Robin Williams dead

[PDXFonz]

I'd suggest that this subject is still very raw to fonz, and perhaps he should refrain from posting about it. I did nothing wrong, and I gave what is my opinion on suicide, and how I've seen how it destroys lives. 3 years is nothing for a young man to have to deal with something like this. I've seen it firsthand, and have been to interventions because of it.

I'm always the bad guy, though, so I guess I'll get pissed at myself for actually trying to talk to him about it. Instead, I get blasted on the main board for bringing up Oden's felony charges, and the extreme violent nature of what he did to AC Green's niece. Just so I'm clear, nobody else is allowed to have an opinion on suicide and how it impacts a family. Is that right?

I'm a huge fan of Robin Williams' work, too. That doesn't mean I can't think he took the easy way out, and how I think down on his drug and alcohol abuse.

Can someone stop this shit already. Who the hell do you think you are to keep trying to convince yourself, other people, myself(?) that I'm still "struggling", no matter how many different languages I use to tell you I've made my life better because of my experiences.

Mags told me not to leave, and I don't plan on it because I enjoy these forums. However if I end up leaving at some point you guys can direct questions about my personal life to papag, he knows all the details, and apparently will torment these forums until the day we die, at which point we are forced to read his posts exclusively for the remainder of eternity.

 

[Natebishop3]

I'd suggest that this subject is still very raw to fonz, and perhaps he should refrain from posting about it. I did nothing wrong, and I gave what is my opinion on suicide, and how I've seen how it destroys lives. 3 years is nothing for a young man to have to deal with something like this. I've seen it firsthand, and have been to interventions because of it.

I'm always the bad guy, though, so I guess I'll get pissed at myself for actually trying to talk to him about it. Instead, I get blasted on the main board for bringing up Oden's felony charges, and the extreme violent nature of what he did to AC Green's niece. Just so I'm clear, nobody else is allowed to have an opinion on suicide and how it impacts a family. Is that right?

I'm a huge fan of Robin Williams' work, too. That doesn't mean I can't think he took the easy way out, and how I think down on his drug and alcohol abuse.

Having an opinion is one thing, but saying, "His kids are always going to have to live knowing their dad would rather die than be their dad" is not an opinion.

How do you not understand that a statement like that to someone who is only three years removed from losing their own father would cut deeply? Your family has dealt with losing a family member to suicide, we get it, so why can't you just empathize with what the guy is going through and apologize?

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Having an opinion is one thing, but saying, "His kids are always going to have to live knowing their dad would rather die than be their dad" is not an opinion.

How do you not understand that a statement like that to someone who is only three years removed from losing their own father would cut deeply? Your family has dealt with losing a family member to suicide, we get it, so why can't you just empathize with what the guy is going through and apologize?

This.

What a fucking asshole. PapaG was totally out of line.

 

[PDXFonz]

I thought of that skit today, but haven't watched it yet. Was hilarious seeing all his personalities together like that. I believe there is another show (maybe another family guy episode) where they are poking fun at his manic comedic personality.

 

[PDXFonz]

Papag the last thing I'm going to say on this is that one day you will probably feel regret for this situation. I want you to know that just because I've lost every ounce of respect for you as a person, there is always forgiveness. I don't hold this against you, it holds no weight against me. I hope you can look at this situation and use it as a tool to help you work with any speed bumps that come up in the future relating to emotional sensitivity. If you are able to do that then I will feel fortunate to have had this conversation.

 

[magnifier661]

Papag the last thing I'm going to say on this is that one day you will probably feel regret for this situation. I want you to know that just because I've lost every ounce of respect for you as a person, there is always forgiveness. I don't hold this against you, it holds no weight against me. I hope you can look at this situation and use it as a tool to help you work with any speed bumps that come up in the future relating to emotional sensitivity. If you are able to do that then I will feel fortunate to have had this conversation.

My RPG is much bigger than yours! Boom goes the dynamite!

 

[Further]

I understand what you are saying. His act hurt people. BUT you can't beat depression on your own. Without the right medication and/or therapy, suicide is often the result. I have bipolar disorder and before I was treated (and when we changed my treatment a year ago), I went through awful spells of suicidal feelings. It's like your brain is programmed to kill yourself. You can't do anything about it. It's not a question of will power. So its not like youre purposely out to hurt your family. If I never got help, I'd be dead now. No question in my mind.

