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Actor Robin Williams was found dead in his home in California on Monday morning, according to the Marin County Sheriff's Office. He was 63. In a statement, the Sheriff’s Office Coroner Division said it “suspects the death to be a suicide due to asphyxia, but a comprehensive investigation must be completed before a final determination is made.” His representative confirmed the sad news, writing, “He had been battling severe depression of late. This is a tragic and sudden loss.”
“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,” his wife, Susan Schneider, wrote in a statement. “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.”
President Obama even released a statement about the death. “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,” he said. “He made us laugh. He made us cry. He gave his immeasurable talent freely and generously to those who needed it most—from our troops stationed abroad to the marginalized on our own streets.”
Fellow actors and comedians took to Twitter to express their grief. Steve Martin tweeted: “I could not be more stunned by the loss of Robin Williams, mensch, great talent, acting partner, genuine soul.” Mara Wilson, his Mrs. Doubtfire co-star, wrote: “Very sad, very upset, very glad I did not have to hear about this through Twitter.”
Director Steven Spielberg said: “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.”
In December, Williams will be seen reprising his role as Theodore Roosevelt in the third Night at the Museum. And he had also recently agreed to bring back his character of Mrs. Doubtfire in a sequel.
Last month, Williams entered rehab in Minnesota to maintain long-term sobriety after relapsing from cocaine and alcohol addiction in 2006. His last posts on both Instagram and Twitter wish a happy 25th birthday to his daughter, Zelda, with an old image of the two of them.