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Tag: Robin Williams

  • Robin Williams Had Called His Friend To Say Goodbye

    Shortly before taking his own life, Robin Williams called his longtime friend Billy Connolly to say goodbye.

    Like Connolly, Williams was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, but only told his close friends and family members. Williams leaned on Connolly for advice after finding out his diagnosis, and Connolly tried to give him tips to live with the disease.

    “He was diagnosed after me and he was on the phone a lot asking me about it,” Connolly told The Mirror. Connolly explained that most of the time he didn’t have any advice to give, but he had tried to help him learn to live with the lack of facial expressions that come with the disease. Shortly before Robin died, Billy said he had called to thank him for his help.

    “He phoned me a week later, just days before it happened, and he said ‘it’s brilliant it’s working,’” Billy said. “During the call he kept telling me he loved me. I said ‘I know’. But he kept repeating it saying ‘do you really know I love you’. I was thinking what the f*** is he on about.? After his death I thought ‘oh my God he was saying goodbye’.”

    Robin and Billy first met on a Canadian talk show 30 years ago. Since then, they had remained very close friends, and Billy said he was heartbroken to find out about his friend’s death.

    “It broke my heart when he died. I was in Malta with my family and my children were all crying. They all loved him,” Connolly said. “He is a stunning guy… You notice I don’t speak about him in the past tense? t’s still not sunk in, I keep expecting him to walk in.”

  • Billy Crystal: Robin Williams Memories on ‘The View’

    Billy Crystal has long been close friends with Whoopi Goldberg, so when he visited the ladies of The View this past week to promote his new book, Still Foolin’ ‘em: Where I’ve Been, Where I’m Going, and Where the Hell Are My Keys, it was only natural that talk would turn to their mutual dear friend Robin Williams. Whoopi Goldberg praised Billy Crystal for the touching tribute he paid to Williams at the Emmy Awards last month.

    “It was one of the hardest, if not the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do,” he told Whoopi. “He was such a great, dear friend of ours, such a joyous spirit, so when it all happened … that’s why I tweeted that, ‘No words,’ ’cause I didn’t have any. I just had pain. So, that night [at the Emmys] was the first night I would talk and say something about our buddy. It was hard to craft it and make it humorous and personal … and sort of being a two-minute eulogy in front of the country.”

    Crystal admitted, however, that the tribute helped a tiny bit with the pain.

    “He was such an amazing person. He was the most brilliant performer you could ever imagine. His physical presence on a stage was amazing. Many times, we’d be together on stage, the three of us, and Whoopi and I were like his parents,” he joked. “It just became so sort of magical to work with him and it was just the greatest.”

    Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, and Robin Williams were crusaders together. They raised more than $70 million for the homeless in America through Comic Relief, but “for us, it was a chance to get to know each other,” Crystal said.

    “We started in 1986 and we became the closest of friends,” he added. “Robin and I just bonded in the quiet moments.”

    He talked about the great times. Some of the most memorable were when he, along with Robin WIliams and Whoopi Goldberg, would deliver generous checks–often for hundreds of thousands of dollars–to homeless shelters.

    “Robin and I as we got older, it became this amazing bond,” Billy Crystal said. “Very fiercely protective of each other, in great ways. The phone calls–we talked about doing an album, like let’s take these phone calls, we were like two jazz musicians, late at night I’d get these calls and we’d go for hours and we never spoke as ourselves.”

    “When it was announced I was going to Broadway, I had 50 phone messages from some person named Gary, who wanted to be my backstage dresser [which was Williams],” Crystal shared.

    Billy Crystal told both the ladies of The View and their audience how very protective they both were of their dear friend Whoopi Goldberg.

    “You would host the Oscars,” Crystal said to Goldberg. “Robin lives in San Francisco and I’d be in LA. She’d do her opening, phone would ring, ‘How do you think she’s doing boss?’ I’d say, ‘Thought it was good, really strong opening, great.’ Five minutes later, you’d done your first intro, ‘What do you think, i think it was really great.’ The whole show would be the two of us on the phone.”

    Goldberg got noticeably choked up when hearing all about the love that Williams and Crystal shared for her.

    “The two of them,” Goldberg said of her time on Comic Relief. “I would just sit [and watch], you didn’t want to go do anything, but watch these fools.”

    All that’s left for those who loved Robin WIlliams now is to love and honor his memory–and revel in the laughter of a man who couldn’t laugh through those final tears. Billy Crystal is honoring him in the best way he knows how–by sharing the laughter and the tales. Drawing Whoopi Goldberg in on his trip down memory lane made for some poignant conversation on The View this past week.

    Did you happen to catch their chat?

  • Robin Williams’s Daughter Zelda Returns to Twitter After Harassment

    Zelda Williams, the daughter of the late great Robin Williams, returned to Twitter after leaving in mid-August, shortly after her father’s death. At the time, she said she didn’t know how long she would be gone, but indicated that it could be forever and deactivated her account.

    Following her father’s death, some Twitter users trolled Zelda by posting very graphic photoshopped pictures of Robin Williams. Williams committed suicide on August 11 by hanging himself with a belt, and some of the pictures depicted him with bruises around his neck. Understandably, this proved to be too much for Zelda to handle, which led her to deactivate her account.

    Zelda posted the following message on August 13:

    Much of Twitterverse was happy to see that Robin Williams’s daughter was back in action on Monday. Zelda made the following tweet, which she linked to an inspirational quote posted to her Tumblr account:

    Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life; define yourself.


    The quote was attributed to Harvey Fierstein. Fierstein appeared in Mrs. Doubtfire as the makeup artist brother to Robin Williams’s character.

    As difficult as it must have been for Zelda to go back to Twitter, knowing full well that some of the same Internet bullies that get their kicks from tormenting someone in grief are still out there, many people were happy to see the young lady back and offered words of support:

    In other Robin Williams news, PBS plans to feature the late comedian in an hour-long special of Pioneers of Television next week on Tuesday, September 9. According to a description of the segment, “Chicago native Robin Williams is undoubtedly one of America’s most beloved comedic actors.”

    Check out the video below from when Williams was featured on Pioneers of Television earlier this year:

  • Robin Williams’ Daughter Returns To Social Media

    After quitting the sites shortly after her father Robin Williams’ death, Zelda Williams has returned to social media.

