The much loved comedy genius Robin Williams took his own life at his family home near San Francisco on Monday August 11, 2014. A coroner’s statement declared the cause of death as asphyxia due to hanging. He was only 63-years old.

It was quite well known that Williams had suffered with alcohol and drug addiction for many years and his publicist said he had recently been "battling severe depression". In a statement his wife, Susan Schneider, said “This morning I lost my husband and best friend, while the world lost one of its most beloved artists and beautiful human beings. I am utterly heartbroken,”

Your Local Guardian:
Robin Williams with his wife Susan Schneider

Even though I had seen him interviewed many times on various chat shows when the subject of his drug addiction to cocaine would come up and Williams would make a joke of it and as viewers we would laugh along with him. At the time it was ludicrous to think that this comic genius could let himself be consumed by drugs and alcohol because…hey! He was a funny guy. Not just funny he would be totally unpredictable and chat show host’s would always just let him do his own thing (not that they could have controlled him anyway) Whenever he appeared on TV you were assured that your sides would soon be aching.Your Local Guardian:

Robin Williams had a very wide appeal ranging from little children to seniors. He is probably best remembered for great comedies and adventure films such as Hook (1991), Disney’s Aladdin (1992), Mrs, Doubtfire (1993), Jumanji (1995), The Birdcage (1996) and more recently Night at the Museum (2006) and Happy Feet (2006).

Your Local Guardian:
Williams as the voice of Genie in Aladdin (1992)

He also made movies with more adult themes. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his portrayal of real life American radio personality Adrian Cronauer in the hit movie Good Morning Vietnam (1987) and nominated again for Dead Poets Society (1989). Williams had to wait until 1997 when he finally won Best Actor Oscar for his role in Good Will Hunting written by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. When he wanted too he could turn his hand to portraying very dark characters such as the loner Seymour Parrish the laboratory technician obsessed with a local suburban family in One Hour Photo and suspected murderer Walter Finch being pursued by Al Pacino’s Police Detective Will Dormer in the thriller Insomnia both released in 2002.

Your Local Guardian:
Good Morning Vietnam (1987)

Robin Williams career was really kick started by TV producer Garry Marshall who audition him in 1978 for the small part of an alien called Mork in an episode of the hugely successful hit TV series Happy Days. Marshall liked Williams from the start and was quite taken with his quirky sense of humour, especially when he sat on his head when asked to take a seat.

Your Local Guardian:
Mork & Mindy (1978-1982)

Williams started to improvise the majority of Mork’s dialogue and physical comedy in the episode and his character's appearance proved so popular with viewers that they gave him his own spin-off series called Mork & Mindy set in modern day Colorado which ran from 1978 to 1982. The writers started to allow for William’s improvisation’s which was to become a trade mark throughout his career.

I know this phrase is often overused but this is so true of Mr Robin Williams ‘There will never be another!’

RIP Robin.

A memory of Robin Williams on The Graham Norton Show