By the time he was filming what would turn out to be his final film, Robin Williams was “crumbling” from the severe depression that has followed him for his entire life.
The information was shared by Shawn Levy, who directed Williams in “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb”.
Levy was interviewed by Entertainment Tonight. “Robin’s Wish”, a documentary that details the last months of Williams, is set to be released soon. The beloved actor took his own life in August 2014.
According to Levy, everyone on the set including himself knew that there was something wrong with Williams. He noticed how the famously quick-witted actor was having trouble finding the right words to go along with the performance and even forgot his lines.
Moreover, the director recalled how Williams would call him in the middle of the night and ask him if any of the scenes that were filmed that day was usable. The actor also disparaged himself and seemed lost, asking Levy if he sucked and what was going on within him.
Writer and producer David E. Kelley, who worked with Williams on “The Crazy Ones”, remarked how it seemed like Williams was breaking down from the inside. Levy remembered how he told Williams that everyone knows who he is except Williams himself.
While no one knew at the time, it has since been discovered that Williams was in fact eroding from the inside. By the time he decided to take his own life, Williams had an incurable form of dementia that lowers the brain’s function.
Levy recalled how much it pained him to see the beloved comedian lose faith in himself. Even though everyone else still loved and respected Williams, he seemed to have lost faith in himself – something that the professional actor could not tolerate or forgive.
Zelda, Williams’ 31 year old daughter, said she took time off social media like she does every August. While she thanked the unending love and support that her father’s fans show her, she sometimes feel overwhelmed about other’s memories rather than herself.
Williams was beloved by fans and critics alike, widely considered one of the best comedic talent in Hollywood. At the same time, he also left us with serious but equally memorable performances in movies such as “Good Will Hunting”.
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Replaced!