A clown that when the happy face paint was washed off, the tears were real. It was all a fascade to hide the pain of depression.

It's so sad, because he could've EXPOSED that pain more deeply and put more of it into his work, emerging as powerful as any other serious DRAMATIC actor! His work in Good Will Hunting and Dead Poet's Society was but an inkling of what could've been...

Oddly enough, I happened to watch The World According to Garp about a week before his death. I had a psychic premonition then that something was not right with Mr. Williams. He certainly treaded some depths of pain in that one, when his character's wife cheated on him, after his character cheated on her, and they finally make up in the end, only to...OK, for anyone who hasn't seen the film, no spoiler alerts.

i was shocked at the death of robin Williams and this shows that all of the money in the world could not have prevented his unhappiness.Rest in Peace..Robin..I will miss you.

Sad to see a true legend that brought so much love an joy into so many peoples lives...may you rest in peace!

Yeah, money isn't everything. We need love and to CONTINUALLY CREATE! I think he felt he'd reached the end of himself creatively. There was nothing new left to experience in this world, just more of the same o' same o'. Acting and performing comedy merely felt like a job. It had lost its joy, its fizz. If that's true, at times, I can relate.

Clinical depression has so many mysteries and I think the professionals have only just scratched the surface.

I suffered severe depression for most of my life....it still can sneak back in at times and know what to do when the first signs of it reappear. Others are not quite fortunate and once they are sucked in, are unable to help themselves.
I have been so depressed that I tried to suicide myself......landed in a locked unit a few times....not fun.
When I attempted suicide, I was definitely NOT myself. I did not attempt it out of selfish reasons.......that is hardly the case.....for most. It is a brain malfunction.....you become your own worst enemy and just want it all the thoughts and emotional pain to stop.
It was almost like I stepped outside myself in a moment of madness.

Mr. Williams was hardly bored or had reached the end of his creativity......he was simply in such horrendous emotional pain and wanted it to stop. The world can see a psychical ailment.....it's the emotional pain that is invisible. I'm sure Robin new he was loved.....but was unable to take it in and did not feel lovable in the depth of his emotional pain.
He had issues just like everyone....but on a much grander scale. His money woes were a concern.......his just had more zeros on the end.
I too mourn his untimely passing, but his legend he has left us was a gift of laughter and love......and I thank him for that. His wit and generosity will surely follow us for many more decades as we remember him throughout our life.
I'm sure he has gone on to get the help and that he is whole and has obtained the peace he was after. RIP Mr. Williams!

Rest in Peace dear Robin ...
thank you for sharing yourself with us for a time ...
thank you for the smiles and laughter that made you
feel like a friend who wanted everyone to feel good...

Someone here posted that Robin's wife said he was in the beginning stages of Parkinson's disease, not a pleasant way to go. If that's true, I can totally understand and respect Robin's decision to end his life rather than go through that agony.