Author Topic: Robin Williams (Read 3329 times)

Zipperhead · « **on:** 12 August, 2014, 12:19:00 am »

Just seen on the Beeb, Robin Williams found dead.

FatBloke · « **Reply #1 on:** 12 August, 2014, 12:21:47 am »

Me too! Suspected suicide.

Basil · « **Reply #2 on:** 12 August, 2014, 12:26:02 am »

Quote from: Zipperhead on 12 August, 2014, 12:19:00 am

, Robin Williams found dead.

Did he? Where did he find it?

citoyen · « **Reply #3 on:** 12 August, 2014, 12:46:18 am »

Come in, laser breath!

And I was so looking forward to Mrs Doubtfire 2.

Deano · « **Reply #4 on:** 12 August, 2014, 12:48:49 am »

I never felt I saw the best of him - though I loved the Fisher King, where he had a character which let him show both manic energy and deep sadness.

Eccentrica Gallumbits · « **Reply #5 on:** 12 August, 2014, 07:41:02 am »

Nanu nanu

Redlight · « **Reply #6 on:** 12 August, 2014, 07:56:01 am »

Very sad. He was a also keen cyclist and mate of Lance Armstrong (certainly before the latter's fall from grace), Apparently in the Armstrong days he was a regular passenger on the US Postal Team bus and would entertain them with jokes about their boss, "the Uniballer".

rabbit · « **Reply #7 on:** 12 August, 2014, 07:59:56 am »

Such sad sad news. I have always thought him fantastic, from his brilliant comedy as both stand-up and on film (Mrs Doubtfire is now a classic in my eyes) through to his more serious roles, not least in Good Will Hunting.

He will be missed

rogerzilla · « **Reply #8 on:** 12 August, 2014, 08:26:18 am »

Dead Poets Society is my favourite film. He doesn't have to say much in the famous final scene but he does enough.

http://youtu.be/u_N6ezGK8XE

Ethan Hawke has grown up a bit...

Hot Flatus · « **Reply #9 on:** 12 August, 2014, 08:31:25 am »

My thoughts go out to Gary Barlow and the rest of the band

tiermat · « **Reply #10 on:** 12 August, 2014, 08:50:43 am »

Quote from: Flatus the Almighty on 12 August, 2014, 08:31:25 am

My thoughts go out to Gary Barlow and the rest of the band

LEE · « **Reply #11 on:** 12 August, 2014, 08:57:14 am »

Sad news, especially when it's caused by depression, even more especially when it's someone who seems to have everything.

I think I'm just old enough, at 52, to have seen why Williams was so highly regarded as a comedian. He really was stand-out different.

Personally I preferred him as a straight actor than manic comedian.

I can't help wondering whether Milton Jones's "zany", "whacky" persona was influenced by Williams. If so then what a dreadful legacy to leave behind.

marcusjb · « **Reply #12 on:** 12 August, 2014, 09:48:40 am »

Very sad indeed, especially the circumstances of his death.

He was unique and, whilst not a die-hard fan, I was pleased to have seen him make a rare UK appearance around 5 years ago.

And I agree with Lee, he was a great straight actor when he could reign in his manic tendencies.

ijsbrand · « **Reply #13 on:** 12 August, 2014, 10:21:52 am »

Quote from: Flatus the Almighty on 12 August, 2014, 08:31:25 am

My thoughts go out to Gary Barlow and the rest of the band

Loving angels instead.

Charlotte · « **Reply #14 on:** 12 August, 2014, 10:44:32 am »

It's so sad that some of our greatest comedians were just so fucked up.

It might not have been his finest moment, but I loved his performance in Good Morning Vietnam. He had a lot left in him

LEE · « **Reply #15 on:** 12 August, 2014, 10:55:33 am »

Quote from: Charlotte on 12 August, 2014, 10:44:32 am

It's so sad that some of our greatest comedians were just so fucked up.

There's a chicken-egg component to that though.

I wonder, if it were possible to retrospectively check every great artist, in every genre, how many would have suffered from bi-polar disorder.
The highs, I imagine, can be very high. Nobody seemed to demonstrate this better than Williams himself. You can almost imagine the come-down.

Stephen Fry, for example, seems to have it all going on, and yet he is suicidally bi-polar.

