The Unknown Things About Robin Williams' Sad Passing

The passing of Robin Williams was a tragedy for many. The comic actor had millions of fans around the world who loved the way he seemed to bring joy into everything that he did. Unfortunately, behind all the laughs were a series of struggles that pushed Williams to end it all.

Initially, people didn't know what had driven Robin to take his life, with claims of depression being the most popular. However, new details have surged about Robin Williams' passing since that tragic day that shows there was a lot more to the story than his fans first thought.

Robin Williams' personal assistant was the one who found that he'd taken his own life

August 11, 2014, is a day that fans of Robin Williams won't soon forget. It's also a day that those closest to him will probably remember forever, given that was when they lost someone they deeply cared about. It wasn't just his family that was broken up about Robin Williams' passing, but also some of the people he worked with.

His personal assistant, Rebecca Erwin Spencer, was particularly upset by his loss, especially as she was the one who found him. The spare bedroom was locked, and there was no response from inside, so Spencer allegedly had to pick it. She reportedly got inside at 11:45 am, which is when she discovered that Robin was gone for good.

Police investigated the spare room but could do nothing to save Robin Williams' life

After finding her employer's body, Rebecca called the police. She couldn't yet be certain that Robin Williams' passing was his own doing, so an investigation was necessary to identify the truth. When the cops arrived, they took in the scene of the actor's bedroom and started looking for clues that would indicate the truth of Robin Williams' passing.

They found several things in the spare room, including a pocket knife that reportedly had the actor's blood on it. They also discovered several antidepressant medications and an electronic tablet. None of this stuff seemed to tell them why Robin had taken his life, with his passing apparently confirmed at 12:02 pm. There was no bringing him back.

The cops ruled that Robin Williams had taken his own life

The situation would have been very different if someone had taken Robin Williams' life. The police would have needed to search for clues that revealed what had happened and who was to blame. However, the likelihood of anyone else being involved in Robin Williams' passing seemed pretty slim. After all, he was locked alone inside the bedroom.

The cops couldn't find any evidence of foul play at the scene of the crime. Plus, the only substances they discovered in the man's system were various prescribed medications and caffeine. They decided that Robin had taken his own life, something that the autopsy seemed to later confirm, with asphyxiation being to blame for this tragic end.

One of the first details that emerged about Robin Williams' passing was his battle with depression

Whenever a celebrity loses their life, it's usually no time at all before the rest of the world hears about it. That was certainly the case after Robin Williams' passing, with the news quickly making it around the globe and devastating millions in the process. In the immediate aftermath, people were eager for the details about Robin Williams' passing.

The actor's publicist seemed to shed some light on the situation as they revealed that he'd been dealing with "severe depression." This can be a brutal disorder that really puts a person's mental health through the wringer, so it's perhaps no wonder that Robin Williams was struggling. Was it really to blame for him taking his own life, though?

Robin Williams was reportedly diagnosed with Parkinson's three months before he passed

It seems that depression wasn't the only thing that Robin Williams was struggling with inside his head. His autopsy revealed the presence of Parkinson's medication in his system, which indicated that he was living with the disease. This came as a shock to many fans, though, given they had no idea that the actor had been diagnosed.

It turns out that Robin had apparently learned about having Parkinson's three months before he decided to end his life. His wife, Susan Schneider Williams, and three kids were the only ones who actually knew about it. Robin didn't feel comfortable sharing the truth with the world just yet, so his fans remained oblivious until tragedy struck.

Michael J. Fox expressed surprise at Robin Williams' Parkinson's diagnosis

There aren't many celebrities who admit to receiving a Parkinson's diagnosis, but there are a fair few of them out there. Michael J. Fox is one of the most famous examples of this, with the actor not shying away from talking about his illness. He's so vocal about it that he was reportedly surprised when he learned about Robin's diagnosis.

He confessed that he was "stunned" by the revelation that the comedic actor was battling the same thing as him. Fox also expressed sorrow at Williams' passing, and not simply because he was amazing at what he did. Robin was apparently a big supporter of his Parkinson's organization and had been long before he was diagnosed himself.

Robin Williams began to question whether he really had Parkinson's 

Getting a diagnosis isn't the same as receiving a cure. However, it can lead to peace of mind, as well as treatments to try and control the disease. For Robin Williams, there was no cure for his Parkinson's, but developments in medicine meant there was stuff he could take to ease his symptoms and slow things down.

