American actor and comedian Robin Williams was found dead, aged 63, in what appears to be a suicide.
Marin County Police in California said he was pronounced dead at his home shortly after officials responded to an emergency call around noon local time. The local Sheriff’s office said Williams was found unconscious and not breathing at his home near Tiburon, north of San Francisco.
His publicist said he had been “battling severe depression“.
Williams had talked and even joked about his struggles with alcohol and drugs in the past but he was less public about his mental health issues.
Earlier this year, he returned to a rehabilitation facility to fine-tune his sobriety, according to the Los Angeles Times.
“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,” police said in a statement.
In a statement, Williams’s wife, Susan Schneider, said she was “utterly heartbroken”.
“This morning, I lost my husband and my best friend, while the world lost one of its most beloved artists and beautiful human beings. I am utterly heartbroken,” she said.
“On behalf of Robin’s family, we are asking for privacy during our time of profound grief. As he is remembered, it is our hope the focus will not be on Robin’s death but on the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions.”
Williams had three children from previous marriages.
Robin Williams was first known for his zany portrayal of Mork, an alien in the 1970s TV show Mork and Mindy, a character that first appeared in the sitcom Happy Days.
As well as appearing in films such as Good Morning Vietnam, Dead Poets Society, Mrs Doubtfire, and Aladdin, he was a regular stand-up comic. While many of his roles were in comedies, Williams won the Oscar for best supporting actor in 1998 for his role as a therapist in Good Will Hunting.
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