The Passing of Robin Williams

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By James Hirsen, Special for USDR

Legendary actor and comedian Robin Williams was found dead Monday at his home in Tiburon, Calif., according to the Marin County Sheriff’s Office. Police suspected “the death to be a suicide due to asphyxia, but a comprehensive investigation must be completed before a final determination is made.”

Williams lived at the house with his wife and was last seen alive at the home around 10:00 p.m. the previous evening. He was found unconscious and not breathing after a 9-1-1 call shortly before noon. An autopsy was scheduled for Tuesday, the sheriff’s office said.

It has just been revealed that Williams was diagnosed with early stage Parkinson’s Disease. More about it here.

The 63-year-old Williams was well known for a long career of film, television and stand-up comedy, including the 1978-82 sitcom “Mork and Mindy” and the films “Mrs. Doubtfire” (1993), “The World According to Garp” (1982), and “Good Will Hunting” (1997), for which he won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar.

His publicist said he was battling depression. It is tragic that someone with as many gifts and blessings as Williams would possibly have taken his life.

I had the rare privilege of meeting Williams and saw him perform in comedy clubs when he was breaking into the entertainment industry. Farewell, “O Captain, My Captain!”

James Hirsen, J.D., M.A. is a New York Times best-selling author, commentator, media analyst and law professor. He is admitted to practice in the U.S. Supreme Court and has made several appearances there on various landmark decisions. Hirsen is the co-founder and Chief Legal Counsel for InternationalEsq.com, a legal think tank and educational institute for the study of law in the media.