1
00:00:08,675 --> 00:00:10,969
Robin! Robin!
2
00:00:10,969 --> 00:00:12,387
My name is now
Robin Williams.
3
00:00:12,387 --> 00:00:13,555
Robin...
4
00:00:13,555 --> 00:00:16,308
Williams!
5
00:00:16,308 --> 00:00:18,435
Robin Williams is top 10
legendary of all time.
6
00:00:18,435 --> 00:00:19,603
Oh, yeah.
7
00:00:19,603 --> 00:00:22,022
[narrator] Robin Williams
was a comedy giant...
8
00:00:22,022 --> 00:00:24,149
Look, it's him,
Robin Williams.
9
00:00:24,149 --> 00:00:25,567
He was a rock star.
10
00:00:25,567 --> 00:00:28,820
It must've been what it was
like to be with The Beatles.
11
00:00:28,820 --> 00:00:31,073
He just came onto the
scene, and it was just,
12
00:00:31,073 --> 00:00:32,950
you knew some shit
was going down.
13
00:00:32,950 --> 00:00:35,953
With a talent that
seemed superhuman.
14
00:00:35,953 --> 00:00:38,288
Allison, this is the police.
We know you're in there.
15
00:00:38,288 --> 00:00:40,290
The first time you see
somebody like that,
16
00:00:40,290 --> 00:00:42,000
it's like a ----ing comet.
17
00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:43,126
[Meowing]
18
00:00:43,126 --> 00:00:45,879
His mind is so quick,
and just goes with it.
19
00:00:45,879 --> 00:00:48,298
-They're back...
-[Laughing]
20
00:00:48,298 --> 00:00:51,426
Dead poets, they're angry,
they're back, they're rhyming.
21
00:00:51,426 --> 00:00:52,552
[Laughing]
22
00:00:52,552 --> 00:00:53,971
Onstage,
he was a tornado.
23
00:00:53,971 --> 00:00:55,889
I mean, now we can do like
the old water ballet movies!
24
00:00:55,889 --> 00:00:57,933
-[Singing]
-[Laughing]
25
00:00:57,933 --> 00:01:00,477
He can make you laugh,
he can make you cry.
26
00:01:00,477 --> 00:01:02,104
He can make you cry,
laughing.
27
00:01:02,104 --> 00:01:04,773
He can make you laugh
through your tears.
28
00:01:04,773 --> 00:01:06,024
Sunrise...
29
00:01:06,024 --> 00:01:08,694
His range, I couldn't
believe that one person
30
00:01:08,694 --> 00:01:11,488
could do all
those voices.
31
00:01:11,488 --> 00:01:13,865
Really just lit me up
as a kid
32
00:01:13,865 --> 00:01:16,159
And the Oscar goes to...
33
00:01:16,159 --> 00:01:17,911
Robin Williams, in
'Good Will Hunting'!
34
00:01:17,911 --> 00:01:19,371
[Cheering & applauding]
35
00:01:19,371 --> 00:01:22,999
He was a big kid, and the
world was his toy box.
36
00:01:22,999 --> 00:01:25,127
You know, cocaine is God's
way of saying you're making
37
00:01:25,127 --> 00:01:26,920
too damn much money,
you know that.
38
00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:28,213
[Laughing]
39
00:01:28,213 --> 00:01:29,965
Audiences laughed along
as he triumphed
40
00:01:29,965 --> 00:01:32,759
over immense
personal hardship.
41
00:01:32,759 --> 00:01:34,136
And alcohol is
especially dangerous
42
00:01:34,136 --> 00:01:35,512
for people like myself.
43
00:01:35,512 --> 00:01:37,556
-Alcoholics.
-[Laughing]
44
00:01:37,556 --> 00:01:39,933
Laughter, for him,
was a life preserver.
45
00:01:39,933 --> 00:01:41,393
Does it help you?
I mean...
46
00:01:41,393 --> 00:01:44,646
It's cheaper than therapy.
Much cheaper.
47
00:01:44,646 --> 00:01:46,648
He had known such deep pain,
48
00:01:46,648 --> 00:01:49,735
and known how to turn it
into something funny,
49
00:01:49,735 --> 00:01:51,320
But behind the scenes,
50
00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:53,280
Robin's life
became a nightmare.
51
00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:56,700
There was just more
anxiety and depression.