    On Monday, September 1, Zelda simply tweeted “Thank You” with a link to a quote by Harvey Fierstein.

    “Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life; define yourself,” the quote read.

    On August 13, Zelda informed her followers that she would be deleting her accounts after she encountered cyber bullying over her father’s death.

    “I will be leaving this account for a [bit] but while I heal and decide if I’ll be deleting it or not. In this difficult time, please try to be respectful of the accounts of myself, my family and my friends,” Zelda wrote on Instagram.

    “Mining our accounts for photos of dad, or judging me on the number of them is cruel and unnecessary,” she added. “There are a couple throughout, but the real private moments I shared with him were precious, quiet, and believe it or not, not full of photos or ‘selfies.’”

    The decision to delete her accounts came after several people posted crude comments of her page, and started circulating fake photos of her father’s body at the Coroner’s office. She tried to fight back to the bullies, but later just decided to delete her accounts all together.

    “I’m sorry. I should’ve risen above. Deleting this from my devices for a good long time, maybe forever. Time will tell. Goodbye,” she tweeted at the time.

  • Robin Williams’ Daughter Makes Twitter Comeback

    Robin Williams’ suicide shocked everyone who knew him and everyone who adored his films and comedy; however, as with anything, the internet had some cruel things to say about it in the aftermath to his daughter Zelda, and she took a leave of absence from social media. Now, she’s back with a message to those who couldn’t help but be cruel.

    The actress posted a Harvey Fierstein quote on Twitter on Monday which read, “Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life; define yourself.”

    Williams’ last post on Twitter was on August 12, the day after her father’s death, and contained an apology. The actress said she should have “risen above” the internet commenters.

    Williams has received support from both friends and fans of her father’s, some of whom rallied to have those who left cruel comments banned from the site.

    PBS plans to air a special later this month about the beloved actor, which will feature interviews with some of his co-stars and friends as well as footage from his career that has never been aired before. His Mork & Mindy co-star Pam Dawber will be featured on the show.

  • Pam Dawber To Speak About Robin Williams On Special

    Pam Dawber, who famously played Mindy opposite Robin Williams’ “Mork”, will be featured on a PBS tribute to the late actor later this month.

    The actress filmed an interview for the special in which she talks about her friendship and working relationship with Williams and what they talked about before he died. The television program will also feature talks with several actors who worked with the comedian and will give fans access to his last interview, as well as “never-before-seen” moments from his career.

    PBS executive producer Steve Boettcher says they wanted to give viewers a glimpse at the man they came to know; the actor’s suicide came as a shock to everyone, and many were confused as to why he would take his own life.

    “We wanted to share with PBS viewers the Robin that we saw – the very unassuming, caring, genuine and gentle man who took his acting seriously, but was able to make others laugh. We hope this special provides more insight to this incredible man, in his own words,” Boettcher said.

    Williams touched many lives before his death on August 11, from fellow actors to people he barely knew. American Horror Story actress Kathy Bates recalled recently the time that Williams consoled her at an awards show after he read another actress’s name onstage, saying she would never forget his kindness.

    “He came to me on the commercial break and said, ‘I really wish I could have read your name. Are you okay? I know what it’s like to lose,’” she said.

  • Here’s What’s About To Hit Netflix (Robin Williams Classics Included)

    Here’s What’s About To Hit Netflix (Robin Williams Classics Included)

    As you know, content comes and goes on Netflix. Each week, we’re bringing you a list of titles that you’ll be able to stream in the U.S. in the coming days. As always, dates are subject to change.

    If the last couple weeks’ lists were a little on the short side, this week’s certainly makes up for them. There’s a lot to look for on Netflix in the coming days, including a new original stand-up comedy show, the entire Californication series, last year’s season of The League, and a couple of Robin Williams classics to name a few. Take a look.

    Available on 08/29:

    Jim Jefferies: Bare – A Netflix Original Comedy

    Nothing is sacred in this show from Australian comic Jim Jefferies, whether it’s the mother of his child, auditioning disabled actors, or gun control.

    Once Upon a Time: Season 3

    Jennifer Morrison, Ginnifer Goodwin and Robert Carlyle star in this fantastical series that follows the travails of a young woman who is drawn to a small Maine town and discovers that it’s filled with the mystical elements of the fairy tale world.

    Available on 08/31:

    Space Warriors (2013)

    Dermot Mulroney, Mira Sorvino, Josh Lucas, Booboo Stewart, Danny Glover, Thomas Horn

    Six brilliant teenagers compete against each other at a demanding summer space camp held by the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. But when a crisis arises on the International Space Station, they join forces to save the astronauts on board.

    Available on 09/01:

    A Simple Plan (1998)

    Bill Paxton, Bridget Fonda, Billy Bob Thornton, Brent Briscoe, Jack Walsh, Chelcie Ross
    When brothers Hank and Jacob discover a dead body and millions of dollars in cash in a downed plane, they plot to hide the loot and split it later. It’s a simple plan — until things go murderously awry amid suspicion and mistrust.

    Californication: Seasons 1-7

    Best-selling novelist Hank Moody battles writer’s block and a weakness for drugs, booze and one-night stands while he struggles to make things work with his on-and-off girlfriend and their teenage daughter.

    Chasing UFOs: Season 1

    Investigators set out to uncover the truth about UFOs, and Season 1 finds them unveiling a possible alien farm, a reported UFO landing pad and more.

    Cool Runnings (1993)

    John Candy, Leon, Doug E. Doug, Rawle D. Lewis, Malik Yoba, Raymond J. Barry, Peter Outerbridge

    A fictionalized account of the unlikely story of Jamaica’s first bobsled team, Cool Runnings follows their journey to the 1988 Olympics. When Derice Bannock’s (Leon) chances of qualifying for Jamaica’s track team are dashed, he looks for another sport. Derice persuades U.S. bobsledding gold medalist Irv Blitzer (John Candy), who now lives in Jamaica, to coach him and his friends as they attempt to become a world-class bobsled team.

    Crocodile Dundee (1986)

    Paul Hogan, Linda Kozlowski, John Meillon, David Gulpilil, Ritchie Singer, Terry Gilliam, Mark Blum
    When a New York reporter (Linda Kozlowski) plucks crocodile hunter Dundee (Paul Hogan) from the Australian Outback for a visit to the Big Apple, it’s a clash of cultures and a recipe for good-natured comedy as naïve Dundee negotiates the concrete jungle. Dundee proves that his instincts are quite useful in the city and adeptly handles everything from wily muggers to high-society snoots without breaking a sweat. Hogan’s script earned an Oscar nod.

