Robin Williams was beloved, wealthy, and acclaimed, always laughing and making others laugh. And yet he took his own life. I don’t mean to moralize or philosophize over such a sad ending with reflections about what we think to be important might not be important at all, but suicides raise the big questions about life. The figure in art and literature of the crying clown is especially poignant.
From Fire Scanner Audio Reveals Robin Williams’ Death Was ‘Apparent Suicide Attempt By Hanging’ « CBS Las Vegas:
He was the funniest guy in the room, something that made it all the harder for friends and fans to accept that beneath that reservoir of frenetic energy and seemingly endless good humor resided demons so dark they could push Robin Williams to suicide.
It was no secret that the Oscar-winning actor had suffered for years from periodic bouts of substance abuse and depression — he made reference to it himself in his comedy routines. But word that he had killed himself Monday at his San Francisco Bay Area home left both friends in the Hollywood community and neighbors in the quiet neighborhood of Tiburon that he called home equally stunned and grief-stricken. . . .
Sheriff’s officials said a preliminary investigation determined the cause of death was suicide due to asphyxia.Williams was 63.
According to Marin County Fire scanner audio obtained by CBS News, a dispatcher said it was an “apparent suicide attempt by hanging.”
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