Remembering Robin Williams...
I first saw the news when I was coming home on Monday. A neighbor was watching CNN, and on the bottom of the screen were the words "Robin Williams dead". Of course, as soon as I got home, I got online to confirm this. At first, I didn't want to believe it. But over the next few days, more details came out: it was a suicide, and he was recently diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.
This one hit me hard. I've been a fan of Robin since his first appearance on "Happy Days" as Mork from Ork. The character was spun off into his own series, "Mork & Mindy". I bought his first comedy album, "Reality: What A Concept" when it came out in 1979. (I loved "Shakespeare: A Meltdowner's Nightmare", where he received a couple of topic suggestions from the audience and delivered a short play scene, complete with iambic pentameter. A line that still sticks out in my mind is "I shall go forth and touch myself anon.") He soon starred in movies, with roles ranging from the comic to dramatic. He also did voice acting. And he did improvisational comedy, where he shone most brightly. (IMDB has the complete list here.)
I nerver met him in person, but I was touched by his performances. He often crossed the line between comedic genius and insanity. He was a modern-day Pagliacci, the legendary Italian clown who was constantly laughing and entertaining, depite his own personal sadness. Years ago, I had heard about his struggles with depression and addiction. But I had tucked that away in my mind. I too have bouts of depression and mania that I somehow manage to get through. I plan to cover that in a separate post.
Robin, thank you for all the laughs and good times. Your spark of madness will be missed, and the world is a little less lighter due to its absence.
This one hit me hard. I've been a fan of Robin since his first appearance on "Happy Days" as Mork from Ork. The character was spun off into his own series, "Mork & Mindy". I bought his first comedy album, "Reality: What A Concept" when it came out in 1979. (I loved "Shakespeare: A Meltdowner's Nightmare", where he received a couple of topic suggestions from the audience and delivered a short play scene, complete with iambic pentameter. A line that still sticks out in my mind is "I shall go forth and touch myself anon.") He soon starred in movies, with roles ranging from the comic to dramatic. He also did voice acting. And he did improvisational comedy, where he shone most brightly. (IMDB has the complete list here.)
I nerver met him in person, but I was touched by his performances. He often crossed the line between comedic genius and insanity. He was a modern-day Pagliacci, the legendary Italian clown who was constantly laughing and entertaining, depite his own personal sadness. Years ago, I had heard about his struggles with depression and addiction. But I had tucked that away in my mind. I too have bouts of depression and mania that I somehow manage to get through. I plan to cover that in a separate post.
Robin, thank you for all the laughs and good times. Your spark of madness will be missed, and the world is a little less lighter due to its absence.