The tragic death of the larger-than-life comic Robin Williams occurred nine years ago, but her memory and legacy live on in our hearts.
Many people thought that Williams’s choice to terminate his life was motivated by depression and drug misuse; this belief devastated the entire world.
However, another factor was also at play in the unfortunate demise of Robin Williams. That’s why Susan Schneider Williams, Robin’s widow, chose to come clean about her husband’s murder.
The passing of legendary comedian Robin Williams in 2014 was a blow to the global comedy community. It was said that Robin was a witty guy, a family man, and an affable human being. Thanks to his legendary performances in films such as Good Morning, Vietnam, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Aladdin, fans all over the globe held him in high esteem.
His real-life friends and family observed that he could light up people’s lives when they needed it most, and that his charisma was equally contagious when he wasn’t on camera.
Marriages and kids
Three marriages and three children were the fruit of the cherished actor’s life.
Valeria Velardi was Williams’ first wife, whom he met in June 1976. Williams used to be a regular barman in San Francisco before he became renowned.
“He was bartending. He had a French accent, offered me a drink, chatted me up and was absolutely delightful,” Valeria said in 2018.
“He asked me for a ride home. He was speaking French and I was teasing him and we had a kiss. And I just knew I was going to see him again”.
Zack was born to the happy couple in 1983, after they were married in 1978.
Valeria and Williams divorced in 1988. Valeria has rejected the rumours that the actor had an affair with Marsha Garces, his son’s carer. I should mention that after the divorce, Williams wed Marsha.
The happy couple tied the knot in 1989, even though she was expecting their first child.
Zelda was born in 1989 and Cody was born in 1991 to Robin and Marsha. The second marriage that Robin entered into was similarly doomed to fail, unfortunately. In 2008, Marsha sought a divorce, stating that she and her husband had irreconcilable disagreements.
Robin Williams & Susan Schneider
After Robin’s second divorce, he finally found love with Susan Schneider, three years later. In late 2007, she had a brief encounter with the famed comedian at a nearby Apple store.
“I walked in and saw this man and I thought: ‘I think that’s Robin Williams.‘ Then on my way out I happened to look at him again and he was smiling at me and something inside me said: ‘Oh, just go over and say hi’, Susan said.
In 2011, they exchanged wedding vows. The wedding took place at the Meadowood, a five-star resort in California’s Napa Valley.
The little ceremony drew about 120 people, the most of whom were intimate friends, neighbours, and relatives.
Robin and Susan had a clear vision for their dream wedding. There weren’t any famous people there, and the whole affair lacked the glitz and glitter of a Hollywood wedding.
Additionally, Robin and Susan drafted their own promises. Even though his mother and brother had already died away, Robin still made sure they were remembered at the service. Having the pastor read aloud the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi was the actor’s request.
”The wedding day was very beautiful – they were very much in love and very quiet. Both Robin and Susan were very actively involved with the preparation of the ceremony,” the minister who married the lovebirds told Daily Mail in 2014.
The posh Sea Cliff district on San Francisco Bay was Robin and Susan’s home. With 7,170 square feet of living space, this modern Mediterranean home boasted a breathtaking panorama of the ocean, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Marin Headlands.
We now know that Robin’s relationship was tested as he battled his inner demons, even though it appeared from the outside that Susan and Robin were incredibly happy and had everything.
His career took a hit as his health continued to deteriorate. When filming Night at the Museum 3, Williams’s last film role in 2014, he struggled to commit even a single line to memory. His inability to learn even the most basic lines baffled Robin, who was used to him memorization of hundreds of lines and spectacular performances.
“Robin was losing his mind and he was aware of it,” Schneider Williams explained in 2016.
“Can you imagine the pain he felt as he experienced himself disintegrating? And not from something he would ever know the name of, or understand? Neither he, nor anyone could stop it – no amount of intelligence or love could hold it back.”