52
00:01:56,700 --> 00:01:58,618
And I would hear murmurings
and things that
53
00:01:58,618 --> 00:02:00,287
there was a
struggle going on.
54
00:02:00,287 --> 00:02:02,289
I just didn't know
that it was this bad.
55
00:02:02,289 --> 00:02:04,666
Was he losing his mind?
56
00:02:04,666 --> 00:02:07,002
Yes, absolutely.
57
00:02:07,002 --> 00:02:09,629
I got a call,
you know, Robin died.
58
00:02:09,629 --> 00:02:14,384
It was like, Robin who?
I couldn't even imagine.
59
00:02:14,384 --> 00:02:17,054
Everybody was running
amok with nonsense.
60
00:02:17,054 --> 00:02:21,516
Nobody seemed to have any
clue why or what had happened.
61
00:02:21,516 --> 00:02:24,478
Shocked fans and friends
were left asking,
62
00:02:24,478 --> 00:02:27,814
"What really happened inside
the mind of Robin Williams?"
63
00:02:27,814 --> 00:02:29,900
♪
64
00:02:29,900 --> 00:02:30,984
[Overlapping voices]
Ladies and gentlemen,
65
00:02:30,984 --> 00:02:32,319
you're about to
be entertained!
66
00:02:32,319 --> 00:02:34,571
Getting the laugh is
the greatest addiction...
67
00:02:34,571 --> 00:02:35,739
...They want more of it,
they want more of it.
68
00:02:35,739 --> 00:02:36,948
She was getting
death threats...
69
00:02:36,948 --> 00:02:39,284
It [beep] with your head!
He's out of his skull!
70
00:02:39,284 --> 00:02:40,952
That's what took her down.
This is a crazy story.
71
00:02:40,952 --> 00:02:46,458
♪
72
00:02:46,458 --> 00:02:48,293
Robin Williams grew up
in an upscale suburb
73
00:02:48,293 --> 00:02:50,253
of Detroit, Michigan.
74
00:02:50,253 --> 00:02:51,797
♪
75
00:02:51,797 --> 00:02:53,465
His father was a
Ford executive.
76
00:02:53,465 --> 00:02:55,801
His mother had a very
active social life and so,
77
00:02:55,801 --> 00:02:59,471
he spent a large amount of
time alone as a little boy.
78
00:02:59,471 --> 00:03:01,223
I'm Stanley Wilson.
79
00:03:01,223 --> 00:03:03,934
Robin was my best
friend for 42 years.
80
00:03:03,934 --> 00:03:06,561
That's where the fertile
imagination comes from.
81
00:03:06,561 --> 00:03:08,772
If you're an only child,
which sounds like a,
82
00:03:08,772 --> 00:03:10,357
kind of a blue cliche,
83
00:03:10,357 --> 00:03:11,775
but you can only play
with yourself.
84
00:03:11,775 --> 00:03:14,236
[Laughing]
Remember that, Lumpy?
85
00:03:14,236 --> 00:03:16,363
[Laughing]
86
00:03:16,363 --> 00:03:18,865
But it was basically you
had to create things,
87
00:03:18,865 --> 00:03:20,867
I mean, I had this
army of toy soldiers,
88
00:03:20,867 --> 00:03:23,078
and I'd make all the voices
and that's where it began.
89
00:03:23,078 --> 00:03:26,081
No, that's muscle.
90
00:03:26,081 --> 00:03:29,876
But, Robin's comedic
strength lies in his DNA.
91
00:03:29,876 --> 00:03:31,962
I'll never forget when
I hitchhiked out to
92
00:03:31,962 --> 00:03:33,713
spend the summer
at their house.
93
00:03:33,713 --> 00:03:36,341
His mother was hilarious,
a real card.
94
00:03:36,341 --> 00:03:38,135
She also had a wonderful
psych gag we can't do here
95
00:03:38,135 --> 00:03:39,678
where she cuts a rubber
band in half and goes-
96
00:03:39,678 --> 00:03:41,179
[Sucking]
97
00:03:41,179 --> 00:03:43,765
Just this wonderful,
joyous southern belle...
98
00:03:43,765 --> 00:03:45,684
who was the life of the party.
99
00:03:45,684 --> 00:03:47,018
Mom, you're
gonna do this!