Unfortunately, these didn't seem to work. Robin reportedly felt as though his condition was getting worse, which allegedly resulted in feelings of anxiety, paranoia, and depression. He started to believe that Parkinson's wasn't the problem, and he was willing to visit a neurocognitive testing facility to prove it. Robin needed to know the truth of what was wrong with him.

Susan Schneider Williams apparently thought that Robin's condition was improving on his final night

Hindsight can be a real problem after you lose someone special. It's hard not to think about how different things might have been if you'd done x, y, or z while you still had the chance. Susan Schneider Williams presumably had a lot of time to reflect on the past after Robin Williams' passing, though it only caused confusion.

According to her, Robin seemed to be improving on the night that he passed. He apparently kept coming into the bedroom to say goodnight, with Susan last seeing him alive at 10:30 pm. The last thing he said to her was reportedly, "Goodnight, my love… goodnight, goodnight." This was presumably more than Robin had managed in the days before.

Lewy body dementia was actually responsible for Robin Williams' trouble, not Parkinson's

One of the most surprising details about Robin Williams' passing is the fact that the doctors got it wrong. Although it's rare, doctors do accidentally misdiagnose people sometimes, and it seems that's what they did with the actor several months before the end. They thought he had Parkinson's, but his autopsy revealed he actually had Lewy body dementia.

This is apparently the second most common type of progressive dementia after Alzheimer's, yet it's reportedly not that easy to diagnose. What's more, there is no cure for it, so Robin wouldn't have been able to beat this diagnosis. Still, had he known the truth, Robin would have been able to control his symptoms better with the proper medication.

The symptoms of Lewy body dementia bear a resemblance to Parkinson's and Alzheimer's

Even with the developments that there have been in medicine, identifying Lewy body dementia is still a hard task. That's largely down to the similarities between this disease and others like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. With there being so much crossover with symptoms, such as hand tremors and a shuffling walk, it's easy to diagnose the wrong condition.

Other symptoms that can allegedly be present with these diseases include issues with bodily functions like digestion, visual hallucinations, and trouble paying attention. If Robin Williams went to his doctor with these symptoms, it's perhaps not hard to see why there might have been an error in judgment. Unfortunately, no one can undo the tragedy that took place.

Robin Williams allegedly feared getting "locked up" when it came to his condition

It's easy to make assumptions about how Robin Williams felt during those final months. The truth, though, is that no one knows what was going on inside of his head except for him. Only the people closest to him can give an idea of how he might have been feeling, although even that isn't 100% accurate.

Susan Schneider Williams has revealed a lot regarding the details about Robin Williams' passing, including the revelation that he was planning on getting tests to identify what was wrong with him. However, Susan believes he wasn't going to go through with them before he feared he was “going to get locked up and never come out.”

His wife believes depression being to blame is one of the misleading details about Robin Williams' passing

There's long been a link between depression and people ending their lives, with a reported 60% of cases having this connection. Given the revelation of Robin Williams' own struggles with depression, it's only natural people would assume it was to blame for his passing. However, Susan Schneider Williams isn't so sure that his mental health was to blame.

She alleges that it may well have been a contributing factor, but it was just one of "50 symptoms" and a "small one" at that. Instead, Susan thinks it was his Lewy body dementia that was to blame. After spending months researching it, she's confident that Robin ended his life over a diagnosis he didn't even know about yet.

Susan Schneider Williams claims that her husband was "losing his mind"

It can't be easy for Susan Schneider Williams to share all these details about Robin Williams' passing. However, she understands that millions around the world loved him as much as she did. That's why she explained that Robin was apparently "losing his mind" towards the end of his life and was "aware of it" as well. 

When the Parkinson's diagnosis first came, Susan was apparently hopeful because they finally had an answer to what was wrong with him. However, Robin wasn't convinced, and rightly so, meaning those last few months were more stressful than they could have been. The actor was frustrated and just wanted an explanation for why nothing felt right anymore.

Medical experts are surprised that Robin Williams could still move with his Lewy body dementia

As time progresses, people gradually understand an increasing amount about diseases like Lewy body dementia. Although there's still much confusion regarding it, there's enough information out there for several experts to be confused by Robin Williams' actions. In particular, they're amazed Robin could still function as much as he did when he decided to end his life.