    Detention (2011)

    Shanley Caswell, Josh Hutcherson, Dane Cook, Spencer Locke, Aaron David Johnson, Jan Anderson

    In this genre-bending slasher flick, a high schooler gets slapped with detention on the same night as senior prom. But plenty of other kids will also be missing the big event when a past-her-prime prom queen shows up to slay them.

    Doomsday Preppers: Seasons 1-3

    The first season of this documentary series profiles survivalists preparing for economic collapse, food instability and other forms of global chaos

    Flubber (1997)

    Robin Williams, Marcia Gay Harden, Christopher McDonald, Ted Levine, Clancy Brown
    On the verge of losing his girlfriend and his job, a scatterbrained college professor accidentally invents a bouncy material called Flubber. The substance stands to save the day — if the professor can defeat the many rivals who try to sabotage him.

    Girl Rising (2013)

    Anne Hathaway, Cate Blanchett, Selena Gomez, Liam Neeson, Priyanka Chopra, Chloë Grace Moretz, Freida Pinto, Salma Hayek, Meryl Streep, Alicia Keys, Kerry Washington
    Nine filmmakers each profile a young girl from a different part of the world to weave a global tapestry of youth in the 21st century. From a 7-year-old Haitian earthquake survivor to an Afghani child bride, these stories inspire and captivate.

    Girlfight (2000)

    Michelle Rodriguez, Jaime Tirelli, Paul Calderon, Santiago Douglas, Ray Santiago, Víctor Sierra
    First-time director Karyn Kusama’s powerful film tells the story of Diana (Michelle Rodriguez), a Brooklyn high-schooler who gets little support from her dismissive single father and takes her frustrations out on her classmates. But when she wanders into a local boxing gym, she’s instantly drawn to the action. And though it’s a male-dominated world, boxing provides her a newfound discipline and sense of purpose, as well as a positive male role model.

    Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)

    Robin Williams, Forest Whitaker, Tung Thanh Tran, Chintara Sukapatana, Bruno Kirby, Robert Wuhl

    When his manic radio show proves a huge morale-booster, Armed Forces Radio disc jockey Adrian Cronauer gets sent to Vietnam, where his monkeyshines — lampooning any and all sacred cows — tickle the troops but land him in trouble with his superiors.

    Guess Who (2005)

    Bernie Mac, Ashton Kutcher, Zoe Saldana, Judith Scott, Hal Williams, Kellee Stewart

    Ashton Kutcher stars in this remake of the 1967 classic Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? But the tables are turned this time around, as he plays the fiancé of an African American woman who’s met with skepticism and suspicion from her father.

    Hinterland: Season 1

    BBC police detective drama series set in Aberystwyth against the backdrop of mountainous terrain, close-knit villages, and windswept sand dunes of the coastline to the badlands of the hinterland. Starring Richard Harrington as DCI Tom Mathias.

    Hoodwinked (2005)

    Anne Hathaway, Glenn Close, James Belushi, Patrick Warburton, Anthony Anderson, David Ogden Stiers

    In this nod to “Little Red Riding Hood,” investigators uncover a tangled web of events when they’re called to Granny’s cottage to look into a domestic disturbance involving a sardonic wolf, an axe and a crimson-caped girl.

    Jay and Silent Bob’s Super Groovy Cartoon Movie (2013)

    Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith, Eliza Dushku, Tara Strong, Ralph Garman, Neil Gaiman, Ben Gleib
    After hitting the lottery jackpot, Jay and Silent Bob use their newfound cash to become crime-fighting superheroes Bluntman and Chronic.

    Lords of Dogtown (2005)

    Emile Hirsch, Victor Rasuk, John Robinson, Michael Angarano, Nikki Reed, Heath Ledger

    A group of outcasts from California’s Venice Beach change the face of skateboarding forever in this 1970s tale based on a true story, written by “Skateboard Godfather” Stacy Peralta, one of the competitive skaters portrayed in the film. Known as the Z-Boys, the radical riders invent a brazen style of skating and deal with heartache when the sport they live for turns into big business. Heath Ledger, Emile Hirsch and Rebecca De Mornay co-star.

    Mirage Men (2012)

    Fascination and controversy regarding UFO sightings have been with us for centuries, but this absorbing documentary offers a disturbing new thesis: that the U.S. military has been distributing false information about them for decades.

    School of Rock (2003)

    Jack Black, Adam Pascal, Lucas Papaelias, Chris Stack, Sarah Silverman, Mike White, Lucas Babin

    Fired from his band and hard up for cash, guitarist and vocalist Dewey Finn finagles his way into a job as a fourth-grade substitute teacher at a private school, where he secretly begins teaching his students the finer points of rock ‘n’ roll.

    Small Apartments (2012)

    Matt Lucas, Billy Crystal, Juno Temple, James Caan, Peter Stormare, David Koechner
    Franklin Franklin has a dead landlord on the kitchen floor and an investigator (Billy Crystal) questioning him. But none of this fazes Franklin. He waits each day for a letter from his brother (James Marsden) who has the secret that can set him free.

    Swiss Family Robinson (1960)

    John Mills, Dorothy McGuire, James MacArthur, Janet Munro, Sessue Hayakawa, Tommy Kirk
    After being shipwrecked, the Robinson family is marooned on an island inhabited only by an impressive array of wildlife. In true pioneer spirit, they quickly make themselves at home but soon face a danger even greater than nature: dastardly pirates. A rousing adventure suitable for the whole family, this Disney adaptation of the classic Johann Wyss novel stars Dorothy McGuire and John Mills as Mother and Father Robinson.

    The Believers (1987)

    Martin Sheen, Helen Shaver, Harley Cross, Robert Loggia, Elizabeth Wilson, Harris Yulin, Lee Richardson

    Mourning the accidental death of his wife and having just moved to New York with his young son, laconic police psychologist Cal Jamison is reluctantly drawn into a series of grisly, ritualistic murders involving the immolation of two youths.

