OT: Robin Williams dead at 63

resdubwhite said:

I'll go for John Lennon

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I would probably have seconded that if I was alive in 1980.

It seems like many people felt as though they "knew" Robin Williams. Few celebrity death's are felt so deeply by so many. The world is a darker place without him.

Bella*chick said:

A memorial has been made by the bench where the famous Good Will Hunting scene took place. I wish I could go see it. RIP, Robin. This news has gutted me.

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Gutted me too. None of us knew him, but from afar you could see he was hurting and manic. The comedy was funny but always made me uncomfortable - - he always had that look of crying while laughing. It was the scenes in Awakenings, Good Will Hunting, The Fisher Kings, The Best of Times, etc. that seemed like the real Robin Williams and his real voice. Though we will never know - - and that scene you refer to on the Boston Public Gardens bench is a beautiful way of expressing how we will never know:

Obviously, this scene hits hard today:

shmessy said:

Gutted me too. None of us knew him, but from afar you could see he was hurting and manic. The comedy was funny but always made me uncomfortable - - he always had that look of crying while laughing. It was the scenes in Awakenings, Good Will Hunting, The Fisher Kings, The Best of Times, etc. that seemed like the real Robin Williams and his real voice. Though we will never know - - and that scene you refer to on the Boston Public Gardens bench is a beautiful way of expressing how we will never know:

Obviously, this scene hits hard today:

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From about 13 seconds till about 2:57 is a continuous shot of Williams in a virtual monologue. A truly unique talent.

Playing my synthesizer last night a song came to mind that made me think
of Robin. The music score written by another famous comedian , Charlie Chaplin.
SMILE
Charlie also had problems with depression and even tried to commit suicide from what I read.
"Smile when your heart is breaking" ... maybe Robin just couldn't smile any more.

I like how you said the comedy was funny but almost uncomfortable. I know a lot of people who feel that way, me included. It felt very desperate at times, like he must have felt. My favorite Williams roles were not really the comedy ones (I guess Aladdin is one, but that was made for him and perfect beyond perfect) but the quiet, dramatic roles. Even in the Birdcage, he played it quiet and let Nathan Lane go nuts. It was the right decision. Good Will Hunting is my absolute favorite.

This article is an absolute must-read:

Robin Williams and Why Funny People Kill Themselves