Dr. Miller from the University of California is one such professional. As the college's director of Memory and Aging, he's very familiar with Lewy body dementia and understands that it's a "fast" and "progressive" illness. According to Miller, the form of dementia that Robin Williams had was as "devastating" as he'd ever seen. Robin shouldn't have been able to move.

Susan Schneider Williams says her husband was constantly dealing with new symptoms

Robin Williams might have been coping better than he should have done with his Lewy body dementia, but that doesn't mean his life wasn't a constant struggle. Susan Schneider Williams was there for it all, so she knows how debilitating his undiagnosed condition was. She discussed some of those details about Robin Williams' passing in the book 'Robin.'

Here, Susan said that her husband couldn't sleep because he didn't have the answers to what was wrong with him. He also seemed to have an "endless parade of symptoms" that she feared turned her husband into a "hypochondriac." Robin was desperately searching for an explanation, but there were no answers to be found until it was too late.

She apparently doesn't blame Robin Williams for ending his life

It can be hard to come to terms with losing a loved one, especially when that loved one chooses to end their life. Although some of the details about Robin Williams' passing changed as more information emerged, one thing has always stayed the same - he was responsible. That isn't something that Susan Schneider Williams has ever held against him, though.

While some might blame people who decide to go out like this, Susan reportedly told her late husband that she forgives him "50 billion percent." She referred to Robin as "the bravest man I've ever known" and understands why he decided to do what he did. Susan acknowledges that they "were living a nightmare" because of his illness.

Robin Williams struggled with addiction early into his comedy career

For Robin Williams, his Lewy body dementia was a struggle that he couldn't overcome. He'd spent so much of his life fighting one thing or another that it seems he couldn't go on anymore. Before it was Lewy body dementia and depression he was trying to tackle, it was addiction. For years, Robin allegedly had a problem with illegal substances.

'Robin' reveals that he supposedly relied on this stuff when he was starting out as a comedian. Like so many others, he got hooked and soon didn't know how to get out. It didn't help that people were apparently giving it to Robin "for free." Allegedly, the situation was at its worst while filming the sitcom ‘Mork and Mindy.’

Robin Williams was allegedly with John Belushi when he passed due to illegal substances

Thankfully, one of the well-known details about Robin Williams' passing is that there weren't any questionable substances in his system before he lost his life. That's because the actor managed to kick his bad habit years earlier, with the loss of another famous face reportedly influencing this. We're referring to the passing of John Belushi in 1982.

Belushi was only 33 when he took too many illegal substances and lost his life. The rumors go that Robin Williams was actually with him when it happened, which is why it had such an effect on him. Seeing how quickly addiction can get out of hand with your own eyes is sometimes the only way to pull yourself together.

Robin Williams went cold turkey because of John Belushi, but also because of his son

Robin Williams was lucky that he'd reportedly never experienced any health issues as a result of his addiction. However, as John Belushi proved, everything can change at the drop of a hat. Robin supposedly went cold turkey after the tragedy, which he later spoke about in 1988 with People magazine, where he called it "frightening."

Robin wasn't the only one reportedly affected by John Belushi's passing. Apparently, "a whole group of show business people" were scared away from using those substances afterward. It wasn't just fear that helped Robin get clean, though. It was also the arrival of his son, Zak. Robin felt he “couldn't be a father and live that sort of life.”

Robin Williams quit using illegal substances but still had an issue with drinking

Unfortunately, illegal substances weren't the only thing contributing to Robin Williams' tragic life. While he managed to get rid of one addiction, it seems he might have replaced it with another. He had an unhealthy relationship with drinking that nearly proved to be his undoing several times. Fortunately, Robin did try to overcome his addiction troubles.

Nicki Swift alleges that he managed to put the drinking aside once Zak was on the way. However, he ended up relapsing several times over the years. This isn't unheard of for people with a drinking problem, which reportedly constitutes around 6% of Americans. Relapses being common didn't make Robin's problems any easier to deal with, though.

Being alone in Alaska in 2003 drove Robin Williams back to drinking

The problem with addiction is that it never really goes away. Someone can be clean for decades and then have a relapse, which is precisely what happened with Robin Williams. He managed to stay sober up until 2003 when he spent time "in a small town" in Alaska for filming. Being by himself apparently pushed Robin over the edge.

