Robin Williams, 63, died this morning of suspected suicide at his home in Marin County, California, said police.
“The Sheriff’s Office Coroner Division suspects the death to be a suicide due to asphyxia, but a comprehensive investigation must be completed before a final determination is made, said the county sheriff’s press release:
On August 11, 2014, at approximately 11:55 am, Marin County Communications received a 9-1-1 telephone call reporting a male adult had been located unconscious and not breathing inside his residence in unincorporated Tiburon, CA. The Sheriff’s Office, as well as the Tiburon Fire Department and Southern Marin Fire Protection District were dispatched to the incident with emergency personnel arriving on scene at 12:00 pm. The male subject, pronounced deceased at 12:02 pm has been identified as Robin McLaurin Williams, a 63 year old resident of unincorporated Tiburon, CA.
An investigation into the cause, manner, and circumstances of the death is currently underway by the Investigations and Coroner Divisions of the Sheriff’s Office. Preliminary information developed during the investigation indicates Mr. Williams was last seen alive at his residence, where he resides with his wife, at approximately 10:00 pm on August 10, 2014. Mr. Williams was located this morning shortly before the 9-1-1 call was placed to Marin County Communications. At this time, the Sheriff’s Office Coroner Division suspects the death to be a suicide due to asphyxia, but a comprehensive investigation must be completed before a final determination is made. A forensic examination is currently scheduled for August 12, 2014 with subsequent toxicology testing to be conducted.
Williams’ last post on Instagram (and Twitter) was on July 31, to wish his daughter Happy Birthday:
#tbt and Happy Birthday to Ms. Zelda Rae Williams! Quarter of a century old today but always my baby girl. Happy Birthday @zeldawilliams Love you!
UPDATE August 12: A statement by the Marin County sheriff’s office said preliminary results of a forensic examination found that Robin Williams died “from asphyxia due to hanging.”
UPDATE AUGUST 14: A statement from Williams’ publicist, reported widely, said he was suffering from the early stages of Parkinson’s disease.
Further reading and viewing:
Robin Williams Had Parkinson’s Disease, His Widow Says: news story in the New York Times
New York Times report on his death
Los Angeles Times report on his death
Robin Williams: ‘I was shameful, did stuff that caused disgust – that’s hard to recover from’ profile in the Guardian
Wikipedia page for Robin Williams
In happier days Robin Williams accepts the 1992 Golden Globe award for Best Actor in a motion picture:
A clip from Dead Poets Society: “What will your verse be?”