The acting world lost one of its greats this week, with the death of legendary comic Robin Williams. While he left his mark as a gifted and talented actor, which will live on through his voluminous body of work, it is more of what Williams didn’t say that could be his true legacy.
Across the social-media world, many people have commented that they’re surprised how affected they feel by Williams’ suicide. Certainly, the impact is nothing compared to what his family and friends must be dealing with, but that fans who only knew him through the small and big screen are moved by his passing might be a telling testament to both his life and his death.
Williams was a figure who accrued fans across several generations. Following his 1970s breakout role in “Mork & Mindy,” Williams went on to build a career marked by diversity of roles: From the comedic “Good Morning, Vietman” to the thought-provoking “Dead Poets Society” to the seminal “Good Will Hunting,” Williams illustrated that he was a well-rounded actor. For kids growing up in the 1980s and ’90s, Williams’ family films were classics — “Hook,” “Aladdin” and “Jumanji” — while works like “Mrs. Doubtfire” and “The Birdcage” raised questions about gender conformity and “outness” long before LGBT issues moved toward the mainstream. Indeed, Williams was a strong LGBT ally off-screen.
Williams surely knew how to select good roles and quality films. But his appeal may have also been enhanced because it was clear to audiences that Williams made each role his own; he gave all of himself to his work, which may have felt like a personal bequest to his fans.
Coupled with his decades-long connection with fans, Williams’ passing may also be different from those of other noted celebrities because of the way it happened. The concept that a man whose career was largely focused on bringing joy to others was himself dealing with demons that would bring him to suicide is jarring. In part, it may be so discomfiting because it causes us to recognize that we truly don’t know the battles that others are waging within themselves. If depression can strike down arguably the “funniest” man of our day — someone with fame, fortune and a family — what are other people we see every day living with?
Which is where the meaning of Williams’ death may be found. Mental-health issues, depression, suicide — all are issues that still are shrouded in stigma. Perhaps Williams’ death can help frame conversations about these topics in a new way. He spent his life bringing light to the public, so hopefully his death will bring light to the darkness that plagues too many people.