My single personal encounter with Robin Williams was very brief, backstage at the Tonight Show when I was an NBC Page (15 years ago... or more). He was walking in from the Midway parking lot and heading to his dressing room, and he moved past a few of us like a true force of nature. His internal dial wasn't cranked up to 11 (no doubt saving energy for the show itself), but he still possessed a swagger. He shook hands with everybody and said a few words but never seemed to break his stride. And then he was gone, tucked away in his dressing room, and all I could think was how amazing it was that someone so short could still command any room (or hallway) he walked into.
Amidst all the celebrations there will be of the life of Robin Williams, I confess it is hard to ignore the way he died. I mourn his loss as I mourn the loss of Richard Jeni, Mitch Hedberg, and way too many other funny men whose smile didn't last off stage. But while the film festivals and TV mini-marathons will take place over the coming days, I fear I won't be partaking in them. Robin Williams hurt himself, and in doing so he hurt his family, his friends, and everyone who cared for and respected him. So forgive me but I'm angry that this happened... that it keeps happening. I'm angry at Robin and I'm angry at the world. Just as it is always "too soon" after a spree-shooting to talk about gun control, it is also always too soon after a suicide to talk about mental health issues. Mental illness is probably the least treated form of illness in America, if not the world, and every politician who voted against universal health care needs to be taken out behind the capital and spanked. Mental health needs to be as front-and-center as fighting tooth decay or checking for breast or prostate cancer. Because I'm sick and tired of good, strong, loved people giving up the fight... even after they've already won the fight. For those of us on the losing end of life, it doesn't fill me with much hope. On Mon, Aug 11, 2014 at 7:46 PM, PGage <[email protected]> wrote: > It has been a particularly sad day here in Northern California, where we > saw Williams as a home boy. He died in his home in Tiburon (Marin County, > north of San Francisco), but he also long has had a home not that far from > mine (though of course on a much grander scale) in Napa Valley. Over the > years many locals have spotted him around town, and the stories of his > kindness and goodwill are many. > > Suicide is not uncommon among those diagnosed with bi-polar disorder; this > is increased among those who also suffer from substance abuse disorder. > Perhaps we will learn more about what precipitated this in the future, > perhaps the public will never know - perhaps nobody knows. I have worked > with more than a few older men who have found themselves relapsing one too > many times, and can no longer live with another round of disappointing and > hurting those they love. Of course this is tragically silly - those who > love them almost always would encourage them to get up and try again. With > someone as well known as Williams, it is particularly hard to understand, > since so many are so grateful for the joy and laughter he brought into > their lives, and so appreciated his many talents. But that is really hard > to hear when you are down deep in the hole - and the adoring masses make > admitting and facing up to yet another round of failure that much harder. > > > > On Mon, Aug 11, 2014 at 7:07 PM, Joe Coughlin <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> Seconded. >> >> On Mon, Aug 11, 2014 at 9:44 PM, M-D November <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> > I'm normally fine with a snarky comment or two, but I feel like the >> thread >> > title might be a little insensitive here. >> > >> > >> > On Monday, August 11, 2014 7:31:55 PM UTC-4, Bob Jersey wrote: >> >> >> >> Robin Williams was found dead in his Bay Area home this morning. >> >> >> >> County sheriff said asphyxia was the cause. >> >> >> >> Many reports said he had just gone into rehab. 63. >> >> >> >> Entertainment Weekly (link) >> >> >> >> B >> >> >> > -- >> > -- >> > TV or Not TV .... The Smartest (TV) People! >> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >> > Groups "TV or Not TV" group. >> > To post to this group, send email to [email protected] >> > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> > [email protected] >> > For more options, visit this group at >> > http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv?hl=en >> > --- >> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >> Groups >> > "TVorNotTV" group. >> > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >> an >> > email to [email protected]. >> > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >> >> >> >> -- >> +++++++++++++++ >> Joe Coughlin >> http://www.twitter.com/inturnaround >> >> -- >> -- >> TV or Not TV .... 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