Zachary Pym Williams was credited with helping father Robin quit drugs and get clean for the first time, but at the same time the famous son shied away from the bright lights of Hollywood.
Zak was one of three children of Robin Williams, who was found dead on Monday of an apparent suicide. In the wake of the tragedy there has been considerable interest in Williams’ family — on Tuesday one of the most popular searches on both Google and Yahoo was Zachary Pym Williams — but it appears considerably less is known about his oldest son.
Zachary Pym Williams was born April 11, 1983, to Robin’s first wife, Valerie Velardi. The couple divorced five years later.
Robin Williams would go on to have two other children with second wife Marsha Garces — Zelda Rae Williams and Cody Alan Williams — but always seemed to have a special connection with his oldest son.
Though Zachary Pym Williams did not follow his siblings into the Hollywood spotlight (Zelda also entered show business), he was still known to show up at events from time to time. Zac accompanied his father to the premiere of Death to Smoochy in 2001,
It seems unlikely that Zachary Pym Williams will release a statement on his father’s death , but Robin’s third wife Susan Schneider released one on behalf of the entire family .
“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.”
But while Zachary Pym Williams has avoided the spotlight, sources say Robin’s oldest child may have actually had the biggest influence on his life . Robin Williams one said it was the birth of his son that led him to give up drugs for the first time, after a period in which he was spiraling downward into a cocaine addiction.