Even though Robin had his problems, Susan was supportive of her husband at all times, and the two were honest with one another. Their bond deepened throughout the years as they shared stories of triumphs and tragedies, triumphs over anxieties, and the love they felt for one another.
Susan was in the dark about her soulmate’s struggles because she did not have access to all the information. Susan may have felt helpless in many respects, but she and Robin did have some lovely, tender moments together in Robin’s final months.
The struggling actor was misdiagnosed with Parkinson’s disease just before he passed away, which caused Robin even more anguish and heightened speculation about his health.
Doctors had given Robin just three years to live.
“What he was going through didn’t match one to one [with] many Parkinson’s patient’s experiences. So, I think that was hard for him,” Robin Williams’ son Zak said in Max Lugavere’s “The Genius Life” podcast.
“There was a focus issue that frustrated him; there were issues associated with how he felt, and also from a neurological perspective, he didn’t feel great. He was very uncomfortable.”
After he passed away, the public finally got a glimpse of Robin’s struggles and the complete truth came to light. The coroner’s findings was issued three months after the famous comic passed away.
Until his passing in August 2014, Robin had fought a lengthy battle with Lewy body dementia, according to the story.
In her first interview after her husband’s death, Robin’s widow chose to reveal the truth about her husband’s murder in her first interview.
“Lewy body dementia killed Robin. It’s what took his life. Depression was a small piece of the pie of what was going on… really, what was overriding that more than depression was anxiety. And the anxiety was huge,” she said.
The late actor’s doctors spoke of the insanity he must have endured in his final months. One of the most debilitating cases of Lewy body dementia that doctors had ever encountered was his.
Programme Mork and Mindy on Television. Pam Dawber and Robin Williams cameo appearances.
“Lewy body dementia is a devastating illness. It’s a killer. It is fast, it’s progressive,” The director of the University of California San Francisco’s Memory and Ageing programme, Dr. Bruce Miller, told Today.
Susan had a much better grasp of Robin’s behaviour and the puzzle pieces fell into place after she found out about her husband’s ailment.
“I was relieved it had a name. Robin and I had gone through this experience together, really being chased by an invisible monster. And it was like whack-a-mole with the symptoms. I left there with a name of the disease, the thing that Robin and I had been searching for,” she said.
What killed Robin Williams?
Robin Williams’s body was discovered in his bedroom at his Paradise Cay, California, property on August 11, 2014. The Marin County Sheriff’s Office reported that the victim died of suffocation by hanging.
In 2015, during a tear-jerking interview, Susan recounted her final discussion with her husband.
Robin intended to check into a neuropsychological testing institution a week prior to his passing.
Robin inquired as to whether Susan would want a foot massage the night before he passed away. Because Susan had no idea what was going to happen, she turned down the offer.
His sorrowful eyes will stay with her forever.
After that, he left. He came back into the room a couple of times and said, “Good night, my love,” to which Susan replied, “Good night, my love.”
Both of their last exchanges were those words.
Susan clarified in subsequent interviews that she does not hold Robin responsible for his suicide and that she has forgiven him. She was aware that his remaining years would be challenging, and that he didn’t have much time.
On that terrible day, she was by her husband’s side while emergency personnel came to the house and attempted to rescue him.
“And I just wanted to see my husband. And I got to see him … and I got to pray with him. And I got to tell him, ‘I forgive you 50 billion percent, with all my heart. You’re the bravest man I’ve ever known.’ You know, we were living a nightmare,” Susan said.
The funeral for Robin Williams
We know that Robin’s body was cremated at Monte’s Chapel of the Hills in San Anselmo, but whether or not his family had a private funeral is unknown.
San Francisco Bay was the site of his scattering on August 21. After over half a century of residency, the actor had grown to enjoy and find solace in the neighbourhood.
When someone ends their own life, it is always tragic. I get that sometimes, even though I believe people should never cross that line.
It’s unfortunate that nobody had any idea what was going on with Robin. He was a fantastic human being in addition to being one of the all-time greats in the entertainment industry.
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