Robin Williams Dead At 63 Of Possible Suicide

Academy Award-winning actor Robin Williams, known for having one of the quickest wits in the entertainment industry, has died at age 63 of an apparent suicide after a battle with what his publicist described as “severe depression.” Following the recent cancellation of his sitcom The Crazy Ones, Williams, who has spoken openly about his addiction to drugs and alcohol, checked himself in to a rehab facility to maintain his sobriety.

“Robin Williams passed away this morning,” the actor’s publicist Mara Buxbaum said in a statement released tonight. “He has been battling severe depression of late. This is a tragic and sudden loss. The family respectfully asks for their privacy as they grieve during this very difficult time.”

Following an acclaimed stand-up career, Williams rose to national fame as an alien from the planet Ork in the popular ’70s sitcom Mork & Mindy. He made a smooth transition to feature films with 1982’s The World According to Garp. He soon developed into a versatile actor, starred in dozens of hit movies (including the gay-themed comedy The Birdcage in 1996), garnered four Oscar nominations and won a supporting trophy for 1997’s Good Will Hunting. His next film, Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, will be released in December.

Below is the full report from the Marin County police.

On August 11, 2014, at approximately 11:55 a.m, Marin County Communications received a 9-1-1 telephone call reporting a male adult had been located unconscious and not breathing inside his residence in unincorporated Tiburon, CA. The Sheriff’s Office, as well as the Tiburon Fire Department and Southern Marin Fire Protection District were dispatched to the incident with emergency personnel arriving on scene at 12:00 pm. The male subject, pronounced deceased at 12:02 pm has been identified as Robin McLaurin Williams, a 63-year-old resident of unincorporated Tiburon, CA.

An investigation into the cause, manner, and circumstances of the death is currently underway by the Investigations and Coroner Division s of the Sheriff’s Office. Preliminary information developed during the investigation indicates Mr. Williams was last seen alive at his residence, where he resides with his wife, at approximately 10:00 pm on August 10, 2014. Mr. Williams was located this morning shortly before the 9-1-1 call was placed to Marin County Communications. At this time, the Sheriff’s Office Coroner Division suspects the death to be a suicide due to asphyxia, but a comprehensive investigation must be completed before a final determination is made. A forensic examination is currently scheduled for August 12, 2014 with subsequent toxicology testing to be conducted.

The White House has released a statement from President Obama that reads:

“Robin Williams was an airman, a doctor, a genie a nanny, a president, a professor, a bangarang Peter Pan, and everything in between. But he was one of a kind. He arrived in our lives as an alien – but he ended up touching every element of the human spirit. He made us laugh. He made us cry. He gave his immeasurable talent freely and generously to those who needed it most – from our troops stationed abroad to the marginalized on our own streets. The Obama family offers our condolences to Robin’s family, his friends, and everyone who found their voice and their verse thanks to Robin Williams.”

Watch Williams in a 2012 concert below.