Death from natural causes would be shocking but suicide makes his death that much more devastating to all who enjoyed his talents.

Did anyone not enjoy his humor?

I grew up watching Mork and Mindy and his many great movies.
Two that stands out are "Dead Poets Society" and "Good Morning Vietnam".

I'm angry more than anything. He was one of the good guys.

I have to agree with this. It is tough to hear (read), but very true.

I' guessing you've (and others who have agreed with this sentiment) have never been involved with someone with a diagnosed depression.

I'm sure there are many "whiners" that go to a p-doc and get a "diagnosis" and run to the pharm for their happy pill of the day, but please don't lump them in with those sad individuals for whom every day is wakeful misery.

"just deal with life and turn it around" really demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of the disease.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/5cQacvZ8mOU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Article recaps his struggles:
https://www.yahoo.com/movies/robin-williams-long-struggle-with-addiction-94495982212.html

RW's suicide is truly a tragic thing, don't get me wrong. But it is also a huge slap in the face to the many people who struggle every single day doing things they would rather not. Here's a guy who acheived world-wide fame, fortune and professional success. So he goes and throws it all away?

What kind of message is that? An obviously sicko workaholic genius who managed to develope the adoration of millions ultimately tells them their lives are worthless simply because he thought his was. Seems pretty arrogant if you ask me.

It's like these people think they are just too good for this world, that they suffer so much more than everybody else. Maybe they do, maybe the don't. But here's a guy who spent his entire life pulling a fast one over on everybody. Maybe the reality that his own life was just a superficial fast-paced joke finally over-took him.

Maybe the guilt of his own success coming from him doing whatever it was he did simply for his own survival was just too much. Maybe he felt like he was an imposter, unworthy of life.

I certainly admired him for his hard work, envied him for his intelligence and talents and most certainly disagreed with his leftist philosophies. But now, after him delivering the ultimate insult to his family, his friends, his fans and the world at large, his meanness finally showed. In retrospection I believe he did talk about it, made a joke or two or a thousand of it. But that wasn't enough for him. It was never enough.

May he rest in peace.

Vet's take:
 

I cannot be offended by the different responses. I am a military brat - father chopper pilot/DFC, retired LTC. I was 11B2P and ex LRS. Worked and trained with SAS, Belgic SF, and many others... Have lost close friends to the wars. Still stay in touch and have a Army reunion planned next month.

That being said, none of us had the talent that Robin Williams had. Sure talented in many ways, and willing to sacrifice a lot, ... all, but that spark of genius that Robin had only visits a few. That's why he is mourned by so many. Unique talent that made us all feel better by his gifts, that gave us insight into humanity. Not many who can do that. He was not just another celeb.

OK I guess you are some sort of precious snowflake. Poor you.

Bit closeminded ...?
 

Ah Skytrooper a man of steel and grit huh? Depression does not exclusively take its etiology from life's experiences. And while hanging from ur nuts likely causes other mental illness that is not the equivilent of depression. Some common symptoms but different source. Sometimes comorbidites sure, but not always. Am guessing your motto akin to "drive on with a hard-on" .... but over simplifies and is an oversimplification, naive perhaps, and fails to consider just how complex the brain is and the powerful effects is has on behavior and emotion. Because some have better control really means their condition is different in kind.

Poor snowflake? So if this were your son would you just give him a slap on the face and say wake up and be a man? You really cannot be that obtuse right?

You whine pretty good. A lot of practice I'm guessing. OK you can be a pretty snowflake too. That IS what you want to be told, right? Since normal life is too hard and no one understands?

I have had entirely too many of my friends & acquaintances end their own lives.
I have a lot of trouble getting MY head around it.

It seems to be a very selfish act but I can't walk a mile in their shoes. I have had short term bouts of depression but I watched a friend struggle with it daily for years. The struggle is now over and I'm sad and not alone in that sadness.

I don't know if his wife is more sad or relieved...the ups & downs must have been terrible for her.....he had no kids. His father went the same way and I know it it influenced him. One is left with the feeling that one should have done *something* to help them. We spent a lot more time talking about his problems than mine.....but that wasn't enough.

I'm sorry about Wiliams but I haven't a lot grief left over for someone I didn't know.

What he said. Every life is precious, but some impact more than others. For anyone who argues that he should have just "turned it around" and his death isn't more important to people, then congrats - you're in the "everyone gets a trophy for playing" club.

There are winners and losers in life, there are talented and untalented, and there are those who are fairly even keel and those who are deeply troubled.

Note that RW had 20 years of sobriety (without intervention) before falling off the wagon some years back. That would qualify as "just suck it up." Then he went to rehab and got sober again - again sucking it up. But his demons ran quite deep.

Anyone who has lived with or dealt with truly depressed and/or truly creative people get this. People focus on the material aspects of his life - "he had it all." That is an external perspective, and has little to do with his real internal life. You may be able to turn your internal narrative around, but realize that you've not everyone. Different people have different abilities and capabilities.

Empathy is perhaps the most important trait to be learned. It is what allows us to live just a bit of other's lives, enables true leadership, and it also can help to keep our own world in check. Sadly it is lacking in our world.

A sad day for me. Robin Williams is another example of a guy who woke up every morning and walked that fine line between genius and madness. Yesterday madness won.

He joins the ranks of artists including Jimi, Janus, John Belushi, Van Gogh, and others who were born with both extraordinary creative gifts and extraordinary sadness. Very few of us can really understand or relate to the view of the world through their eyes. Art, music, comedy, drugs and alcohol were coping mechanisms that gave them temporary shelter but eventually came up short. He will be missed.

Thank you for the hundreds of belly laughs Robin. Rest in peace now.

Do you always take a crap on other people's grief?

Stay classy. SmileWavy

While the rest of your post was exemplary, the part above was great.

One of the most intelligent and gentle people I know committed suicide several years ago. Put a gun to his head and ended it all. He had a family and many friends who cared for him dearly. We knew he was depressed and he was seeing someone to try and deal with it.

Personally and fortunately, I've never remotely felt that type of depression and didn't really understand it. Now, I know that real depression doesn't discriminate, it doesn't care if you "Have it all", what color you are or where you come from. Now, when I think of the pain and despair that someone, anyone must be in to do this, I think its sad.

Nostatic, you always have a way with words and always provide good perspective. I have not always understood suicide or depression but it has touched my life many times... I have had several friends commit suicide and some friends as well as a family member attempt suicide. Each time, they seemed to "have it all". Just shows you material things do not equate happiness and sometimes outside appearances don't match the true internal environment.

I agree with you about empathy. I think a lot of problems in our society would be eased if more if us had it. Love to you.

RIP Robin Williams.

Said it much better then I could.....Couldn't agree more...