--- description: The county coroner's office suspects a suicide title: Robin Williams Dies at 63 image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte0ebc8beccf43a24/69869f231eebf7989c37233b/robin-williams.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Entertainment](/section/entertainment/) ## Entertainment Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [celebrities](/tag/celebrities/) ## celebrities Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Actor Robin Williams Dies at 63  by [Nolan Feeney](/author/nolan-feeney/)  ## Nolan Feeney Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Aug 11, 2014 11:04 PM CUT  Peter Hapak for TIME  by [Nolan Feeney](/author/nolan-feeney/)  ## Nolan Feeney Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Aug 11, 2014 11:04 PM CUT _Updated 9:30 p.m. E.T._ The Oscar-winning comedian and actor Robin Williams [has died at 63](http://www.marinsheriff.org/uploads/854.pdf "undefined"), according to police in Marin County, Calif. A statement from the assistant chief deputy coroner of Marin County announced on Monday that the coroner divisions of the sheriff’s office “suspects the death to be a suicide due to asphyxia, but a comprehensive investigation must be completed before a final determination is made.” Williams’ wife Susan Schneider [released a statement](https://twitter.com/ditzkoff/status/498967848249991168/photo/1 "undefined") saying she was “utterly heartbroken” and hoped “that the focus will not be on Robin’s death.” “This morning I lost my husband and my best friend, while the world lost one of its most beloved artists and beautiful human beings,” she said in the statement. “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 that the focus will not be on Robin’s death, but on the countless moments of joy and laugher he gave to millions.” President Barack Obama issued a statement on Williams’ passing later in the day: --- > “” --- In a [statement confirming his death](https://twitter.com/daniellenuss/status/498964859686764544 "undefined"), Williams’ publicist said the actor “had been battling severe depression of late.” Williams had [entered a rehab facility](http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/robin-williams-checks-rehab/story?id=24384327 "undefined") earlier this year to “fine-tune and focus on his continued commitment” to sobriety, according to a rep, after struggling with alcohol and drugs in the 1980s and then again around the time he sought more help in 2006. The comic broke out on [the television series _Mork & Mindy_](http://time.com/3102128/robin-williams-dead-mork-remembrance/ "undefined") and won an Academy Award for his role in _Good Will Hunting_. He had memorable roles in _Mrs. Doubtfire_, _Dead Poets Society_, _Patch Adams_, _Hook_, _Jack_ and _Good Morning, Vietnam_. He also voiced the Genie in Disney’s _Aladdin_. “Robin was a lightning storm of comic genius and our laughter was the thunder that sustained him,” director Steven Spielberg [told _Entertainment Weekly_](http://insidemovies.ew.com/2014/08/11/steven-spielberg-robin-williams/ "undefined"). “He was a pal and I can’t believe he’s gone.” Williams, whom many [celebrities mourned on Twitter](http://time.com/3102067/robin-williams-dead-social-media-tweets/ "undefined"), spoke about his[ career beginnings with TIME in 2011](http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2065243,00.html "undefined"). “When I went home from Juilliard \[in 1975\], I couldn’t find acting work,” he said. “I took a comedy workshop that was in the basement of a church that had lesbian poetry and stand-up, which is a great double. Eventually I got gigs in TV and movies, and then the rest is somewhat history.” Williams [left behind a number of movies](http://insidemovies.ew.com/2014/08/11/robin-williams-last-roles/?hootPostID=497ac51efef40d89fa0b8a46959d981d "undefined"), including the third _Night at the Museum_ film, due in December, and _Merry Friggin’ Christma_s, due in November. He was set to reprise the role of Mrs. Doubtfire in the sequel to the 1993 movie. “There really are no words to describe the loss of Robin Williams,” Fox, the studio behind _Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb_, [said in a statement](http://insidemovies.ew.com/2014/08/11/robin-williams-dead-at-63/?hootPostID=1d4d5da21c04cac2aa79f47653ed9d46 "undefined"), _Entertainment Weekly_ reports. “He was immensely talented, a cherished member of our community, and part of the Fox family. Our hearts go out to his family, friends and fans. He will be deeply missed.” The mayor of San Francisco, a city where Williams found early success with his stand-up comedy, said the city “mourns the profound loss of Robin Williams, who inspired us with his comedy and art.” “His legacy has had a deep and inspiring impact on our city and on our residents,” Mayor Edwin