He told the Guardian that he "felt alone and afraid," which fooled him into thinking that drinking would help him to feel better. Unfortunately, this was a slippery slope that sent Robin back into old habits. Although he initially felt "warm and kind of wonderful" after he started drinking again, Robin soon realized that he had a problem.

A family intervention and an ultimatum helped erase drinking from Robin Williams' life

For many people who face struggles with addiction, outside help is required to make a change. Not everyone is strong enough on their own to stop. It seems that Robin Williams needed a push from his family to sort out his drinking problem, with the actor facing an intervention in 2006 to get him out of his rut.

Robin's son Zak Williams spoke about the family intervention to the New York Times in 2009, admitting that it was a big moment for everyone. They reportedly gave Robin an ultimatum because they couldn't handle everything that his drinking put them through. Fortunately, they got through to the actor, and Robin got his addiction under control, albeit only temporarily.

Robin Williams reportedly relapsed for a second time in 2006

Robin Williams was reportedly serious about getting his drinking under control after that family intervention. Unfortunately, no matter his intentions, things spiraled again several years later. The world was oblivious to Robin Williams' tragic life dealing with these issues, but his family wasn't. They had to watch things start to fall apart again in 2006 when he resumed drinking.

According to an interview in Parade, Robin made the mistake of thinking that he could handle having one drink without things spiraling out of control. However, as he admitted to the publication, things "escalated so quickly" that he was firmly off the wagon within a week. Thankfully, there are always things you can do after a relapse to get better.

Robin Williams reportedly spent time in rehab two months before his passing 

We know from the details about Robin Williams' passing that drink wasn't in his system at the end, just like illegal substances weren't either. So, it's clear that he managed to kick his habit before he lost his life. In fact, Robin actually spent time in Minnesota's Hazelden Addiction Treatment Center two months before he ended his life.

However, this apparently had nothing to do with his drinking problem. He'd reportedly been "working back-to-back projects" so wanted a chance to "fine-tune and focus on his continued commitment" to staying clean. The only reason people allegedly knew he was there was that Robin posed for a photo with one of the local Dairy Queen employees.

Susan Schneider Williams was reportedly infuriated by accusations that Robin Williams had relapsed

Celebrities are often no strangers to rehabilitation facilities, with the pressures of fame often driving them to use substances and then seek help. However, not everyone who goes to rehab does so because they have a problem or have relapsed. That allegedly wasn't why Robin Williams was there, which is why his wife was "infuriated" by what the media said. 

The belief that the actor had relapsed was widespread, with plenty of publications fueling the allegations. Given her insight into Robin Williams' tragic life, Susan knew all the issues he was dealing with, and a relapse allegedly wasn't one of them. So, she didn't appreciate the accusations, especially since so many people in recovery looked up to her husband.

Robin Williams had to have an aortic valve replacement in 2009

There was once a time when heart surgery was an incredibly dangerous procedure that people weren't likely to survive. Thanks to all the developments in medicine, though, the chances of survival are now higher than ever. So, when Robin Williams needed an aortic valve replacement in 2009, there weren't significant concerns he wouldn't make it out the other side.

Thankfully, the procedure was a success, and the actor went on to talk about it in 2013. He told 'CBS This Morning' that "the cow valve is still working," with little likelihood that it would end his life anytime soon. None of the details about Robin Williams' passing indicated a problem with his heart, so that was indeed the case.

Robin Williams viewed the surgery as "a giant reboot" that helped him to appreciate life more

Finding out that you need to have heart surgery can be quite overwhelming. Even for someone who loved to crack jokes as Robin Williams did, this sort of procedure was no laughing matter. He understood the importance of it and considered it "a big second chance" that would allow him to "appreciate" his life more than he did already.

He referred to his aortic valve replacement as "a giant reboot" and confessed to being grateful every day that he was alive. Unfortunately, in the years between the surgery and his passing, Robin’s feelings about this changed. This was understandably influenced by his Lewy body dementia, which significantly affected his outlook and quality of life towards the end.

