Robin Williams’ wife Susan Schneider revealed in a statement today that her late husband had early Parkinson’s Disease. She also says his “sobriety was intact.” He also suffered from past substance abuse and deep depression. We’re never going to know what exactly happened. But the deaths of his older brother , and also his friend Gerry Margolis, who’d been his longtime lawyer and confident, certainly added to the equation. He was not broke, as many have reported. And I don’t think he was depressed about making movies or his TV show. Plenty of movie actors go into series TV. If it’s a hit, they have an annuity. Many– like Kelsey Grammer– go back and forth between the mediums.
Here is Susan Schneider’s statement:
“Robin spent so much of his life helping others. Whether he was entertaining millions on stage, film or television, our troops on the frontlines, or comforting a sick child — Robin wanted us to laugh and to feel less afraid.
Since his passing, all of us who loved Robin have found some solace in the tremendous outpouring of affection and admiration for him from the millions of people whose lives he touched. His greatest legacy, besides his three children, is the joy and happiness he offered to others, particularly to those fighting personal battles.
Robin’s sobriety was intact and he was brave as he struggled with his own battles of depression, anxiety as well as early stages of Parkinson’s Disease, which he was not yet ready to share publicly.
It is our hope in the wake of Robin’s tragic passing, that others will find the strength to seek the care and support they need to treat whatever battles they are facing so they may feel less afraid.”
