Comedian And Star Actor Robin Williams Dead At 63

Robin Williams, the acclaimed stand up comedian and actor, is dead at 63, according to the Sheriff in Marin County, California today.

The full statement from Marin County Sheriff is below, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter:

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.

Speaking to THR, Robin William’s publicist Mara Buxbaum said, “Robin Williams passed away this morning. 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.”

Other reactions came from his wife, Susan Schneider, who stated, “This morning, I lost my husband and my best friend, while the world lost one of its most beloved artists and beautiful human beings. I am utterly heartbroken. On behalf of Robin’s family, we are asking for privacy during our time of profound grief. As he is remembered, it is our hope the focus will not be on Robin’s death, but on the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions.”

Robin Williams had checked himself into rehab for sobriety, according to a story from The Huffington Post. Williams had struggled with substance abuse since the 1980s, most notably cocaine which was a subject of his stand up routines including his 1986 album, A Night at the Met. He previously had been in rehab in 2006 for alcoholism. In an interview with Diane Sawyer of ABC in 2006 he stated, “It’s [addiction] — not caused by anything, it’s just there,” he said in a 2006 interview. “It waits. It lays in wait for the time when you think, ‘It’s fine now, I’m OK.’ Then, the next thing you know, it’s not OK. Then you realize, ‘Where am I? I didn’t realize I was in Cleveland.'”

Williams’ career was studded with comedic gems as well as provoking performances. Dead Poets Society(1986), The Fisher King (1991),Good Will Hunting and Insomnia showed his ability to play characters with narrative depth with his character Sean Maguire in Good Will Hunting, earning him one of his many Oscar nominations.

Night at the Museum 3: Secret of the Tomb will be his last film project which is still in production. No word has been released yet on how his death will affect the final production of the film.

A press conference is scheduled to be held on August 12 at 11 am PST. The press conference will be located in the Marin County Sheriff’s Office at 1600 Los Gamos Drive Suite #200 in San Rafael, CA 94903

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