The actor's return to television was reportedly mostly to do with money

Throughout his career, Robin Williams had success on both the big screen and the small screen. It was on the latter that he first made a name for himself, thanks to 'Mork and Mindy.' Once that took off, he transitioned more to making movies, which is where he mostly remained until the later years of his life.

One of his final roles was in the sitcom 'The Crazy Ones' alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar. Unfortunately, a big motivator in Robin taking on the job was money. He'd had to sell his Napa ranch because of financial issues, so any work Robin did needed to pay well. Doing 'The Crazy Ones' was apparently his best option.

Robin Williams appeared in several critically-panned films that hurt his reputation

Once someone's amassed enough fame, their reputation tends to precede them and ensures they always find their work. Thanks to movies like the dramedy 'Mrs. Doubtfire' and the animated film 'Aladdin,' Robin Williams had no trouble scoring new film roles. Unfortunately, things started to fall apart when the movies that he landed weren't that well received.

The more of these films that he starred in, the more they hurt his reputation. That's how Robin ended up having to go back to television to pay the bills. Money ended up having a significant influence on Robin, pushing him to appear in stuff he didn't particularly care for. That allegedly included a 'Mrs. Doubtfire' sequel that got axed.

The Crazy Ones didn't give Robin Williams the career resurgence he might have wanted

Going back to television was a big change of pace for Robin Williams, but it wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Starring in 'The Crazy Ones' could have revitalized his career and ensured Robin bounced back from his reported money worries. Unfortunately, despite launching with a decent viewership, the show simply wasn't what he needed it to be.

In the space of a month, the audience dropped from 15.5 million people for the first episode to almost half that amount. Evidently, the appeal of Robin Williams and Sarah Michelle Gellar wasn't enough to keep viewers invested. With reviews also seeming lukewarm at best, 'The Crazy Ones' ended up being a regrettable disaster for the actor.

Most of the money lost before Robbie Williams' passing was down to his divorces

It can be hard to imagine celebrities being hard up for cash with the lifestyles they lead. However, plenty of big names have faced bankruptcy, with bad financial decisions and divorces just some of the reasons for this. It was the latter that was apparently responsible for Robin Williams' money troubles, having parted company with two wives over the years.

During his Parade interview, he admitted that "Divorce is expensive" and explained that this is where a lot of his money had disappeared to. Robin referred to the process of legally separating as "ripping your heart out through your wallet," something he was determined not to do three times in a row. Thankfully, Robin’s third marriage lasted until the end.

Infidelity was apparently an issue in Robin Williams' first marriage

One way to avoid losing money through a divorce is to keep the marriage together. However, relationships break down for all sorts of reasons, with infidelity a common cause. Apparently, "around 15-20 percent of marriages have infidelity," with Robin Williams' first union being one of them. It seems the actor wasn't always faithful to his wife, Valerie Velardi.

It seems that the addictions that plagued Robin Williams' tragic life were once again to blame here. However, it wasn't necessarily his drinking or substance abuse that was the main issue, but rather his addiction "to women." It was allegedly through infidelity that Robin’s relationship with his second wife, Marsha Garces, began. She was originally his child's nanny.

Howard Stern feels guilty regarding how he discussed Robin Williams' infidelity during an interview

Whenever a celebrity's infidelity is exposed, it typically becomes a major talking point. With Robin Williams being so famous, it was inevitable that his extramarital activities would generate a lot of attention. Howard Stern is someone who used that to his advantage back in the day, something that he continues to regret all these years after Robin Williams' passing.

Despite being a fan of the actor, he made a big deal about Robin's affair with Marsha during an interview on his radio show in the '90s. Stern wanted to generate shock and publicity for his program to boost his own profile. However, it came at the cost of feeling guilty about treating one of his icons so poorly.

Michelle Tish Carter accused Robin Williams of giving her an illness and wanted to sue

Marsha Garces wasn't the only woman that Robin Williams was allegedly unfaithful with during his marriage to Valerie Velardi. He was also reportedly intimate with Michelle Tish Carter, who apparently filed a lawsuit against Robin in the same year he separated from his wife. According to the lawsuit, they'd been seeing one another for two years.

During their relationship, Michelle reportedly contracted an illness from the actor because she claims that he wasn't honest about his status. According to him, though, she was supposedly just after money and a car. Although Michelle allegedly wished to sue Robin for millions, they apparently settled the case outside of court before the trial had even started.

