Robin Williams found dead in his Bay Area Home...

[Jenny A]

I declare every August 11th henceforth National Baskin-Robbins Williams Day.

And we celebrate with movies and ice cream? I could get into that.

[CindysRain]

My kids loved him because of Mrs Doubtfire, Hook & Jumanji, which they made me watch over and over!

I loved him in Good Will Hunting and Patch Adams!

I am so sad that someone with such talent and humor was suffering inside.

[StealthySkeptic]

"You're only given one little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it." -Robin Williams

As I think about this quote that my friend gave me after I heard about this unbelievably saddening tragedy, I also think not only about all the great movies he starred in- Aladdin, Ferngully, The Final Cut, Flubber, Good Will Hunting, Hook, Jumanji, Mrs. Doubtfire, Robots- but WHY the characters he created have endured for so long in peoples' memories.

I think Robin Williams, more than a lot of other actors, lived the one life he got out loud and told us that it was OK to be ourselves, no matter how odd or zany or even hated we are.

Learning that lesson through the magic of the laughter he brought throughout my childhood helped me overcome a lot of the fear, isolation, and loneliness I felt as a child struggling with autism. But that's not the important part. The important part is that he did that for SO many other children. And not only that, but in doing so, he made this crapsack of a world a much better place to live in, even if it was just for a couple of hours watching Genie's antics.

It's a sad but true fact that many comedians struggle with depression, and that this was probably so hard to admit to himself and to anyone else that he decided to exit stage right, as it were. A lot of this may be due to the fact that mental illness is such a taboo subject to really, honestly talk about in this country, surrounded by pain and stigma.

But whatever the case, I hope people who are also struggling with- well ANY issues that are giving them "dark nights of the soul" can focus on how he lived rather than how he died, so that they can see how much anyone can accomplish if they believe in themselves. I know this sounds unrelated, but in the recent The Rock movie Hercules, The Rock (as Hercules of course) says, "You all have it within yourselves to create your own legends."

And boy, did Robin Williams do that. He took the spark of madness that he was given, the only life that all of us know we have, and turned it into a beautiful fireworks show for us all, and hopefully can inspire us to do the same. The great thing in service of that is, even though he's gone we can repeat a small part of what he did for our own children and grandchildren, and in that way he and his magical characters can live on. It's like one commenter on the below picture from imgur said, "Robin Williams isn't really dead, he's just waiting for someone to roll a 5 or 8" (referring, of course, to his wonderful performance in Jumanji.)

[rexbeccarox]

It was my mom's birthday today... she turned 63 (like RW). We were sitting in a restaurant, having a nice meal, when CNN, on a close-by television, announced the news. My mom (not to mention my sister and me) was so jarred. The death of Robin Williams marks the end of an era defined mostly by him. So tragic. He must have never known the impact he had on so many people, nor the love they had for him. As a pretty major depressive, the love I have in my life is the only thing keeping me alive at times. It's times like these I really wish there was an afterlife so I could think he is going somewhere he will finally appreciate the gift he actually is and will be for a long time to come, dead or alive.

SO sad.

[StealthySkeptic]

It was my mom's birthday today... she turned 63 (like RW). We were sitting in a restaurant, having a nice meal, when CNN, on a close-by television, announced the news. My mom (not to mention my sister and me) was so jarred. The death of Robin Williams marks the end of an era defined mostly by him. So tragic. He must have never known the impact he had on so many people, nor the love they had for him. As a pretty major depressive, the love I have in my life is the only thing keeping me alive at times. It's times like these I really wish there was an afterlife so I could think he is going somewhere he will finally appreciate the gift he actually is and will be for a long time to come, dead or alive.

SO sad.

I never had really major depression or thoughts of suicide, but I can understand all too well the part of your post I have bolded. I never dived into the abyss, or even thought about it, but I peered over the edge for a little bit and liked the view if you get my meaning. Without the kind of love my girlfriend, family, friends showed me, I would have felt all alone.

I can also relate to the idea that it would be nice if there was an afterlife. If there is I'll be pleasantly surprised, as long as it isn't the Christian afterlife where only those who want their minds wiped get to live in peace while those who don't wish to kiss a deity's ass get tortured for it.

[Zidneya]

Oh man! Why!

Why it had to be him?!!
I had Jim Carrey in the pool.
Damit.

So….
The guy who made a movie about suicides going to hell now committed suicide ha?…
That's ironic.

[Fidel_Castronaut]

How dare you insult a national hero.

National hero for what? His music is at best slightly catchy and decent IMO. If you like him, that's your right and taste, I don't care either way. and I don't care much for Robin Williams either, even if a celebrity I love died, since they are not my relatives my reaction is usually "Meh, I guess there is a first time for everything"

Lol. Jokes.

Sad he's died, though. I really likes goodwill hunting and good morning Vietnam.

[pocaracas]

Valar Morghulis.

It's a sad day when a person who has brought so much laughter into the world is lost. Sadder when he takes his own life, whatever the reason.

He will be remembered fondly by the fans and new fans will crop up and laugh at his work.
Much like Richard Jeni, the platypus man. I only discovered him a few years ago and have laughed at what he's done, even knowing he's dead.

[Zidneya]

National hero for what? His music is at best slightly catchy and decent IMO. If you like him, that's your right and taste, I don't care either way.

Agreed.

[Fidel_Castronaut]

Lol, am I the only one who got that Napo was being sarcastic?