Decades of comedy and great acting came to a close Monday of this week.
Robin Williams known for his zany sense of humour and soul-wrenching dramatic roles, ended his life at age 63.
It has been suggested that a deepening depression had seized him and former troubles with alcohol were surfacing again. His latest treatment he referred to as a tune-up. Whatever the circumstance, it is sad any time such tragedies strike.
Whether Williams knew it or not, his gift for acting inspired many and his roles helped make sense of some pretty tough issues. In the end, as the mind plays out its own reality, any gift he did have would likely not have given him much solace.
When the twins were little they must have watched Mrs. Doubtfire hundreds of times. In that movie, parents separate and the mother seems quite bent on keeping the kids from seeing their dad. Williams takes on the role of nanny to access his kids. In as much as it had hilarious moments, even the hardest of hearts had to break a little as the dad was adeptly pushed out of reach of his kids whom he loved very much. It’s a scene that plays out across the land, even today, but few dads have the chutzpa to pull off being a nanny.
Another great show was Patch Adams, where Williams plays the role of a medical student insisting on humour as a big part of medicine. He of course rallied against a system that felt all answers were to be found in textbooks. Sometimes people just want to laugh, no matter how sick they are.
There are countless other roles, from drama to comedies, even voice-over work on cartoons, in which he acted. What we find ironic at this moment is the fact his body of work helped others make sense of some pretty tough circumstances yet he himself did not get the help he needed.
Sick kids, kids missing their dad, the heartbreak found in a war theatre, young people trying to find themselves – he covered a gamut of issues over his career.
Of course, the unfortunate tale of Williams’ demise is something many of us have dealt with in our lifetime. Suicides continue and so many families are affected.
This fall the mayor of Guelph, Karen Farbridge will be hosting her annual mental health day at City Hall. Guest speakers are on hand and this year they hope to tackle the media’s role in promoting and engendering mental health. Details will follow in September.
Each of us has a responsibility to help our fellow man along. The sun does come up tomorrow, but for the clinically depressed, such hope seems out of reach and it’s up to the rest of us to buoy up those around us.
