Obit: RIP Robin Williams, actor (1951-2014)

Subject: BS: RIP Robin Williams
From: GUEST,Rahere
Date: 11 Aug 14 - 07:32 PM

One of our geniuses is no more, aged 63. Vesti la giubba...

Subject: Obit: Robin Williams
From: olddude
Date: 11 Aug 14 - 07:36 PM

On tv they just said the comedian robin Williams passed away. He committed suicide. How sad for a great actor who always made me smile so

Subject: RE: BS: RIP Robin Williams
From: Greg F.
Date: 11 Aug 14 - 07:59 PM

In adition to Williams' personal genius, It didn't get much more hysterically funny than to see him and Jonathan Winters play off each other.

Another of the all time greats gone.

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Robin Williams (1951-2014)
From: Rapparee
Date: 11 Aug 14 - 08:07 PM

Iffen I make it to where it is you go after you're gone, it's gonna be one helluva fun place. I loved his work.

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Robin Williams, actor (1951-2014)
From: Ebbie
Date: 11 Aug 14 - 09:14 PM

What a loss.

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Robin Williams, actor (1951-2014)
From: bbc
Date: 11 Aug 14 - 09:34 PM

How very sad to hear. He was so wonderfully funny, such a talented person.

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Robin Williams, actor (1951-2014)
From: olddude
Date: 11 Aug 14 - 09:38 PM

So sad who didn't love his work so much joy he gave to others now it's gone

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Robin Williams, actor (1951-2014)
From: gnu
Date: 11 Aug 14 - 09:46 PM

RIP and thanks, Robin.

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Robin Williams, actor (1951-2014)
From: Amergin
Date: 11 Aug 14 - 10:21 PM

I said this on my fb page:


"Sigh...I hear Mork has finally gone back to Ork...I loved that show as a kid...he was an extraterrestrial friend. Rest easy...safe journey...nanoo nanoo."

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Robin Williams, actor (1951-2014)
From: Janie
Date: 11 Aug 14 - 10:22 PM

I have searched off and on for years to try to find an HBO special of his - I watched it on-line in the early to mid 90's but it may have been a much earlier performance. The ending routine was absolutely brilliant and poignant - a philosophical statement about the function of comedy to help us deal with the all the pain of being human. Has lingered with me all these years - enough to search for it, as I noted above.

The price of manic genius is too often the black pit of bipolar depression. We all reaped the benefit of what erupted from his hypomanic and manic brain. Truly brilliant.

I am so sad.

May he know peace, and my condolences to his family and all who really knew and loved him.

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Robin Williams, actor (1951-2014)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Aug 14 - 10:29 PM

If you find that bit I hope you'll share the details, Janie. His personal pain has been released - and is now visited upon his friends and loved ones and those who knew and loved his work.

SRS

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Robin Williams, actor (1951-2014)
From: Bill D
Date: 11 Aug 14 - 10:50 PM

What Janie said.... and if you can get tonights Lawrence O'Donnell's MSNBC program...even in late night repeats, see it! Some tributes & clips that are special.

Robin's mind seemed to me like it would not 'turn off', and because he cared so deeply about things, I suspect that he felt had had to finally turn it off...

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Robin Williams, actor (1951-2014)
From: Bill D
Date: 11 Aug 14 - 10:55 PM

The film which, to me, most expressed his attitde and very deep compassion towards people was Awakenings. It moved me all 3-4 times I have seen it.

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Robin Williams, actor (1951-2014)
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 11 Aug 14 - 11:16 PM

A great talent who brought joy to so many. He certainly left a wonderful legacy.

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Robin Williams, actor (1951-2014)
From: Janie
Date: 11 Aug 14 - 11:34 PM

Brain fart - (RW would understand.) I could not have watched it in the early 90's. I didn't have a computer until 2002.

I dunno, Bill. Comforting perspective.

Selfishly wish he had made it through another abyss to rise again but can never truly grok, so certainly will never judge, what that super roller coaster ride is like to live for some folks.

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Robin Williams, actor (1951-2014)
From: J-boy
Date: 11 Aug 14 - 11:46 PM

Genius always comes with a price. He paid that debt in full. RIP.