Valerie Velardi knew that women wanted Robin Williams and she struggled to handle it

It's common for several celebrities to attract a ton of adoration from the public. Before Robin Williams' passing, he received a lot of that attention, particularly during his earlier marriages. Given the actor's addiction to women, that understandably didn't make things any easier for him. Valerie Velardi asserts that this put a strain on their relationship.

She told People magazine that a lot of "attractive women" threw themselves at Robin. Although she did claim that he'd have had to be "a saint to resist," there was only so much she could take. Once the two of them became parents, Valerie needed her husband to be loyal, which Robin allegedly wasn't. So, inevitably, things fell apart.

Robin Williams and Marsha Garces got married, but it didn't last forever

Robin Williams isn't the only man to fall for his child's nanny. He's not even the only celebrity to do it. That didn't mean Valerie Velardi was about to let her husband off when she found out about him and Marsha Garces allegedly having a relationship. So, in 1988, the pair got divorced, leaving Robin free to be with Marsha.

Evidently, Garces wasn't someone that the actor considered to be just a fling because the pair tied the knot in 1989. They even had two kids of their own - Cody and Zelda - during their marriage. Unfortunately, this union wasn't destined to last either. They split up in 2008, several years before Robin tied the knot with Susan Schneider Williams.

Before Robin Williams' passing, he cared a lot for his children

Despite being a successful and beloved actor, Robin Williams' life faced a ton of tragedy. His addictions, divorces, financial woes, and ill health could have torn him apart. Thankfully, he often had people by his side to help him pick up the pieces. This included his children, whom Robin reportedly focused a lot on during his final years.

He told Pat Harvey in 2013 that he was "proud" of all his kids and listed off their various achievements from over the years. Robin praised Zelda for her talent as an actress, writer, and producer, and talked about Zak's work "on social network sites." Despite the many pitfalls in Robin Williams' tragic life, his kids were a great blessing.

Robin Williams couldn't remember his lines while filming his final movie

Perhaps one of the most heartbreaking parts of Robin Williams' tragic life is how things fell apart towards the end. His Lewy body dementia affected him for a while before he took his life, and it grew worse with time. Although the general public wasn't aware of this until details about Robin Williams' passing emerged, others around him were.

That included some of the people he worked with on the fantasy-comedy movie 'Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb.' Cheri Minns, his makeup artist, revealed that Robin frequently had trouble memorizing his lines. She told 'Robin' that he'd be "sobbing in my arms at the end of every day" because of how much he struggled.

Cheri Minns suggested Robin Williams return to stand-up comedy, which made him cry

Cheri Minns could see that something wasn't right with the actor. However, Robin Williams' family were the only ones who knew the extent of his troubles. So, she had no idea that he was gradually losing his ability to do very much at all because of his dementia. Cheri probably wouldn't have said what she did if she'd known.

It seems the makeup artist thought that a good way to cheer Robin up would be to suggest he start doing stand-up comedy again. Cheri apparently figured he needed a confidence booster, and this seemed like a good way to get it. However, all this did was make Robin cry as he said, “I don't know how anymore.”

The actor's memory reportedly declined quite quickly before Robin Williams' passing

With something like dementia, you never really know how much time you might have left. Unfortunately, with Robin Williams his decline was allegedly quite rapid. The man that the world knew and loved apparently faded fast, with Susan Schneider Williams later admitting his struggle to remember lines came on pretty fast. It was heartbreaking to watch unfold.

These struggles before Robin Williams' passing were quite a contrast to several years earlier when he'd been cast in 'Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo' on Broadway. He was with the production for five months and had hundreds of lines during every show. Despite that, though, Robin apparently never made a mistake when he was on that stage.

He posted a dedication to his daughter on social media days before he passed

Social media has become a worldwide obsession, and not just with the general population. Many celebrities use it all the time, with Robin Williams apparently being a fan of these sites when he was alive. He often used the platforms to showcase his life behind the scenes, including showering the people he cared about with plenty of love.

Robin’s final post was the perfect example of that. Posted 12 days before Robin Williams' passing, it was a dedication to his daughter, Zelda, to celebrate her birthday. Robin wrote that she is "always my baby girl." Zelda has returned the favor plenty of times after losing her dad, sharing just how much she loves and misses him.

