It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years since the passing of the legendary Robin Williams. A comedic actor almost without peer and a titan of the film industry, the late performer’s death left an indelible mark on the world.
The circumstances of his passing are unquestionably tragic, the gaping hole he left behind as large as ever. As such it’s hardly a surprise that people continue to talk about his life and legacy, with many wondering what might have been had his fate and fortunes taken another road.
Almost a decade on from the heartbreak of losing the Good Will Hunting star, the actor’s close friend and fellow comedian Billy Connolly opened up on the final words William ever said to him… and they’re every bit as tear-inducing as you might imagine…
The name Robin Williams is rightly synonymous with comedy. Over the course of his colorful career Williams rose to become one of the greatest funny men to ever grace our screens, blending weird, wonderful, flawed and fabulous characters with gut-busting humor that continues to derive laughs all over the world today, ten years on from his death.
And yet Williams’ time on this earth was also marred by tragedy, the sort that ultimately left the actor feeling as though life was simply untenable. On August 11, 2014, aged 63, Williams was found dead of an apparent suicide at his home.
Though through his acting career he had realized immeasurable success, Williams suffered from issues including alcohol addiction, a condition for which he spent several weeks at the Hazelden facility in Minnesota during 2014 in a bid to strengthen his commitment to sobriety.
As per reports, the Jumanji actor had previously battled alcoholism and cocaine abuse in the early 1980s but quit after the overdose death of his friend, John Belushi, in 1982.
Following the Hollywood icon’s death in 2014, his publicist told how he had been “battling severe depression”. His wife, Susan Schneider, later disclosed more information regarding his demise, revealing that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s months before his passing.
An autopsy revealed that the actor had in fact been suffering from Lewy body dementia (LBD), leading to Williams struggling with significant changes in memory, movement, personality, reasoning, sleep, and mood.
“None of the doctors knew that there was this ghost disease underlying all of this. When that was revealed, that was like essentially finding out the name of my husband’s killer,” Schneider said at the time.
Needless to say, Williams’ passing affected a lot of people adversely, not least his closest friends and family.
One man who fell firmly into the first category was Sir Billy Connolly, who himself has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. When asked what he might have done differently had he known Williams planned on taking his own life, the comedian and actor said: “You have to give a guy the position that he’s wise enough to make up his own mind,” he said. “I don’t think so,” he added, when asked if he wouldn’t have tried to save his life, Connolly admitted.
Connolly shared that Williams called him during the week of his death, inviting him to dinner, where the movie star made a heartfelt statement. In the BBC program “In My Own Words,” Connolly reflected on their friendship, calling it a “lovely thing” and noting that Williams helped him feel less “alone” in the comedy world.
Recalling their final dinner, Connolly said, “He phoned me and said, ‘Let’s have dinner,’ and during the dinner, he said, ‘I love you.’ I said thanks very much. He said, ‘Do you believe me?’ I said ‘Of course I do.’ He said, ‘Believe me, I love you.’ I said, ‘That’s great.'”
Reflecting on the unusual nature of the conversation, Connolly noted, “I thought ‘how weird, how weird for him to say that, it’s not like his usual.’ He was dead on the weekend.”
He believes this was Williams’ way of saying goodbye, adding, “It was a sad day in my life because I saw his whole career and it was stunning. He was like a rocket-ship, just took off. He was the best ever.”
Social media users reacted to Williams’ last words as one person expressed, “So sad.” Someone else assumed, “Robin Williams wasn’t understood and wasn’t listened to. Anyone who needs to talk should have an ear.” While another wrote, “It is very difficult to read, heartbreaking.”
Robin Williams’ life and career touched countless people, and his final moments with close friends revealed the depth of his emotional struggles. His legacy as a brilliant comedian and compassionate individual continues to inspire and resonate with fans worldwide.
Rest in peace, Robin Williams.