Depression robbed us of Robin Williams
I’m angry at a disease that knows no bounds and cares not for anyone, regardless of who they are, regardless of race, creed or color.
In a mere 24 hours there has been a spate of posts and commentaries and various other entries on the unfortunate passing of Robin Williams.
A bevy of news reports on whichever channel you call a favorite. Gaggles of radio talk shows in incredulous discussion. Water cooler snippets about a favorite film of his. You can’t even access the internet right now without some banner blaring reminders every which way about the man.
I’ve seen several friends and acquaintances taking the opportunity to use the news as a launching point to tell their own stories of personal fights with this skulking disease called “Depression,” using it to remind people there are outlets to battle this silent, lurking evil. And there isn’t anything wrong with that. A tragedy like this, painful as it is, should be used to recognize its vice-like hold on those afflicted and point them in a direction other than that of Robin Williams.
Me personally? I’m angry. Pissed off. And at the point of seething.
Because I loved Robin Williams. He was one of my all-time favorite actors and comedians. And Depression took him away from the family and friends and fans who loved him.
I thought the man was amazing as the manic Parry in The Fisher King. (I got a two-for-one bonus in that film as he co-starred with another of my favorite actors, Jeff Bridges.) He was superb in Awakenings, intriguing in Moscow On The Hudson (one of his first films) and painfully emotive and completely believable as Robert Ellison in “Bop Gun,” an outstanding episode of Homicide: Life On The Street which unfolded the story of Williams’ character and family as his wife was killed while on a visit to Baltimore. There was The Birdcage, Good Will Hunting and Insomnia with Al Pacino, all three completely different, each film stretching the man’s acting chops. And how about his dual role in a film which probably plays #2 in the world right behind The Shawshank Redemption, Mrs. Doubtfire? All a result of his one-off appearance on an unlikely episode of Happy Days which led to the bright-burning Mork & Mindy. Continue reading 'Depression robbed us of Robin Williams' »