Tuesday – a day that we would rather forget – the day the world lost an icon of cinema, comedy and more importantly, a friend. Robin McLaurin Williams (1951-2014) brought joy to the faces of millions of people across three different generations as his career that had spanned for more than four decades was suddenly cut short leaving us mourning, questioning and celebrating the life of a comic genius. For the past couple of days, their still remains feelings of shock, disappointment and a sudden emptiness that hasn’t come to terms with a world without Robin. He was for many of us, at the forefront of our childhoods. For me, he was the real life version of Peter Pan – a man who didn’t want to grow up. He had the energy of a little kid that somehow was able to light up which ever room he walked in and could lift the spirits of anyone around him.
One thing that stands him out from the rest was his versatility. Williams was able to make us laugh, cry and appreciate his abundant array of talent that saw him play a variety of different roles. From an exuberant genie in Aladdin (1992), to his Oscar winning role as Sean Maguire in Good Will Hunting (1997), Williams was constantly breaking new ground as both a comedian and as an actor.
Yet his talents also came with his generosity as the flanboyent figure would visit U.S soldiers in the middle east giving them a spark of happiness in a region that is currently shrouded in conflict. He also donated all proceeds of his “Weapons of Self Destruction” tour in New Zealand in response to the 2010 Christchurch Earthquake.
We have lost one of the greatest comedians of our time to a deadly illness yet his passing will not overshadow the legacy that he has left.
It is sad whenever an icon of Williams’ stature leaves us so suddenly, that we than begin to reflect of how much they really meant to us. To think that a man that had brought so much laughter and happiness was battling such inner demons for the majority of his life, is not only heartbreaking but also a cruel realisation of how depression can take the life of one of the most gifted, profound and incredible figures that we have ever witnessed.
We have no idea what was going on in Robin’s head or the problems he was facing throughout his life however we must learn, grow and comprehend that even our most treasured icons are not superheroes – but only human; and even they have their ups and downs, the good times and the bad, and are capable of falling once too many.
So i pose this question to you – how will you remember Robin Williams?
His talents, his kindness, and his profound gift of giving were just some of his hallmarks that made not just myself, but society a better place.
Finally…Thankyou Adrian; thankyou Armand; thankyou Alan; thankyou Peter; thankyou Genie; thankyou Mrs. Doubtfire; thankyou doctor; thankyou my CAPTAIN – THANKYOU ROBIN WILLIAMS.
R.I.P (1951-2014)