Originally Posted By: jimbrewer
Originally Posted By: R80RS
His Wikipedia page is reporting "The coroner's office ruled the cause of death as suicide by asphyxiation...". He was pronounced dead at the scene.
I read somewhere that underlying depression is common in comedians and comic actors. What a loss and tragedy all around.
I once had a psychiatrist relative walk into the room many years ago while I was watching Williams carrying on on a talk show "Mork and Mindy" style. Psychiatrist who had no idea who he was, instantly said: "That man is a manic-depressive" (bi-polar now). Such people are at great risk in their depressive phase. Its a shame that such talented people have to be miserable a considerable part of their lives.
I would posit that the most creative and brilliant artists (in any venue, be it acting, music....etc) all "suffer" from some form of mental illness. It is, in effect, a well from which they can (and do) draw and it allows them to become these other people they portray, to write the music that others don't and defines their uniqueness and brilliance that they are identified by. But it of course is a double-edged sword and this blessing is also a curse that leads to cases of extreme unrest, instability and "episodes" where they are completely off their rocker.
Genius is seldom sane.
