Oscar-winning actor and comic Robin Williams died Monday at 63 of an apparent suicide, the Marin County Sheriff’s Department confirmed.
Around 11:55 a.m. Monday, sheriff’s officials said, a 911 call came in about a man unresponsive in his home in Tiburon. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Dubbed “the funniest man alive” by Entertainment Weekly in 1997, Williams brought audiences hours of laughter, putting his imaginative spin on characters in film and television. He was lauded for his serious roles as well, winning a best supporting actor Oscar for his performance as Sean Maguire, the therapist who counsels Matt Damon’s math genius in “Good Will Hunting”(1997), and receiving nominations for “The Fisher King” (1991), “Dead Poets Society” (1989) and “Good Morning, Vietnam” (1987).
Born in Chicago in 1951, Williams became one of only two students accepted into John Houseman’s prestigious acting program at Julliard, the other being Christopher Reeve, who became a lifelong friend.
Williams gained fame as Mork, the bizarre, suspenders-sporting alien on the sitcom “Mork & Mindy,” a spinoff from “Happy Days.” Williams departed from the script so often that producers intentionally left blank moments on page for Williams to have space to indulge his ad-libbing genius.
#BREAKING Actor Robin Williams has died at age 63. Found dead at home in unincorporated Tiburon, CA, per @MarinSheriff.
— NBC Bay Area (@nbcbayarea) August 11, 2014
#BREAKING: Suicide suspected cause of actor Robin Williams’ death, per Marin County Sheriff’s Office. https://t.co/j8MXQ3R3vO — NBC Bay Area (@nbcbayarea) August 11, 2014
Williams’ wife, Susan Schneider has released a statement:
‘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. On behalf of Robin’s family, we are asking for privacy during our time of profound grief. 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.”
CNN: Press representative for Robin Williams says he died this morning and "has been battling severe depression of late."
— Ashley Killough (@KilloughCNN) August 11, 2014
I could not be more stunned by the loss of Robin Williams, mensch, great talent, acting partner, genuine soul.
— Steve Martin (@SteveMartinToGo) August 11, 2014
(Hattip to Fox News, Orlando Sentinel, Hollywood Reporter)
