Robin Williams’ Death a Tragic Loss

Robin Williams was many things, some even involving sports. Not that today’s topic is sports. The comedian/actor died Monday in California at age 63. Cause of death appears to be suicide. Today’s topic is depression. And not the type that you might feel after your team loses a ballgame. Not the type you feel after your hero fails to come through in a key situation in a contest.

Robin Williams as a Broncos cheerleader. He is the one with the hairy stomach.

No, this is the type of depression that can lead to the same results that Williams apparently had. Depression is an illness that can be treated with medication. If you have the illness (and if you’re not sure, please contact a medical professional for an evaluation), chances are you were born pre-disposed to having it. Meaning you’re not the first in your family to struggle with depression.

Some people looked at Robin Williams and all the success he had in his career and wondered how someone with so much could take his own life. Material possessions can be immaterial. It certainly would seem so in Williams’ case.

The creative genius inside Williams had companions in his depression and addiction troubles. No one truly can know another person’s demons. But to let those demons overwhelm to the point of suicide is horrific. Especially so for the family and friends left behind.

A man who made so many laugh — and cry — with wide-ranging acting and comedic ability no longer is around to do so. If you or someone you know needs help, please find some. For those who don’t think life is worth living, please re-think — and call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255. On behalf of those who care about you (and those people do exist), thank you for taking action to make tomorrow a better day.

Sppeaking of tomorrow, we will return to our regularly scheduled nonsense then. Here are some reactions to the death of Robin Williams:

* “Mork & Mindy” co-star Pam Dawber: “I am completely and totally devastated. What more can be said?”

* “Waiting for Godot” co-star Steve Martin: “I could not be more stunned by the loss of Robin Williams, mensch, great talent, acting partner, genuine soul.”

* Actor-comedian Chevy Chase: “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.”

* “The Birdcage” co-star Nathan Lane: “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.”

* President Barack Obama: “Robin Williams was an airman, a doctor, a genie, a nanny, a president, a professor, a bangarang Peter Pan, and everything in between. But he was one of a kind. He arrived in our lives as an alien — but he ended up touching every element of the human spirit.”

Instead of the usual non-gratuitous video in this space, today we have Robin Williams on sports. Let the record show the name of the baseball pitcher is Dock Ellis and not Doc Ellis:

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