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Robin Williams, actor (1951-2014)
From: PHJim
Date: 12 Aug 14 - 12:50 AM

This line from a song Nancy Wilson used to sing came into my head today:

I guess I'll have to play Pagliacci
And get myself a clown's disguise
Then I'll learn to laugh like Pagliacci
With tears in my eyes


* Allie Wrubel

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Robin Williams, actor (1951-2014)
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Aug 14 - 04:03 AM

In a way it's something we all have to face as performers, that we have to take people somewhere else and yet come back to who we are afterwards. Someone has to discover how to land the thing...

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Robin Williams, actor (1951-2014)
From: fat B****rd
Date: 12 Aug 14 - 04:38 AM

So sad. He could do almost anything. Loved his "blues" thing with Bill Bailey. RIP Mr. Williams.

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Robin Williams, actor (1951-2014)
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 12 Aug 14 - 04:50 AM

Suicide?
Like the tears of a clown,
When there's no-one around


R.I.P.

Nigel

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Robin Williams, actor (1951-2014)
From: Stu
Date: 12 Aug 14 - 05:58 AM

O Captain, my Captain.

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Robin Williams, actor (1951-2014)
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 12 Aug 14 - 09:07 AM

Sorry to hear about his death. One movie of his I really liked was The Fisher King.

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Robin Williams, actor (1951-2014)
From: Ebbie
Date: 12 Aug 14 - 10:37 AM

I keep thinking of Fred Eaglesmith's line in 'Alcohol and Pills':

Fame doesn't take away the pain
It just pays the bills...

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Robin Williams, actor (1951-2014)
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 12 Aug 14 - 11:02 AM

REMEMBRANCE
(roughly tto Away in a manger, utilising those quarter notes (UK Quavers) to slightly extend the 11.11.11.11 scansion in places)

We each are diminished by the death of one man
For no-one is immortal, even not Peter Pan.
So sound the last roll call, Let the curtain roll down
As we celebrate one Robin Williams, the clown.

You first came among us in old Happy(er) Days
Your time spent with Mindy is now just a haze.
Good Morning Vietnam was a tour de force
And we loved Teddy Roosevelt up on his horse.

O Captain, My Captain, your teachings are done.
Patch Adams no more fills the wards with his fun.
Awak'ning catatonics will now keep to their bed.
Robin Williams, the actor and comic lies dead.

Your death, unexpected, brings us all back to ground.
Like the tears of a clown when there's no-one around!



Good-night, God Bless.

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Robin Williams, actor (1951-2014)
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 12 Aug 14 - 02:06 PM

very nice Nigel.

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Robin Williams, actor (1951-2014)
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 12 Aug 14 - 03:55 PM

Condolences to his family, friends, and fans.

My first thought was of a woman I know whose husband committed suicide in December and how this will affect her. I imagine this will be a hard hit for anyone whose loved one who committed suicide.

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Robin Williams, actor (1951-2014)
From: Jeri
Date: 12 Aug 14 - 05:22 PM

I saw the press conference while I was waiting for my doctor's appointment. They said he had marks on his wrist and a knife with what might have been dried blood. Seems he might've tried that before the belt around his neck, fastened in a closet door. These reports often linger with me for days after I hear them, if not longer. A guy died when I was working in Korea, and the description of that particular hell will probably never leave me.

Anybody who's had a loved one kill himself, know that there's nothing you could have done.

What I will choose to remember is that Robin Williams made me feel. There was passionate sincerity in any thing I ever saw him do, and always that fundamental human connection, that vulnerability, that made it all so real.

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Robin Williams, actor (1951-2014)
From: Bill D
Date: 12 Aug 14 - 05:59 PM

They 'almost' admitted that he had left a note, but backed away from confirming it. I sort of hope he left some sort of explanation & goodbye. I assume we'll hear eventually.

That program I mentioned had a long interview with James Lipton of The Actor's Studio program. He reflected on his attempt to interview Williams, but noted it was 6 minutes before he was able to ask a question.
Then they played my favorite clip ...of Williams taking a scarf from an audience member and doing 5-6 minutes just giving his only way of answering a question about how his mind worked. (Someone said he was always composing the next 'bit' as he was working thru the current one. It reminds me of translators who can listen to one language and speak another one.)

