{"id":5097,"date":"2014-08-11T19:40:21","date_gmt":"2014-08-12T00:40:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.robertxgillis.com\/?p=5097"},"modified":"2015-08-02T13:39:54","modified_gmt":"2015-08-02T18:39:54","slug":"robin-williams-1951-2014","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.robertxgillis.com\/?p=5097","title":{"rendered":"Robin Williams, 1951-2014"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"RobinWilliams.com\"<\/a>
Image Credit: RobinWilliams.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

by Robert Gillis
\nPublished in the Foxboro Reporter 8\/2014<\/em><\/p>\n

In September 1978, at one of the most depressing and lonely times in my life, a new actor burst onto the scene in a hilarious show called “Mork and Mindy.”<\/p>\n

Robin Williams weekly comedic insanity was a gift to a very sad and lonely boy — he helped me find my joy again. Every Thursday night, I knew I’d be laughing.<\/p>\n

Back in those pre-VCR, pre-DVR days, I used my cassette recorder and audio-taped episodes of Mork & Mindy every week. I wore out those old tapes listening to them again and again. The show always lifted my spirits.<\/p>\n

Tonight, I am deeply, profoundly saddened by the loss of one of the greatest comedic talents of EVER. To learn that authorities believe his death was a suicide is all the more tragic.<\/p>\n

Post Mork, Robin Williams proved himself a brilliant actor in both comedy and drama.<\/p>\n

His generosity was legendary. Comic Relief. Entertaining the troops overseas (on his own dime). Being a mentor to many up-and-coming talents. He was such a good friend to the family of Christopher Reeve (they were at Julliard together). He seemed to be always present, always in the moment, always THERE for anyone who needed him.<\/p>\n

And from all reports, he REALLY was that nice a guy, that kind, that generous. He wasn\u2019t a phony. He was an exuberant force of nature who made the world happier.<\/p>\n

He was very open about his addictions and encouraged people to get help for them as he battled his own.<\/p>\n

He brought laughter to the world. There will NEVER be another like him.<\/p>\n

His legacy will live forever.<\/p>\n

I have heard the expression, “The day the music died,” before, but today the laughter died.<\/p>\n

I am truly speechless and heartbroken by the loss of a man I never met, who helped ME find my laughter, my joy during a dark time.<\/p>\n

If anything good can come from his passing, I hope at least there will more of an awareness of how devastating depression can be. I hope that the stigma of depression will go away — because depression is terrible, and depression kills.<\/p>\n

I have no idea what happens after you die — and “rest in peace” seems hollow. The world — already a troubled place, is much sadder and darker tonight — one if its most brilliant shining lights is gone. Robin, thank you for being there for me, and for countless others; I wish you could have found your peace.<\/p>\n

\n

The day after Robin Williams committed suicide, Kat Kinsman wrote a phenomenal article about Robin Williams but more specifically the horrors of depression that MUST be read. It is a POWERFUL and profoundly moving article.\u00a0 I encourage you to read it.\u00a0 PLEASE read it:<\/p>\n

Going public with depression, By Kat Kinsman, CNN<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Robert Gillis Published in the Foxboro Reporter 8\/2014 In September 1978, at one of the most depressing and lonely times in my life, a new actor burst onto the scene in a hilarious show called “Mork and Mindy.” Robin Williams weekly comedic insanity was a gift to a very sad and lonely boy — […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[157,86,149],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5097","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-events-commentary","category-movies","category-newsimageweb"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t