    The Blue Lagoon (1980)

    Brooke Shields, Christopher Atkins, Leo McKern, William Daniels, Elva Josephson, Glenn Kohan

    Set in the lush environs of a deserted tropical island, this coming-of-age tale follows two shipwrecked children — Emmeline and Richard — who are stranded for years. As the cute kids turn into beautiful teenagers, nature takes its course.

    The Unbelievers (2013)

    Richard Dawkins, Lawrence Krauss, Stephen Hawking, Ricky Gervais, Woody Allen, Cameron Diaz

    Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss — the dynamic duo of science — travel the globe seeking to promote a scientific worldview and the rational questioning of religious belief, with celebrities, professors and ordinary folks supporting their work.

    Unsealed: Alien Files: Season 1

    The debut season investigates Area 51, Vatican cover-ups, Nazi-alien collaboration, presidential encounters, ancient visitations and more.

    Zero Hour: Seasons 1-3

    This documentary-style series dramatizes the moments leading up to some of the most memorable historical events that unfolded in less than an hour.

    Available on 09/02

    The League: Season 5

    Fantasy football tackles reality in this semi-scripted look at a group of longtime friends whose annual hobby gives them an excuse to get together and escape their everyday lives in a blitz of trash-talking, deceit and ruthless extortion.

    Available on 09/5:

    Trailer Park Boys: Season 8

    This wickedly funny mockumentary series follows the booze-fueled misadventures of Julian (John Paul Tremblay), Ricky (Robb Wells) and Bubbles (Mike Smith), longtime pals and petty serial criminals who run scams from their Nova Scotia trailer park — when they aren’t in jail, that is. But kudos to the lads for their persistence, even if their harebrained get-rich schemes involve growing pot right under the nose of ex-cop Jim (John Dunsworth).

    Netflix is also pushing its TV content for subscribers to get caught up on shows for the upcoming fall season.

    See more recently added titles here.

    Image via YouTube

  • Kathy Bates Remembers Robin Williams At Emmys

    The Emmys were all about remembering Robin Williams and almost everyone who stepped on stage to present or receive an award took a minute to recall a fond memory of Williams.

    Kathy Bates was no different and when she went on stage to receive her award, she had planned to dedicate it to Robin Williams. She was too nervous to do it on stage, but was able to share a memory of Williams backstage with US Weekly.

    “I really wanted to say, ‘I won this time. This is for you,’” Bates said, before recalling a run-in with the comedian that had a huge impact on her.

    “When I won my first major award for Misery—a Golden Globe—it was before cell phones, and I was waiting at a pay phone to call my mother afterward. And I didn’t have a quarter,” Bates said backstage, after her surprise win in the Outstanding Supporting Actress for a Miniseries or a Movie category for American Horror Story: Coven. “I turned around and asked if anyone had a quarter to call my mom. Robin stepped up and said, ‘Here’s a quarter.’ I never forgot that kindness.”

    She recalled another incident when she lost to Judi Dench at the Oscars in 1998, an award that Williams presented. “He came to me on the commercial break and said, ‘I really wish I could have read your name. Are you okay? I know what it’s like to lose,’” she shared.

    Several other celebrities shared similar stories about Williams and his amazing kindness and ability to make people laugh.

    Billy Crystal, a longtime friend and colleague of Williams, also honored Williams’s memory at the awards show with a special memorial segment that brought many people to tears.

    Williams passed away earlier this month from suicide. He had suffered from anxiety and depression for years.

  • Sara Bareilles: ‘Smile’ Precedes Billy Crystal’s Robin Williams Tribute

    Sara Bareilles set the tone for a somber few moments at the Emmy Awards on Monday evening. Singing ‘Smile’ as tribute was paid to those in and surrounding the industry who passed away this year, including Paul Walker, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Don Pardo, James Garner, Maya Angelou, Lauren Bacall, and more, Sara Bareilles wasn’t introduced. She simply appeared on stage, simply but elegantly dressed in black, and sang. Nothing touched hearts the way Billy Crystal did when he honored his dear friend Robin Williams at the end of her performance, however.

    The Robin Williams tribute was expected, as it had been advertised throughout the past few days on news programs and talk shows. Once Sara Bareilles set the stage for Billy Crystal, viewers and members of the audience were beyond prepared to shed a few tears. And shed they did.

    Billy Crystal did his best to keep it light–clearly struggling and choking back tears during his first few seconds speaking. Getting himself in check, he then shared stories about Robin Williams that many likely never heard before.

    Some of the more poignant excerpts from the tribute included the following:

    “He made us laugh. Hard. Every time you saw him. On television, movies, night clubs, arenas, hospitals, homeless shelters, for our troops overseas, and even in a dying girl’s living room for her last wish.”

    “The brilliance was astounding. The relentless energy was kind of thrilling. I used to think if I could put a saddle on him and stay on for 8 seconds I was going to do OK.”

    “He was the greatest friend you could ever imagine – supportive, protective, loving. It’s very hard to talk about him in the past because he was so present in all of our lives. For almost 40 years, he was the brightest star in the comedy galaxy.”

    In closing, Billy Crystal said, “But while some of the brightest of our celestial bodies actually are extinct now, their energy long since cooled, but miraculously because they float in the heavens so far away from us now, their beautiful light will continue to shine on us forever and the glow will be so bright it’ll warm your heart, make your eyes glisten and you’ll think to yourselves, Robin Williams, what a concept.”

    At the end of the Emmy Awards Monday night, two things remained abundantly clear. One: Billy Crystal loved his dear friend and paid homage to him using humor. And two: Sara Bareilles played a much bigger role in the evening than anyone expected. Her rendition of ‘Smile’ is no doubt drifting through the minds of viewers today, and they will forever remember her voice leading up to Billy Crystal’s tribute to Robin Williams.

  • Westboro Baptist Says Ebola Happened Because Africa Worshipped “Beast Obama”

    Westboro Baptist Church, the outfit known for its ubiquitous “God Hates Fags” message and picketing of soldiers’ funerals, has made a cottage industry out of offensiveness and scandal. They have united entire towns against them, stirring up such resentment and fury that they have been obliged to rush out of town for fear of being overrun by enraged locals.

    The typical Westboro game plan is simple:

    Step One: Pick a high-profile funeral or other emotionally-charged event as a target

    Step Two: Send an announcement to the local press in that area that your group intends to show up to picket said event

    Step Three: Actually showing up is optional. If you do, only bring a handful of people with signs, stay a half-hour at most for camera and counter-protest exposure, then leave before any real trouble gets started.

