? Remember him shooting out of that bottle: "Ten thousand years will give you SUCH a crick in the neck!"
GOOD MORNING, VIETNAM (1987) - Williams' fast-talking style was perfect for the role of a DJ on Armed Forces Radio during the Vietnam War. (First Oscar nomination.)
ONE HOUR PHOTO (2002) - Another serious role, and it was a creepy one: Williams played a photo counter worker at a huge suburban store who got a little too involved in the lives of his customers when he realized one of them was having an affair.
Good Morning, Vietnam earned Williams his first Oscar nod and proved he had the chops to be a serious biog screen actor
DEAD POETS SOCIETY (1989) - Played an unconventional poetry teacher who taught his Vermont boarding school students to stand on their desks, think on their own, and "seize the day." (Second Oscar nomination.)
THE FISHER KING (1991) - Williams played a half-mad homeless man, convinced that the Holy Grail was sitting in the Fifth Avenue abode of a billionaire. (Third Oscar nomination).
MORK & MINDY (1978-1982) - Mork from Ork. Nanu, nanu. What more need be said? This TV series, a spinoff of Happy Days, is how many of us first learned of Williams' sublime nuttiness.
MOSCOW ON THE HUDSON (1984) - Williams played a Russian - and quite credibly, too - in this film about a comically lovable circus saxophonist, Vladimir, who defects while touring New York (turning himself in at Bloomingdale's, naturally.)
BENGAL TIGER AT THE BAGHDAD ZOO (2011) - Appearing on Broadway, Williams gave an admirably thoughtful performance in the role of a tiger - actually, the ghost of a dead tiger - locked up at the Baghdad Zoo at the time of the U.S. invasion in 2003.
On Monday in California, the sheriff said:
‘An investigation into the cause, manner, and circumstances of the death is currently underway by the Investigations and Coroner Divisions of the Sheriff’s Office.‘Preliminary information developed during the investigation indicates Mr Williams was last seen alive at his residence, where he resides with his wife, at approximately 10pm on August 10, 2014.‘Mr Williams was located this morning shortly before the 911 call was placed to Marin County Communications.'At this time, the Sheriff’s Office Coroner Division suspects the death to be a suicide due to asphyxia, but a comprehensive investigation must be completed before a final determination is made.‘A forensic examination is currently scheduled for August 12, 2014 with subsequent toxicology testing to be conducted.’
His family also issued this statement on the tragic passing of the Oscar winner.
'Robin Williams passed away this morning. He has been battling severe depression of late,' Mara Buxbaum, press representative, said in a statement.'This is a tragic and sudden loss. The family respectfully asks for their privacy as they grieve during this very difficult time.'
The late comic had also recently made headlines after he signed on to once again play the cross-dressing Mrs. Doubtfire in a sequel to the 1993 family comedy-a movie many of his fans looked forward to.
William with eldest son Zachary in 2012.
So sad and ironic that someone who made everyone laugh was depressed. A great man he was. May his soul rest in peace, Amen
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