Exactly, but I understand how hard it is for someone who has never experienced real depression to understand the real severity of the situation. For me, I was never really depressed till I started taking a medication for something totally different (quitting smoking) and I was on the drug for a year. About three months in the depression started, by six months thoughts of suicide were weekly. By the end of the year, I was having suicidal thoughts daily, even hourly. It just couldn't be reasoned with. I never realized my depression was a side effect. I quit the drug, a few weeks later was chipper and haven't had a single suicidal thought since. Anyway, I came away from that experience finally understanding just how real and serious depression is. I never even discussed it with anyone while I was depressed cause it just felt so natural. Now, I've put in place safeguards, loved ones checking in specifically about depression and my doctor knows this is a side effect I'm prone to getting.





As far as Robin Williams, very sad for the pain he went through and the tears his family must be shedding today.

 

[riverman]

My heartfelt condolences to his family. He was a candle that burned full blaze for over 6 decades. Depression is a tough ball and chain. The world lost a great, great comedian. Can't imagine what his family must be going through. May he rest in peace and suffer no more.

 

[Natebishop3]

We have lost some amazing actors in the last few years.

 

[Hobbesarable]

I think I saw that he had blown his fortune and was in deep money trouble. He tried to make a go of a new sitcom that flopped.

Damn. Funny man. His serious acting was quite good, too.

Yeah, he was excellent in Dead Poets Society and Awakenings.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Jack and Ms. Doubtfire were my childhood favs.

Iirc, wasn't Robin at the rehab facility in Astoria last summer?

 

[PDXFonz]

Jack and Ms. Doubtfire were my childhood favs.

Iirc, wasn't Robin at the rehab facility in Astoria last summer?

I heard that he had been to rehab in newberg twice.

 

[Natebishop3]

Some really great stories on Reddit about people encountering Robin Williams in public. It's truly sad that he was dealing with so many personal problems.

I met Robin in 1992 when I was 11 years old. The pool scene in Mrs. Doubtfire was filmed at the pool where I used to swim as a kid.
One night I was with a friend at the pool and we thought we saw Robin swimming. We kept a close eye on him from 100 feet away, trying to figure out if it was actually him. The man stood up at the edge of the pool and looked over at us. It was him! We waved. He was wearing swimming paddles on his hands, so he immediately went into character, clapped the paddles together, barked at us like a seal and waved back.
He got out of the pool and walked over to us, where we gushed to him about our favorite films of his. Then he signed a couple autographs, we thanked him for his time, and he went off to the locker room. I'll never forget that moment. What a cool and hilarious dude.

I had the pleasure of meeting the man while he was filming Good Will Hunting.
I was standing in a video game store just north of Wellsley on Yonge here in Toronto, looking over the used games.
Man in a hoodie, the hood up, sidled over to me and started to browse. He then looked over to me and asked:
"So. What's good?"
I was pretty certain who the man in the hoodie was right off the bat. Being a Torontonian, I used every ounce of my resolve to be cool, and asked him what kind of game he was looking for.
He smiled and said "I'm trying to find something my son and I can play. Maybe something we can play together since I'm not home often."
I nodded and reached for a copy of Warcraft.
"I think he might enjoy this, Mr. Williams."
For a man who I knew to be frenetic, his quiet acknowledgement and soft smile was extremely disarming.
And so that's my memory of him. Not a comedy genius. Not as a frantic addict. Not as Mork or any of the myriad of other roles he played.
My memory of him is one of a father hoping to connect with son.
Rest well, Mr. Williams.
I look forward to fighting alongside you in Skeleton Hell.