M. Lee said in a statement. “Despite his success, he has never forgotten San Francisco. He was a philanthropist who gave generously, and he was a friend of the city.” _TIME television critic James Poniewozik remembers Williams’ defining television role_ [_here_](http://time.com/3102128/robin-williams-dead-mork-remembrance/ "undefined")_._ _TIME film critic Richard Corliss reflects on the actor’s transition from comedic roles to dramatic ones_ [_here_](http://time.com/3102058/robin-williams-dead-remembrance-richard-corliss/ "undefined")_._ ### Robin Williams' Life in Pictures  Robin Williams in the 8th grade at Detroit Country Day School in Birmingham, Mich. in 1965. Courtesy Williams Family  In the 8th grade, Robin Williams, #15, played on the basketball team at Detroit Country Day School. Seth Poppel—Yearbook Library  Robin Williams in high school. Courtesy Robin Williams  Williams' played the spinach-loving sailor Popeye in its eponymous 1980 film. Paramount/AP  Robin Williams in September of 1981 Steve Ringman—San Francisco Chronicle/Corbis  Robin Williams with his mom, Laurie Williams, during the premiere of "Moscow on The Hudson" at Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, Calif in 1984. Ron Galella—Wire Image/Getty Images  Robin Williams and Christopher Reeve at Silver Friedman's "The Original Improvisation" in New York in 1988. Jim Demetropoulos—Retna Ltd./Corbis  Robin Williams, third from right, dressed as a cheerleader on Nov. 12, 1979 with the Broncos' Pony Express cheerleaders during the filming of an episode of "Mork & Mindy," in Denver. AP  Robin Williams played radio DJ Adrian Cronauer in director Barry Levinson's comedy drama, Good Morning Vietnam in 1987. Touchstone Pictures/AP  Williams taught a generation to seize the day, to make their lives extraordinary, as John Keating in Dead Poets Society. Buena Vista Pictures  Williams played a grown up version of Peter Pan in the 1991 family classic Hook. TriStar Pictures  Williams lent his substantial talents to voicing Genie in Disney's 1992 animated film Aladdin. Disney  Household chores were no match for Robin Williams as he donned layers of prosthetics to play Mrs. Doubtfire in the 1993 movie of the same name. 20th Century Fox  Williams starred as Alan Parrish, a boy stuck inside a board game for twenty-six years in the 1995 film Jumanji. TriStar Pictures  Starring opposite a young Matt Damon, Williams played Dr. Sean Maguire, in the 1997 film Good Will Hunting. Miramax  Williams played a living android in the 1999 film Bicentennial Man. Buena Vista  Williams took on the likeness of Teddy Roosevelt in Ben Stiller's Night at the Museum. 20th Century Fox  Robin Williams and his family are seen with their dogs on May 2005\. From left to right: Kiwi (poodle), son Cody Williams, Robin Williams, daughter Zelda Williams, Marsha Williams and Mizu (poodle) Lacy Atkins—Emily Scott Pottruck/Trails of Devotion ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3101990/robin-williams-dead-63/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3101990/robin-williams-dead-63/"},"headline":"Actor Robin Williams Dies at 63","datePublished":"2014-08-11T23:04:53.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T05:07:55.410Z","description":"The county coroner's office suspects a suicide","url":"https://time.com/3101990/robin-williams-dead-63/","keywords":["celebrities","robin williams"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte0ebc8beccf43a24/69869f231eebf7989c37233b/robin-williams.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Nolan Feeney","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/nolan-feeney/"}],"articleSection":"Entertainment","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte0ebc8beccf43a24/69869f231eebf7989c37233b/robin-williams.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Robin Williams","caption":"Robin Williams","creditText":"Peter Hapak for TIME","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/entertainment/","name":"Entertainment"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/celebrities/","name":"celebrities"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3101990/robin-williams-dead-63/","name":"Actor Robin Williams Dies at 63"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Remembering Robin WIlliams: Watch The Actor's Best Performances","description":"Remembering Robin Williams: Supercut","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/wrXgMxVS/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2014-08-12T14:12:59.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/wrXgMxVS.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/3101990/robin-williams-dead-63/","duration":"PT4M11S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/3101990/robin-williams-dead-63/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```