Robin Williams may have hinted at his depression back in 2007

Easily one of the most shocking details about Robin Williams' passing for many of his fans was the truth of his depression. Many likely assumed that he couldn't have been depressed because he was always telling jokes. However, the sad reality is that plenty of comedians struggle with their mental health because it can offer escapism or something similar.

While the truth about Robin Williams' life with depression might have surprised some fans, it's possible the actor once hinted about his problems. In 2007, Robin told CNN that he wasn't "always fun to be around" and said how he "can't always be on." Robin suggested that once the cameras were off, he could fall into a dark place.

Eric Idle allegedly noticed Robin Williams "going downhill" towards the end of his life

Many of the details about Robin Williams' passing surprised the public because they simply didn't know him the way they thought they did. It was only those who had that special insight into his life, such as Eric Idle, who underwood more of what was going on. Apparently, Idle had seen that Robin was "going downhill" toward the end.

Idle told Entertainment Weekly that he'd wanted Williams at the final Monty Python reunion in 2013. Unfortunately, the actor dropped out of appearing, telling Eric, "I love you very much." He didn't realize at the time that Robin was potentially trying to say goodbye for the last time. It seems Robin might have known he wasn't long for the world. 

Susan Schneider Williams intends to keep her husband's memory alive

It can be hard to believe that so much time has already passed since these details about Robin Williams' passing came out. So many other stars have lost their lives since then, leaving some fearing that Robin is now just a forgotten fragment of the past. That's not the case, though, especially with Susan Schneider Williams keeping his memory alive.

She's determined not to let someone as iconic and beloved as Robin Williams fade from memory. Susan's apparently made it her mission to keep reminding people of everything he achieved while he was still alive. Moreover, she intends to learn everything she can about Lewy body dementia and ensure the world is better educated about the horrific illness.

Koko the gorilla was reportedly upset when she learned of Robin Williams' passing

When someone as beloved as Robin Williams passes, it shakes a lot of people to the core. It even affects some animals, apparently. It appears that Koko the gorilla was just as sad about the actor taking his life as many of his fans. The pair met in 2001 when Robin visited Koko at The Gorilla Foundation in Northern California.

Allegedly, Koko recognized Williams because her caregivers had shown her one of his movies. During their time together, she apparently kept signing for him to tickle her and the duo enjoyed plenty of laughter together. It's perhaps no wonder she reportedly fell into sadness when she was told about what had happened. Koko sadly passed away herself four years later.

Robin Williams reportedly saw little of his parents as a child because they were too busy

It can be easy to assume that all of these troubles in Robin Williams' tragic life only started once he was an adult. However, it seems that even the actor's childhood had its issues. Thankfully, he wasn't dealing with addiction and the like during his younger years. However, that doesn't mean Robin’s life was a walk in the park.

One of the major problems during Robin's childhood was allegedly his relationship with his parents. The issue was that he apparently didn't see much of them because his mom was a fashion model and his dad an automotive executive. That meant most of his childcare was handled by nannies rather than the people who were supposed to care for him.

Robin Williams tried to use comedy to connect with his mom, but it wasn't easy

Robin Williams' parents might not have had much time for him, but that didn't mean he wasn't willing to try and get their attention. Fortunately for the actor, he had a special talent that could captivate almost anyone - his comedy. Robin hoped that he could use his comedic skills to make his parents laugh and spend more time with him.

With his mother, Robin reportedly used "voices or anything that would get a response." He tried to "find things to make her laugh," but it apparently wasn't easy. Robin told People magazine in 2009 that it used to be a rule in his house that kids should be seen, not heard. Williams didn't want things to be that way, though.

He recalled hearing his dad laugh while watching The Tonight Show with Jonathan Winters

His mom wasn't the only one that Robin Williams tried to get a laugh out of when he was younger. The actor was also keen to build a relationship with his dad, and comedy once again seemed like the best way to get his foot in the door. However, his father was a "business as usual" sort of man.

Thankfully, it seems the man was capable of laughing, as Robin once spotted him chuckling away while watching 'The Tonight Show with Jonathan Winters." The actor realized that if he wanted to be the one to make his father laugh, he had to know all he could about Jonathan Winters. Surely, the answer would be in there somewhere.