Just wanted to pop into the thread with a small Robin Williams remembrance. I worked on the film "Death to Smoochy" as a lowly PA, and I had never before and have never since seen someone on set like Robin Williams. He never turned off. After DeVito yelled "cut" Robin Williams would still go with his manic improv. It was a lot of fun being on that set on days when Robin Williams was shooting. He had a non-stop engine/drive to entertain. Really fun stuff.
We were filming in Times Square the day of Super Bowl XXXV (when the Ravens killed my G-men), and after we wrapped for the day, the production had rented a floor of ESPN Sportszone, and the whole cast & crew went over there to watch the game.
Of course, the crew had started a pool for the game, and everyone bought a box or two - actors included. DeVito won the first quarter. Edward Norton had the halftime box. And (if I remember correctly) Robin Williams won both the 3rd quarter and final score (I think the score had the same last digits at end of 3rd and end of game, right?).
Of course, we lowly crew shrugged our shoulders when the multi-millionaire actors won every.single.box.
But to Robin Williams credit, he took the money from that and then some and bought the crew gifts at wrap. It wasn't much.....just a stupid "Death to Smoochy" hat, but it was a nice gesture. I've heard stories of actors buying the entire crew gifts before, but - other than this example - I had never seen it once in the 5 years I spent working in film production.
Anyway, I felt like sharing this somewhere, so I thought I'd leave it here. I will forever remember Robin Williams energy both when the cameras were rolling but especially when they weren't, and I will always remember his generosity to the crew.
Side story - a couple years later I was working on another film, and we were shooting in Central Park. Who rides by on his racing bike in full biker gear - hat, racing glasses, skin tight pants, etc. - than Robin Williams. He hops off the bike and says hello to some of the cast members and the director, and he was still the same exact guy he was a few years earlier. Just so funny to see him in spandex and tinted sunglasses running around a set doing his improv.

 

[Natebishop3]

There'a few more.

When I was about six, I was on a road trip with my parents along Pacific Coast Highway. It had begun raining really hard and the inevitable mudslide washed out a piece of the road. We decided to wait for Cal Trans to clear it since it was only a small slide...most people turned around. In any case, after the rain stopped, my parents let me get out of the car and stretch. I started playing with some of the mud and was getting pretty messy. As I was playing, this guy approached me and started asking what I was doing? It wasn't an adult looking down on a child. It was a genuine question based on curiosity. I explained that I was trying to make a city or something and this guy says, "It also makes great war paint..." and scoops up some mud and puts it on his face. He continued this stream of consciousness riff of ideas for mud..."you can make pots and bowls. You can pretend it's poop. You can start a spa." I was giggling uncontrollably and thoroughly enjoying the distraction. My dad finally got out of the car to see who I was laughing and playing with. My mom was horrified to see that I had mud in my ears, hair, and clothes. My playmate introduced himself and we were pretty floored to find out it was Mork. I have never forgot that moment. When I was much older, I went to one of his shows and had an opportunity to send him a note. I thanked him for that day and those memories and included a current pic and my address. I didn't expect him to remember or acknowledge the note. About a week later, I got a package in the mail. It was a basket of mud facial products with a pic of Mr. Williams with a mud mask. The card said, simply:" Try to keep it out of your hair this time. MUDSLIDE 81'!" That he took the time to play with me and make the bad circumstance good taught me an important lesson. That he remembered it was even more impressive. RIP Robin. You were a good egg.

 

[PDXFonz]

Some really great stories on Reddit about people encountering Robin Williams in public. It's truly sad that he was dealing with so many personal problems.

I've been reading so many stories like these, it's amazing how many people have them. No one has a bad thing to say about him, just a truly great man. What a loss.

Good find

 

[Natebishop3]

I've been reading so many stories like these, it's amazing how many people have them. No one has a bad thing to say about him, just a truly great man. What a loss.

Good find

I saw a lot of posts where people say this is the first celebrity death that really caused them pain. I can understand that. We grew up with him. Movies like Hook, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Aladdin were just a few examples of movies that many people from my generation loved and held onto as a significant part of their childhood. It was tragic when Paul Walker died, and it was sad when Heath Ledger passed, but this one really hurts for anyone who grew up watching Robin Williams.

 

[Natebishop3]

There are almost 13k comments in this thread about him.



People loved him. I guess I never really thought about it, but he really was the most central celebrity figure of my childhood. I have a hard time thinking of anyone else who would come close.

 

[PDXFonz]

There are almost 13k comments in this thread about him.