    Step Four: Pick another event and repeat.

    Over the years, the now-deceased Fred Phelps and his minions have targeted celebrities, dead soldiers, music concerts, tech companies, other churches, stage plays, schools, and the media in general.

    Recently they ignited a firestorm when they announced their intent to picket the funeral of well-loved celebrity Robin Williams, claiming that Williams is in Hell now because he portrayed a gay man in the film The Birdcage.

    But they also manage to get their message of hate out by simply sitting back, writing blog posts, and sending announcements out to the media that they claim to hate.

    Now Westboro Baptist gleefully claims that the Ebola outbreak in Africa is because of Obama:

    “These countries (that continent) did not heed our warnings and pleas – instead they clasped onto The Beast Obama, acting like he was running for ‘King of the world’ ”.

    Their message is simple — God sent Ebola to Africa. They base their claim on their interpretation of Deuteronomy 28:61: “Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the LORD bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed.”

  • Mila Kunis: Words From Robin Williams She’ll Treasure Forever

    Mila Kunis had an unforgettable moment with Robin Williams back in the days when she was still just a teenager working with her fiancé, Ashton Kutcher, on That ’70’s Show.

    She later worked with the late actor on the 2013 film, The Angriest Man in Brooklyn, but it was that early encounter that she says made a lasting impression on the young girl.

    “So many times you meet people they don’t impact you. You meet them and they’re gracious and they’re nice,” she told Esquire in 2012, “and then there are sometimes when you meet somebody and they say one thing and for the rest of your life you carry that one thing and they don’t even know that they impacted your life.”

    Kunis, 31, told the magazine that her co-star on the sit-com, Kurtwood Smith, was a friend of the Good Will Hunting star. Williams visited the set one day and asked the young actress her name. After introductions, Williams took a moment to share some advice that will remain with her for the rest of her days.

    “He said, ‘Remember this moment. Remember this because things like this don’t happen very often. Remember this time.’ Having somebody of Robin Williams‘ stature tell me to just acknowledge something meant so much,” she said. “He didn’t mentor me. He just said, ‘Step back and appreciate this. You’re having an amazing time.’”

    Years later, when the two worked together in The Angriest Man in Brooklyn, the actress reminded Williams of their encounter and the words she still remembered.

    “He said, ‘It stands true. Today, right now, at this very moment, step back and appreciate it,” she said. “And I went, ‘OK.’”

    So many of us will remember the words of advice from Robin Williams, whether they were his own or whether they came from a movie. Perhaps we didn’t have the same personal encounter that Kunis enjoyed, but we learned from the actor none-the-less. And it is likely Kunis will empart Williams’ advice on her own sweet little baby, who will be here very soon.

  • Mila Kunis Shares Robin Williams’ Advice

    Mila Kunis Shares Robin Williams’ Advice

    Mila Kunis recently opened up about some advice she received years ago from the late Robin Williams.

    Kunis first recalled meeting Williams while she was a teenager working on the set of That 70’s Show.

    “So many times you meet people they don’t impact you. You meet them and they’re gracious and they’re nice,” Kunis told Esquire, “and then there are sometimes when you meet somebody and they say one thing and for the rest of your life you carry that one thing and they don’t even know that they impacted your life.”

    Kunis, who is engaged to Ashton Kutcher, explained that her friend Kurtwood Smith, who co-starred alongside Kunis on the comedy series, was friends with Williams. She recalled a day that they were on set, and Robin was filming another show nearby. Kurtwood said he was going to say hi to Williams, and Kunis decided to join them.

    Kurt said, “Oh, I’m gonna go say hi to Robin.” And I was like, Oh my god, like there’s Robin Williams,” Mila recalled. He then gave her some advice that she will never forget. Mila told him her name to which he replied, “Yeah? You’re on ’70s?” And then he said, “Remember this moment. Remember this because things like this don’t happen very often. Remember this time.”

    In 2013, Robin and Mila reunited to work on a film together titled The Angriest Man in Brooklyn. Kunis reminded him of the advice he had shared so many years ago. “He said, ‘It stands true. Today, right now, at this very moment, step back and appreciate it,” she said. “And I went, ‘OK.’”

  • Westboro Baptist Church Really Doesn’t Like Robin Williams

    On Thursday, extremist religious group Westboro Baptist Church capped off a barrage of hateful tweets directed at Robin Williams after his death with a threat to picket his funeral. The group is notorious for picketing the funerals of dead American soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan with hateful messages such as “God Blew Up The Troops” and “Thank God For Dead Soldiers”. It revealed that it planned to do the same at the beloved actor’s funeral.

    Westboro Baptist Church recently tweeted , “God hates Robin Williams. Westboro Baptist Church hopes to preach outside his funeral.” The group has accused the actor of “mocking God & promoting sin” and “pushing flagrant debauchery, and hedonism” throughout his long career as a comedian and dramatic performer.

    Williams reportedly committed suicide on August 11 and died because of “asphyxia due to hanging,” according to authorities. While reports circulated that Williams’ wife, Susan Schneider was planning a small and intimate funeral in San Francisco for her husband that would be attended by family and friends, the Westboro Baptist Church expressed their intention to picket the event.

    The hateful tweets from Westboro Baptist Church elicited different types of reactions from friends and fans of the late actor, including a rant from the Australian talk show host and comedian Adam Hills. “If you really believe in standing up to those threatening the Christian way of life, Westboro Baptist Church, how about putting your money where your mouth is, taking a direct flight to Iraq and picketing the people threatening to behead Christians if they don’t convert?” he said. He then offered to pay for every member of the Westboro Baptist Church to fly to Iraq to take up his challenge. The group responded to Hill’s message by tweeting, “Iraq here we come.”

    Other friends of Williams expressed support for him with messages of love. The non-profit group Planting Peace raised more than $50,000 as of August 19 for the benefit of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which was one of Williams’ favorite charities. “We felt like launching a fundraiser for a charity Robin loved would be the perfect way to honor him and counteract the message of hate and intolerance that the Westboro Baptist Church continues to convey,” said Aaron Jackson, co-founder of Planting Peace.