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Robin Williams, actor (1951-2014)
From: GUEST,mauvepink
Date: 12 Aug 14 - 06:46 PM

Nanu, nanu....

My eyes are leaking!

RIP you giver of laughter and smiles


x

mp

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Robin Williams, actor (1951-2014)
From: jacqui.c
Date: 13 Aug 14 - 08:01 AM

Patch Adams - "Donner, party of 50" is one of the pictures that always springs to mind when RW's name is mentioned. Like Bill, I thought Awakenings was a great film, but I don't think that there was a movie in which he took part that I didn't enjoy.

It does seem that that degree of genius comes with a heavy penalty.

RIP Mr Williams.

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Robin Williams, actor (1951-2014)
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 13 Aug 14 - 05:51 PM

When I first heard the news it was almost as if it was a family friend had gone. It was something about the man himself that was special he didn't have to do anything just seeing his face on tv or screen was enough.

Whether it was in movies like Awakenings, Good Morning Vietnam, Mrs Doubtfire or just being interviewed it was always a pleasure to watch because of his genius. No matter what he was in or whatever part he played to me he was still Mork and always will be. It is so sad that he was in so much pain though and he will be missed. RIP Robin Williams.

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Robin Williams, actor (1951-2014)
From: Ed T
Date: 13 Aug 14 - 07:09 PM

My favourite Robin Williams stand up comedy session-what a funny guy:)

RIP


long but funny 

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Robin Williams, actor (1951-2014)
From: bubblyrat
Date: 14 Aug 14 - 06:47 AM

Sorry,but I always find it mildly disconcerting to read about the deaths of people younger than me . Nevertheless, RIP ,Mrs Doubtfire.

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Robin Williams, actor (1951-2014)
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 14 Aug 14 - 03:45 PM

What a brilliant actor he was! I was never quite a fan of his (stand-up) comedy--a bit manic for my taste, but to see him in a role was to see genius.

My wife heard on our local news radio station, this AM, that he recently was diagnosed with early stage Parkinson's. In itself it is a horrible burden with no known cure; coupled with his depression it has to have made his life unbearable.

RIP

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Robin Williams, actor (1951-2014)
From: GUEST,Rahere
Date: 14 Aug 14 - 08:08 PM

I think the masterpiece in his stand-up was the 40-odd minutes he did for Steve Jobs a couple of years back, when he allowed us to see the thinness of the ice in his impro. That was a lesson to all presenters - could you spiel for that length of time, and not only remain interesting but also funny?

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Robin Williams, actor (1951-2014)
From: Jeri
Date: 14 Aug 14 - 08:36 PM

I loved him in every role I saw him play, although I haven't seen everything he did. Long before he was in movies, I remember seeing him in an HBO special. It was 1978 or thereabouts, and one of the guys in the Communications Squadron at Bergstrom AFB outside Austin, TX had figured out how to hack the scrambler signal, so we got HBO. I seem to remember a lot of props. I also remember that I, along with everyone else in the day room, was laughing uncontrollably. Serious cramps-in-the-face laughing. I can't think of anyone else I've thought is funnier. And he put it all out there without using a safety net. He was all-in on everything he did, which his why his acting was so phenomenal.

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Robin Williams, actor (1951-2014)
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 14 Aug 14 - 09:32 PM

The BBC is currently running a peculiar episode of the animated cartoon "Family Guy".

Delightful connections to Robin Williams.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

It has been well known, for over a decade, about RW and Parkinsn's.

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Robin Williams, actor (1951-2014)
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Aug 14 - 04:05 AM

And for those who focused on the suicide and not the why, draw the lessons of his work: look below the surface, Alzheimers.

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Robin Williams, actor (1951-2014)
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 16 Aug 14 - 09:01 AM

The song 'Remembrance' above got a live sing Wednesday night, and was well received.

On the basis that it will remain topical for a very short period, please consider it as 'Public Domain'

Cheers

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Robin Williams, actor (1951-2014)
From: Janie
Date: 16 Aug 14 - 02:37 PM

Well done, Nigel.