People loved him. I guess I never really thought about it, but he really was the most central celebrity figure of my childhood. I have a hard time thinking of anyone else who would come close.

He also did an AMA on reddit 10 months ago.

 

[MickZagger]

Robin Williams was great. I was watching his mid-80's coked out stand up a few weeks back. He was legendary at stand-up as well. I loved his routine about golf.

 

[Sedatedfork]

There is actually a great robin williams quote from goodwill hunting that puts the whole debate about being selfish because it affects family to rest(in is situation, again there are always circumstances)

Great line. This going to sound entirely sacrilegious in this thread, but I have never seen Good Will Hunting. How ever this quote reminds me of this quote from "True Romance"

I had to come all the way from the highway and byways of Tallahassee, Florida to MotorCity, Detroit to find my true love. If you gave me a million years to ponder, I would never have guessed that true romance and Detroit would ever go together. And til this day, the events that followed all still seems like a distant dream. But the dream was real and was to change our lives forever. I kept asking Clarence why our world seemed to be collapsing and things seemed to be getting so shitty. And he'd say, "that's the way it goes, but don't forget, it goes the other way too." That's the way romance is... Usually, that's the way it goes, but every once in awhile, it goes the other way too.

 

[speeds]

Robin Williams was great. I was watching his mid-80's coked out stand up a few weeks back. He was legendary at stand-up as well. I loved his routine about golf.

Legendary at stand-up yes but also a noted thief whose 'improv/rapid-fire' style was a mishmash of stolen jokes and stereotypes. Williams was known for paying-off the ones that complained. Ironic that his idol was Jon Winters but his break came on Carson--who had stolen liberally from Winters.

To his credit Williams (in recent years) formed relationships with a lot of young comedians and seemed intent on repairing that part of his reputation.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

 

[Eastoff]

Some have depression because of drug and alcohol problems. Some have drug and alcohol problems, because they depression and self medicate. Love your family, and respect them, but still forgive them when you can forgive them.

The death of Robin Williams is a terrible loss. You could tell from all the stories about him, he wanted to make everyone happy. Why he wanted to make everyone happy is an interesting rabbit hole to go down.

 

[Further]

I was listening to a podcast recently and a couple of comedians were recanting stories of things that meant the world to the when nobody knew their names. Anyway, one of the comedians said after his show he went out to sell tee shirts and CD's in the lobby and earn a couple extra bucks from patrons who enjoyed the show. There was a bit of a line, and once most of the line was gone someone stepped to the front, said he loved the routine and introduced himself as Robin. When the comedian looked up from the merchandise table and saw he was being complimented by Robin Williams he was floored. Not only did Robin Williams take the time to watch his act, he also took the time to come up and encourage a young comedian, but he even waited his turn in line with people wanting to get their CD jacket signed. I think that speaks of someone who truly loved comedy, helping others and was a good person.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Suicide is sometimes a way to remove your pain by transfering it to your loved ones. It that sense, it can indeed be selfish. (and yes, I am speaking from experience)

I don't know enough about William's circumstances to pass judgement on that - but the world has lost an irreplaceable entertainer and unique talent.

 

[Minstrel]

Robin Williams And Why Funny People Kill Themselves

Not exactly a lighthearted article (nor should it be), even if the source is Cracked.

 

[magnifier661]

Robin Williams And Why Funny People Kill Themselves

Not exactly a lighthearted article (nor should it be), even if the source is Cracked.

That's a damn great read bro. Thanks for sharing

 

[oldmangrouch]

Robin Williams And Why Funny People Kill Themselves

Not exactly a lighthearted article (nor should it be), even if the source is Cracked.

Good find.

 

[crandc]

Robin Williams got his start in comedy clubs in San Francisco. He referred to San Francisco as a big asylum where he could walk down the street and feel at home. Sadly, not enough at home.

What those who condemn him don't realize is the severely depressed person thinks he/she is doing others a favor by not being here.

 

[cmeese47]

Personally, I was sad at first, but now fuck you Robin Williams you were loved by millions and killing yourself is the ultimate bitch move. You were not a 95 year old person literally on your deathbed, I am sorry you could not overcome your demons but what you did to your family is shameful.