    Meanwhile, astronaut Buzz Aldrin posted a message on his Facebook page sharing his personal struggle with depression, from which Williams had also suffered. “As individuals and as a nation we need to be compassionate and supportive of all who suffer and give them the resources to face life,” he wrote.

    The Mrs. Doubtfire actor’s memorial service was held on Tuesday in San Francisco, but members of the Westboro Baptist Church failed to follow through on their promise to picket it.

    Westboro Baptist Church: GOD HATES FAGS

  • Westboro Baptist Church To Picket Robin Williams’s Funeral

    The Westboro Baptist Church has a habit of sticking their noses in where they don’t belong.

    The church group pickets funerals often and claims that certain people who murder others or take their own lives do not deserve to go to heaven or to have a peaceful afterlife. They also believe that Williams was wrong for portraying a gay man in the film The Birdcage. They seem to target celebrities or people who are popular with the media.

    Although the church claims to picket funerals to help warn people about the dangers of living a sinful life and to remind them to repent, their choice of funerals seems to suggest that they picket more for attention than awareness.

    They have picketed at the funerals of numerous celebrities, including those of Steve Jobs and Michael Jackson.

    They have also tried to picket at the funerals of soldiers killed in action.

    Robin Williams was found dead in his home last Sunday and investigators quickly determined that he had taken his own life by hanging himself with a belt. Williams had been suffering from depression and anxiety. He also struggled with substance abuse, but according to his wife, he was sober when he committed suicide.

    The Westboro Baptist Church tweeted a message to its followers to inform them that they would be picketing outside Williams’s funeral. Williams’s family has not even released the details of the funeral plans.

    The entire post reads, “Westboro Baptist Church hopes to preach in lawful proximity to Robin Williams’ funeral — to warn the living: repent or likewise perish.”

    The group also shared a photo of a billboard that they plan to put up in the near future.

    As with past Westboro pickets, several groups have planned to counter-protest against the group in hopes of allowing Williams’s friends, fans and family to mourn his death in peace.

  • Westboro Baptist Church Plans to Picket Robin Williams’s Funeral

    Even though the plans for Robin Williams’s funeral haven’t be released, as the family wants a private service, the controversial Westboro Baptist Church has announced that the group will picket the beloved comedian’s funeral. This group is known for protesting funerals, including the funerals of Michael Jackson, Steve Jobs, as well as a number of military service members.

    The shocking news that Williams passed away came just over a week ago. An autopsy showed that the actor committed suicide by hanging himself with a belt. Williams had apparently battled depression for some time, and his wife revealed that he had been recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. While many have used Williams’s death to promote awareness about depression and other mental illnesses, Westboro Baptist Church has decided to use his death to promote their message of hate. Williams has been targeted because of his portrayal of a gay man in the 1996 film The Birdcage.

    In a message posted to the church’s Twitter account, the church says that they plan to preach outside his funeral:

    The message appears to be an excerpt of a longer message posted to Instagram, but that particular account doesn’t appear to be active any longer. Telegraph has the rest of the post, which reads, “Westboro Baptist Church hopes to preach in lawful proximity to Robin Williams’ funeral — to warn the living: repent or likewise perish.”

    The church also made other posts about Williams’s death, including the following warning. “HEED: You spend your life mocking God and promoting sin, you get no peace.”

    In addition to the protest, Westboro Baptist Church plans to put up a billboard and included a picture of Robin Williams within the text “Robin Williams in Hell” as one of the options:

    Even though the news that Westboro Baptist Church is planning this picket may be upsetting, the group Planting Peace has put together something of a counter-protest in the form of a fundraiser to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Williams was well known for his support for St. Jude’s and spent a lot of time cheering up the young patients there.

    Post by Planting Peace.

    In an interview with Huffington Post, Planting Peace co-founder Aaron Jackson discussed the counter-protest.

    “Robin Williams played many different roles in so many people’s lives, and giving back to others was at the top of that list,” said Jackson. “When the WBC announced they were protesting Robin’s funeral, we felt like launching a fundraiser for a charity Robin loved would be the perfect way to honor him and counteract the message of hate and intolerance that the WBC continues to convey.”

    Planting Peace is using CrowdRise to raise funds for St. Jude’s in Williams’s honor. You can donate here. The group has raised close to $60,000 for the children’s hospital so far.

  • Twitter Now Removes Images of the Dead Upon Request

    In some circumstances, upon request of the family, Twitter will now delete images of the deceased.

    In order for Twitter to act on any specific imagery, a few qualifications must be met. Once an immediate family member of the deceased contacts Twitter with the request, the company will weigh whether or not the images have “public interest factors such as…newsworthiness” before making a decision.

    The types of images Twitter is trying to shed are graphic ones related to the actual deaths of individuals – this isn’t about removing all traces of a person’s image from the network.

    Twitter specifies by saying “Immediate family members and other authorized individuals may request the removal of images or video of deceased individuals, from when critical injury occurs to the moments before or after death…” [emphasis mine]

    Here’s the full statement, as tweeted out by Twitter’s Nu Wexler:

    This move comes just one week after Zelda Williams, Robin Williams’ daughter, was bullied off Twitter by, for lack of a better word, assholes who tweeted photoshopped images of her father. Twitter promised to work on its anti-abuse policies, specifically saying that would involve “improving support for family members of deceased users.”

    Twitter has also been hard at work suspending accounts that have been spreading graphic imagery of the beheading of American journalist James Foley, according to CEO Dick Costolo.

    Image via Rosaura Ochoa, Flickr Creative Commons

  • Robin Williams’s Wife Shares Secret Diagnosis

    When it was revealed that Robin Williams had taken his own life, many people were shocked and reacted with disbelief. Williams was known for his amazing ability to make people laugh and most people had a hard time understanding how someone so funny could be so unhappy.

    Williams had been suffering from severe anxiety and depression. While he shared his struggles with these diseases, he was also suffering from another disease that few people knew about.

    Williams never got a chance to tell the world about his declining health, but his wife recently came forward with information that she said she hoped would help motivate others to get help for their own health problems.

    She also wanted the world to know that although Williams had struggled with drug and alcohol addiction, he was sober when he took his own life.

    “Robin’s sobriety was intact and he was brave as he struggled with his own battles of depression [and] anxiety as well as early stages of Parkinson’s disease, which he was not yet ready to share publicly,” Schneider said.


