Ethan Hawke Recalls Robin Williams' Struggles with Depression
When Ethan Hawke was just a teenager, he found himself sharing the screen with the legendary Robin Williams in the iconic 1989 film Dead Poets Society. Even back then, Ethan noticed something profound about the comedic genius. "With great highs come great lows," Ethan reflected recently at the Montclair Film Festival in New Jersey. "Robin was this incredible mix of being funny, brilliant, and silly, but there were moments when he was deeply sad. It was a sadness that felt like it had its own gravity, pulling everything around it into its orbit. You could feel it in a room, altering the atmosphere."
Now, two new works shed fresh light on the inner battles that tragically led to Robin's passing in 2014 at the age of 63. The newly released biography Robin and Marina Zenovich's documentary Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind (set to air on HBO in July) delve into the complexities of a man who brought so much joy to others yet suffered profoundly in private. "He was a spirit that people adored and trusted," recalls close friend Billy Crystal. "It breaks my heart that he endured such pain and felt there was no other way out."
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The Roots of Loneliness: Robin's Early Life
Robin Williams' journey of loneliness began long before he became a household name. As a child, he often found himself alone, partly because his family moved frequently. His father worked for Ford Motor Company and was frequently on the road, leaving Robin to navigate life largely on his own. One night, while watching The Tonight Show, Robin witnessed something that would change his perspective on comedy forever. "I saw my father laughing uncontrollably at Jonathan Winters," Robin once recounted. "I remember thinking, 'Who is this guy that can make the great white father laugh?' It was a revelation."
For Robin, comedy wasn't just a hobby; it was a way to connect with others and seek love. In 1978, the same year he skyrocketed to fame with Mork & Mindy, he married Valerie Velardi. "We were on an adventure together," Valerie recalls, "but then things started to shift. He loved women, and I understood that side of him. But I also wanted him to come home." Unfortunately, infidelity eventually drove them apart. When Robin began dating Marsha Garces, who had briefly worked as a nanny for his son Zak, the couple faced harsh criticism from the media. "We were torn apart in the press," Valerie says, expressing empathy for Marsha. "I’m sorry she had to start her life with Robin under such difficult circumstances."
A Turbulent Marriage and Final Years
In 1989, Robin married Marsha Garces, and together they welcomed two children, Zelda and Cody. Despite the challenges, Robin credited Marsha with saving his life, saying, "My life was saved by her, not ruined by her." However, Robin's battle with sobriety resurfaced during the filming of The Big White in a remote Alaskan