After realizing his comedic potential, Robin Williams reportedly moved to California

Initially, Robin Williams' interest in comedy was allegedly only about trying to get some attention from his parents. However, as he grew older and began to hone his craft, Robin reportedly realized that he had a gift worth sharing with the world. So, he apparently began applying his talent to places outside the home, where things soon took off.

To ensure he took advantage of every opportunity for his career, Robin reportedly moved to California. He'd apparently lived there for a short time with his parents before they moved to New York City. Realizing it might be better suited to his talents than the Big Apple, Robin returned and started to become the world fell in love with.

By the end of the '70s, Robin Williams' career was taking off

Exploring his comedy potential was evidently a wise idea, given the successful career that Robin Williams had. By the end of the 1970s, Robin was applying his talent to TV as well as stand-up gigs, thanks to a life-changing role in 'Mork and Mindy. It was through this show's popularity that he was able to break into Hollywood.

By the turn of the decade, Robin also started to get noticed as a movie star. He was applauded for his work in the musical comedy 'Popeye,' with Williams going on to land other movies like the war comedy 'Good Morning Vietnam' and the fantasy adventure film 'Jumanji.' Although he faced struggles with his addiction, Robin’s career was flourishing.

Robin Williams was only cast in Mork and Mindy because the original actor quit

Without 'Mork and Mindy,' Robin Williams might not have had the successful career that he did. At the very least, it might have taken a few more years before he started attracting attention. Who knows what film roles Robin might have missed because of that. Thankfully, the show made him a star, although Williams initially wasn't cast as Mork.

It seems that the actor was only brought in after the original left the role. He apparently impressed producer Garry Marshall after sitting on his head when asked to take a seat. Robin’s humor was right on point for what they wanted, with Robin really making a splash when he appeared as the character in the sitcom ‘Happy Days.’

Pam Dawber alleges that Robin Williams was sometimes inappropriate on Mork and Mindy

From the sound of things, Robin Williams was a riot to be around. However, it appears that he could sometimes get a little overexcited and behave in a way that wasn't always appropriate on set. Improvising and bringing an unexpected flair to his scenes was one thing, but crossing the line with Pam Dawber was another.

In 'Robin,' the actor's co-star admitted that there were a few inappropriate incidents on set. Nowadays, the mention of such things would typically result in that person losing their job and becoming a victim of cancel culture. It was a very different world in the 1980s, though, so the actor wasn't vilified on social media as he would be now.

Pam Dawber "never took offense" to Robin Williams' sometimes outlandish behavior

Just because Robin Williams sometimes got carried away doesn't mean that others were ever upset by his behavior or felt uncomfortable because of it. Pam Dawber didn't discuss Robin's actions to criticize him for crossing the line, but rather just to show what life could be like working with the actor. She's adamant that she "never took offense."

Williams would apparently sometimes flash, bump or grab her on set, which she acknowledges doesn't look good "on paper." However, Pam always felt like "he could get away with it." Perhaps because she never saw any animosity or abuse of power in what he did? Pam enjoyed being in Robin’s presence and embraced his sometimes unconventional behavior. 

Howard Storm has also defended Robin Williams' behavior while filming Mork and Mindy

Some people might think differently of Robin Williams after learning of how he was on the set of 'Mork and Mindy.' It's true that he probably wouldn't have gotten away with it so easily if he'd done it today. However, Pam Dawber isn't the only one who's defended his behavior and said there was nothing overly problematic about his actions.

Howard Storm, who directed the sitcom, has also said that it was "just Robin being Robin." Apparently, whenever Williams got "bored," he did stuff like this to boost the energy on set. Howard has admitted that he'd sometimes stop a scene because the actor did something questionable that wasn't in the script. However, things reportedly never got out of hand.

Robin Williams once wrote a letter to try and get Lisa Jakub back into school

The details about Robin Williams' passing have revealed that the actor wasn't the same man at the end as he was years earlier. However, after learning about some of his behavior when he was younger, people might question whether they ever knew Robin Williams at all. However, it's important to remember that Robin was beloved for a reason.

Everyone makes mistakes, and despite some questionable moments, Robin was the lovable man that people thought him to be. If he weren't, he wouldn't have written a letter to get Lisa Jakub back into school after 'Mrs. Doubtfire.' She was kicked out because she was away for so long filming, so Williams sang her praises in a heartwarming letter.