    “It is our hope in the wake of Robin’s tragic passing that others will find the strength to seek the care and support they need to treat whatever battles they are facing so they may feel less afraid,” she said.

    Williams was last seen alive at his suburban San Francisco home about 10 p.m. last Sunday, according to the Marin County coroner’s office.

    The Sheriff’s Department received an emergency call from Williams’s home Monday morning after he was found nonresponsive.

    He was pronounced dead a short time later.

    Although William’s death is tragic, his family and friends are hoping that it will shed some light on depression and substance abuse.

    His life has been celebrated by his fans, friends and family members and thousands of people have shared stories of how Williams was able to make them laugh or cheer them up during low points in their lives.

  • Gene Simmons Apologizes for Telling Addicts and The Depressed to Kill Themselves

    Gene Simmons, bassist for the iconic rock group KISS, has issued two apologies for appalling comments made during a recent interview about drug addiction and depression.

    Simmons’ comments came in an interview with Songfacts when he was asked if he still gets along with original KISS members Ace Frehley and Peter Criss. His answer is truly dumbfounding.

    “No, I don’t get along with anybody who’s a drug addict and has a dark cloud over their head and sees themselves as a victim,” he said.

    “Drug addicts and alcoholics are always: ‘The world is a harsh place.’ My mother was in a concentration camp in Nazi Germany. I don’t want to hear f*** all about ‘the world as a harsh place.’ She gets up every day, smells the roses and loves life. And for a putz, 20-year-old kid to say, ‘I’m depressed, I live in Seattle.’ F*** you, then kill yourself.”

    “I never understand, because I always call them on their bluff. I’m the guy who says ‘Jump!’ when there’s a guy on top of a building who says, ‘That’s it, I can’t take it anymore, I’m going to jump.’ Are you kidding? Why are you announcing it? Shut the f*** up, have some dignity and jump! You’ve got the crowd.”

    After his comments made the rounds, the Australian radio group Triple M announced they would ban KISS music on their five radio stations across Australia.

    Simmons responded — just days following the death of Robin Williams to suicide — with a statement on his personal Facebook page:

    “Depression is very serious and very sad when it happens to anyone, especially loved ones,” Simmons wrote.

    “I have not commented on various allegations made in the media, but I want to make this statement for the record and to clarify. I deeply support and am empathetic to anyone suffering from any disease, especially depression.

    “I have never sugarcoated my feelings regarding drug use and alcoholics. Somewhere along the line, my intentions in speaking very directly and perhaps politically-incorrectly about drug use and alcoholics have been misconstrued as vile commentary on depression.”

    “Unkind statements about depression was certainly never my intention. And I do not intend to defend myself here and now by listing the myriad charities and self-help organizations I am involved with,” he continued.

    “This is not about me. This is about clearing up misconceptions and being clear. My heart goes out to anyone suffering from depression.”

    Simmons also posted a similar statement on the official KISS Facebook page:

    “I want to make this statement about my views on depression for the record and to clarify my prior remarks,” wrote Simmons.

    “To the extent my comments reported by the media speak of depression, I was wrong and in the spur of the moment made remarks that in hindsight were made without regard for those who truly suffer the struggles of depression. I sincerely apologize to those who were offended by my comments. I recognize that depression is very serious and very sad when it happens to anyone, especially loved ones. I deeply support and am empathetic to anyone suffering from any disease, especially depression.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Jessica Chastain: Robin Williams Put Her Through College

    Jessica Chastain has had roles in some award-winning, critically acclaimed films, but her career as an actress might not have taken off so quickly had she not gotten a good education at Juilliard. Now, the actress has come forward with another sweet story about Robin Williams, whose tragic suicide earlier this month left fans and friends in mourning.

    Chastain said on Facebook recently that her family didn’t have the money to send her to the prestigious performing arts school, so she was counting on a scholarship to get in, and that’s how Williams changed her life.

    “I’m the first person in my family to go to college. We didn’t have a lot of money, and Juilliard is a pretty expensive school. Robin Williams is a very generous Juilliard alumnus, and gives a scholarship every two years to a student, and it pays for everything, and I got it. I still haven’t gotten to meet him,” she said in an interview previous to Williams’ death.

    Williams was found hanging in his home earlier this month, and his family acknowledged that he had suffered from depression and had recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. His daughter Zelda released a statement online following his death, including a quote from Antoine De Saint-Exupery that drew words of sympathy from fans all over the world. However, Zelda withdrew from social media immediately afterward when several people began sending her digitally manipulated pictures of Williams and cruel messages.

    “To those he touched who are sending kind words, know that one of his favorite things in the world was to make you all laugh. As for those who are sending negativity, know that some small, giggling part of him is sending a flock of pigeons to your house to poop on your car. Right after you’ve had it washed. After all, he loved to laugh too,” she wrote online.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Susan Schneider and Robin Williams: Minister Remembers Their Wedding Day

    The minister who married Robin Williams and his third wife Susan Schneider talked about their beautiful wedding day, recalling Williams’s great love for his new wife.

    The Rev. Peader Dalton told the Daily Mail Online that he first met Williams at a funeral.

    The Irish minister – who is not affiliated to any particular faith — told MailOnline: “Robin and his lovely wife Susan first came into my life about seven years ago. The parents of a young man who worked for Robin on his properties had both died in a tragic car accident and I was officiating the memorial service.

    “He said he was particularly touched with my analogy of death being similar to birth,” recalled Dalton. “I had said that when a baby is born they don’t know what they are being born into – but they are being born into a fuller experience of life and love with their families. Death is the same – in my opinion we are not dying – we’re born into another experience that is greater than ourselves and that is an extension of what it is to love and be loved. He was very taken by this analogy and we talked about it for about 10 minutes – just the two of us.”

    Williams was raised in a Christian home, albeit from different denominations — his father was an Episcopalian and his mother was a Christian Scientist. As for Williams, he was never very forthcoming about his own faith, but Dalton believes Williams embraced Christianity.

    “You get a real strong sense of God when you go through rehab,” said Dalton.

    Williams never forgot the minister and asked him to officiate his 2011 wedding to Schneider at Meadowood resort in Napa Valley, California.