100
00:03:47,018 --> 00:03:50,689
Oh!
[Laughing]
101
00:03:50,689 --> 00:03:52,441
When his mother would
come home, she was
102
00:03:52,441 --> 00:03:55,444
his audience, and he would
try to make her laugh.
103
00:03:55,444 --> 00:03:57,863
He lived on a street two
streets over from me,
104
00:03:57,863 --> 00:04:00,282
and I'd known a lot of people
that wrestled with him
105
00:04:00,282 --> 00:04:02,075
in high school and
friends of mine.
106
00:04:02,075 --> 00:04:04,077
They were saying
he was just-
107
00:04:04,077 --> 00:04:06,037
would be walking around
talking to himself,
108
00:04:06,037 --> 00:04:09,958
making goofy voices and
stuff just like that.
109
00:04:09,958 --> 00:04:11,376
As Robin gets older,
110
00:04:11,376 --> 00:04:14,463
he gets serious
about his career.
111
00:04:14,463 --> 00:04:16,715
He discovered
the theatre,
112
00:04:16,715 --> 00:04:19,301
and became really
interested in it.
113
00:04:19,301 --> 00:04:23,513
He found freedom and a way
to escape himself by being
114
00:04:23,513 --> 00:04:27,017
on stage with other people,
and that was acting.
115
00:04:27,017 --> 00:04:28,727
He applies to one of the
most prestigious
116
00:04:28,727 --> 00:04:31,229
theatre schools
in the country.
117
00:04:31,229 --> 00:04:34,441
When you get your acceptance
letter to Juilliard,
118
00:04:34,441 --> 00:04:37,027
this was like the
holy grail, man.
119
00:04:37,027 --> 00:04:39,988
At Juilliard, Robin studies
alongside future
120
00:04:39,988 --> 00:04:42,365
celebrity actor,
Christopher Reeve.
121
00:04:42,365 --> 00:04:44,409
Chris and I were roommates,
and Robin would
122
00:04:44,409 --> 00:04:46,286
come to our apartment
all the time...
123
00:04:46,286 --> 00:04:48,622
And, we would just
have fun, and...
124
00:04:48,622 --> 00:04:50,916
go out and try to meet
girls on the East Side.
125
00:04:50,916 --> 00:04:53,877
We were his best friends.
We three were like brothers.
126
00:04:53,877 --> 00:04:56,087
Robin was extraordinary.
127
00:04:56,087 --> 00:04:58,131
It was like,
good God, man.
128
00:04:58,131 --> 00:04:59,549
I thought, this guy is
probably the most
129
00:04:59,549 --> 00:05:01,635
talented person
I've ever met.
130
00:05:01,635 --> 00:05:03,136
Professor said,
"We've taught you
131
00:05:03,136 --> 00:05:04,846
everything we
can teach you.
132
00:05:04,846 --> 00:05:07,349
Being another year here
would just hold you back."
133
00:05:07,349 --> 00:05:09,976
I think he was just saying,
"You're gonna have no trouble
134
00:05:09,976 --> 00:05:12,020
if you want to leave here
because you're going to
135
00:05:12,020 --> 00:05:13,647
have a huge career
ahead of you."
136
00:05:13,647 --> 00:05:14,898
Did you get your
degree from Juilliard?
137
00:05:14,898 --> 00:05:16,274
No, I have no degree.
138
00:05:16,274 --> 00:05:18,443
I have an honourary degree
from Juilliard, which is...
139
00:05:18,443 --> 00:05:20,278
kind of like a Nerf vibrator,
you know?
140
00:05:20,278 --> 00:05:21,821
[Laughing]
141
00:05:21,821 --> 00:05:23,698
Nice to look at,
but doesn't do a lot.
142
00:05:23,698 --> 00:05:25,325
[Laughing]
143
00:05:25,325 --> 00:05:28,036
After leaving Juilliard,
Robin falls in love with
144
00:05:28,036 --> 00:05:30,622
a dancer named,
Valerie Velardi.
145
00:05:30,622 --> 00:05:32,749
Valerie helped him develop
his very beginnings of
146
00:05:32,749 --> 00:05:34,751
his stand-up act.
147
00:05:34,751 --> 00:05:36,753
Together, the couple
moves to LA
148
00:05:36,753 --> 00:05:39,172
to pursue his dreams.