His program about the condition was fantastic, eye-opening for people, like me, who really didn't grasp what "manic depression" really was or meant.

T42 · « **Reply #16 on:** 12 August, 2014, 10:59:54 am »

Sad. I enjoyed a lot of his stuff even though, being Hollywood, the moralistic component was laid on with a trowel. I should think that he was a wonderful chap to know. Depression is vile.

rafletcher · « **Reply #17 on:** 12 August, 2014, 12:08:43 pm »

Quote from: LEE on 12 August, 2014, 10:55:33 am

Quote from: Charlotte on 12 August, 2014, 10:44:32 am
It's so sad that some of our greatest comedians were just so fucked up.

There's a chicken-egg component to that though.

I wonder, if it were possible to retrospectively check every great artist, in every genre, how many would have suffered from bi-polar disorder.
The highs, I imagine, can be very high. Nobody seemed to demonstrate this better than Williams himself. You can almost imagine the come-down.

Stephen Fry, for example, seems to have it all going on, and yet he is suicidally bi-polar.

His program about the condition was fantastic, eye-opening for people, like me, who really didn't grasp what "manic depression" really was or meant.

He (Williams) was almost certainly bipolar (Richard Prior too I suspect). And un-medicated too (or non-compliant)- as medication dulls the highs as well as reducing the lows. So it stifles the creativity, but reduces the suicide risk. It (bipolar) seems to go hand in hand with creative arts of various stripes. Or vice versa. An educational read is Kay Redfield Jamison's "An Unquiet Mind". My now wife suggested I read it early on in our relationship. Scary stuff. I still married her (she's bipolar - but compliant with her meds).

rabbit · « **Reply #18 on:** 12 August, 2014, 12:55:33 pm »

Quote from: rafletcher on 12 August, 2014, 12:08:43 pm

Quote from: LEE on 12 August, 2014, 10:55:33 am
Quote from: Charlotte on 12 August, 2014, 10:44:32 am
It's so sad that some of our greatest comedians were just so fucked up.

There's a chicken-egg component to that though.

I wonder, if it were possible to retrospectively check every great artist, in every genre, how many would have suffered from bi-polar disorder.
The highs, I imagine, can be very high. Nobody seemed to demonstrate this better than Williams himself. You can almost imagine the come-down.

Stephen Fry, for example, seems to have it all going on, and yet he is suicidally bi-polar.

His program about the condition was fantastic, eye-opening for people, like me, who really didn't grasp what "manic depression" really was or meant.

He (Williams) was almost certainly bipolar (Richard Prior too I suspect). And un-medicated too (or non-compliant)- as medication dulls the highs as well as reducing the lows. So it stifles the creativity, but reduces the suicide risk. It (bipolar) seems to go hand in hand with creative arts of various stripes. Or vice versa. An educational read is Kay Redfield Jamison's "An Unquiet Mind". My now wife suggested I read it early on in our relationship. Scary stuff. I still married her (she's bipolar - but compliant with her meds).

Not just creative arts, but in my experience, high achievement in any field can be linked with similar traits

Bledlow · « **Reply #19 on:** 12 August, 2014, 02:07:46 pm »

Biff · « **Reply #20 on:** 12 August, 2014, 02:33:16 pm »

Is abc owned by Murdoch? Fucking sick. Now pulled.

Mr Larrington · « **Reply #21 on:** 12 August, 2014, 03:47:33 pm »

It could have been worse. They could have done that for Rod Hull.

Von Broad · « **Reply #22 on:** 12 August, 2014, 07:05:35 pm »

His comedy was never really my bag, but I really liked 'One Hour Photo'.
And, although not a major part for Williams, Christopher Nolan's remake of 'Insomnia' was terrific too.
Very sad to read that this morning.
RIP

Jurek · « **Reply #23 on:** 12 August, 2014, 07:21:44 pm »

Quote from: Mr Larrington on 12 August, 2014, 03:47:33 pm

It could have been worse. They could have done that for Rod Hull.

Class.

fuzzy · « **Reply #24 on:** 12 August, 2014, 08:40:05 pm »

Williams was my favourite comedian. His acting was class as well.

I will miss his presence.

Author Topic: Robin Williams (Read 3329 times)

fuzzy