    “The wedding day was very beautiful – they were very much in love and very quiet. Both Robin and Susan were very actively involved with the preparation of the ceremony,” said Dalton. “I like couples to be in the driving seat when it comes to the ceremony and I encourage them to write their own vows and decide how they want the ceremony to be. I remember that Robin was very involved – he didn’t just sit there and nod his head. He had a special request to honor his mother and brother, who had passed away, by having a beautiful prayer – the prayer of St Francis read out. They both wanted to make sure their children were involved too – Robin’s three children and Susan’s two young boys, and were very appreciative that I made that happen.”

    Dalton — who currently lives with his wife, Margarita, in Sonoma, California — said the intimate wedding was attended by mostly family and close friends.

    “Robin and Susan created their own vows,” he recalls. ‘It was a lovely gathering with people mingling and jingling with each other. They also invited my wife and I to stay for the wedding dinner which was very lovely of them. Usually we just leave 20 minutes or so after the ceremony.”

    Like the rest of the world, Dalton was shocked by the sudden death of Williams and the subsequent news that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.

    “I know that for me and rest of the community round here it came as a shock,” he said. “I have no idea how Robin responded to being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. I know it can mean having a horrible last 15 to 20 years of life and if you have other things going on in your life such as depression it may be harder to process it. It could have been an exacerbating factor in his death but we’ll never know. I personally believe Robin has died as a result of depression.”

    Dalton acknowledges Williams‘s suicide leaves the world with many questions.

    “The great puzzle with the tragic way in which Robin died is how can a person do that to their wife and children? This was a couple that were absolutely in tune with each other – not in a mushy way – just in a very lovely way,” he said. “But you have to remember that depression hits the inner layer of our hearts. When someone is in that world – it’s difficult to see out. People describe it as feeling imprisoned in a dark room with no switch – and in that situation it’s so difficult to think of others. It’s legitimate for his wife and family and indeed others to ask why he did this.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Pam Dawber of ‘Mork and Mindy’, Other Co-Stars Remember Robin Williams

    The world has reacted with shock and sadness this week to the death of Robin Williams, who was found dead in his Tiberon, California home on Monday. The 63-year-old, beloved actor’s death was ruled a suicide by hanging.

    Those who worked with him and knew him well shared their thoughts following the tragic news.

    “I am completely and totally devastated. What more can be said?” — Mork and Mindy co-star Pam Dawber, in a statement.

    “My life is a better place because I knew Robin Williams. To my children he was Uncle Robin, to everyone he worked with, he was the best boss anyone had ever known, and to me he was not just an inspiration but he was the Father I had always dreamed of having. There are not enough adjectives to describe the light he was, to anyone that ever had the pleasure to meet him. I will miss him everyday, but I know the memory of him will live on. And to his family, I thank them for letting us know him and seeing the joy they brought him. Us crazy ones love you. God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” — The Crazy Ones co-star Sarah Michelle Gellar, in a statement.

    “Heartbroken. Thanks chief — for your friendship and for what you gave the world. Robin had a ton of love in him. He personally did so much for so many people. He made Matt and my dreams come true. What do you owe a guy who does that? Everything. May you find peace my friend.” — Ben Affleck, in a statement, referring to Williams starring in his and Matt Damon’s first acting/writing venture, Good Will Hunting.

    “His kindness and generosity is what I think of. How kind he was to anyone who wanted to connect with him. And he could not help but be funny all the time. He would do something as long as it would keep you laughing. He made many, many film crews laugh out loud before the audiences ever saw it. He made such a big impact on the world. So there is the man, and his talent, and I think in his case both were extraordinary.” — Night at the Museum co-star Ben Stiller, in a statement.

    “I feel I have to say something more than just ‘heartbreaking and shocking,’ which everyone has said and I feel as well, but something a little more personal. Thus the following: One day in 1995 while riffing in the character of a snobby French toy store owner, Robin made me laugh so hard and so long that I cried. It seemed to please him to no end. Yesterday, I cried again at the thought that he was gone. What I will always remember about Robin, perhaps even more than his comic genius, extraordinary talent and astounding intellect, was his huge heart — his tremendous kindness, generosity and compassion as an acting partner, colleague and fellow traveler in a difficult world. My heartfelt condolences to his wife and family.” — The Birdcage co-star Nathan Lane, in Time magazine.

    “I feel stunned and so sad about Robin. I’m sad for the world of comedy. And so very sad for his family. And I’m sad for Robin. He always lit up when he was able to make people laugh, and he made them laugh his whole life long…. tirelessly. He was one of a kind. There will not be another. Please God, let him now rest in peace.” — Mrs. Doubtfire co-star Sally Field, in a statement.

    —”Robin was a lightning storm of comic genius and our laughter was the thunder that sustained him. He was a pal and I can’t believe he’s gone.” — Steven Spielberg, in a statement.

    “I saw him on stage the very first time he auditioned at the Improv and we have been friends ever since. It’s a very sad day.” — Jay Leno, in a statement.

    “We have lost one of our most inspired and gifted comic minds, as well as one of this generation’s greatest actors. To watch Robin work, was a magical and special privilege. His performances were unlike anything any of us had ever seen, they came from some spiritual and otherworldly place. He truly was one of the few people who deserved the title of ‘genius.’” — Hook director Chris Columbus, in a statement.

    “Robin and I were great friends, suffering from the same little-known disease: depression. I never could have expected this ending to his life, and to ours with him. God bless him and God bless us all for his LIFE! I cannot believe this. I am overwhelmed with grief. What a wonderful man/boy and what a tremendous talent in the most important art of any time – comedy! I loved him.” — Chevy Chase, in a statement.

    “I’ve never known a sweeter, brighter, more considerate person than Robin. Robin’s commitment as an artist to lifting our mood and making us happy is compared to none. He loved us all and we loved him back.” — John Travolta, in a statement.

    “To see Robin perform was an experience. He was more than a comedian. He was a comedy force of nature. I remember hearing that Robin was once doing a press junket in Germany. One of the reporters asked him, ‘Why is it that Germany is not known for comedy?’ Robin answered, ‘Well, you killed all your funny people.’ I laughed out loud when I heard that. I thought, how sick and how wonderfully truthful.” — comedian Gilbert Gottfried, in a statement.

    “I was lucky to work with him as an actor and witness first hand the magic of what made him a legend, the wit and other worldly improv skills.” — Hook co-star Dante Basco (Rufio), in a statement.

    Image via Robin Williams, Instagram