149
00:05:39,172 --> 00:05:40,924
He was classically
trained from Juilliard,
150
00:05:40,924 --> 00:05:44,344
and he wasn't gonna throw
that away for nothing.
151
00:05:44,344 --> 00:05:46,304
He was gonna use the
hell out of that. [Laughing]
152
00:05:46,304 --> 00:05:47,722
My name is Rick Overton.
153
00:05:47,722 --> 00:05:51,685
I am a comedian, an actor,
and an improviser.
154
00:05:51,685 --> 00:05:54,729
In 1976, when I was a
comedian at
155
00:05:54,729 --> 00:05:56,147
Catch A Rising Star,
156
00:05:56,147 --> 00:05:57,857
Robin would burst
on the stage,
157
00:05:57,857 --> 00:05:59,526
and he would start talking
in Shakespearean verse,
158
00:05:59,526 --> 00:06:00,777
"Ah, m'ladies,
m'lords."
159
00:06:00,777 --> 00:06:02,445
Does anyone have
drugs to ease my pain?
160
00:06:02,445 --> 00:06:05,115
[Laughing]
161
00:06:05,115 --> 00:06:06,992
My kingdom for a Quaalude!
162
00:06:06,992 --> 00:06:08,368
[Laughing]
163
00:06:08,368 --> 00:06:11,162
Going from doing Shakespeare
to watching Robin do
164
00:06:11,162 --> 00:06:13,748
stand-up Shakespeare
was a real treat.
165
00:06:13,748 --> 00:06:15,834
Oh, live at 5,
live at 5!
166
00:06:15,834 --> 00:06:18,878
Half the things that
he said, I didn't hear.
167
00:06:18,878 --> 00:06:20,755
And then, I would turn to
the person next to me and go,
168
00:06:20,755 --> 00:06:21,715
"What was that?
What was that?"
169
00:06:21,715 --> 00:06:23,258
And then, I don't-
And then he's on to
170
00:06:23,258 --> 00:06:24,634
another one and you couldn't
ask, "What was that?"
171
00:06:24,634 --> 00:06:26,595
Because he was onto
something else.
172
00:06:26,595 --> 00:06:27,679
Let's just keep walking
back this way and
173
00:06:27,679 --> 00:06:28,930
check the people
who are...
174
00:06:28,930 --> 00:06:31,683
it's alright, it's almost-
we're going to learn
175
00:06:31,683 --> 00:06:33,351
some new
words tonight.
176
00:06:33,351 --> 00:06:34,728
[Laughing]
177
00:06:34,728 --> 00:06:40,025
His ability to interact with
an audience was amazing.
178
00:06:40,025 --> 00:06:42,777
They loved him,
and he loved them.
179
00:06:42,777 --> 00:06:44,529
To life,
and to happiness.
180
00:06:44,529 --> 00:06:47,574
May we all stay crazy and
live the bitchin' life!
181
00:06:47,574 --> 00:06:51,244
-Salut!
-[Cheering]
182
00:06:51,244 --> 00:06:53,038
First time I ever saw
Robin Williams was
183
00:06:53,038 --> 00:06:54,539
at the Westwood
Comedy Store.
184
00:06:54,539 --> 00:06:56,999
You know what it is?
Anybody have any idea?
185
00:06:56,999 --> 00:07:00,170
And he stands out,
the funniest guy,
186
00:07:00,170 --> 00:07:02,547
meaning a regular-
like a Boosler,
187
00:07:02,547 --> 00:07:04,132
a Letterman,
they were funny.
188
00:07:04,132 --> 00:07:05,925
Not like Robin.
189
00:07:05,925 --> 00:07:07,427
In the Soviet Union,
not laugh, go-
190
00:07:07,427 --> 00:07:09,054
[Clapping]
Funny.
191
00:07:09,054 --> 00:07:10,388
[Laughing]
192
00:07:10,388 --> 00:07:13,725
I remember he was introduced
as Russia's top comedian,
193
00:07:13,725 --> 00:07:15,143
Nikki Lennon.
194
00:07:15,143 --> 00:07:16,770
We have a special
guest tonight,
195
00:07:16,770 --> 00:07:19,481
the limousine just pulled up
from the Russian Embassy.
196
00:07:19,481 --> 00:07:22,942
This is the height of the
Cold War, and Robin in this...
197
00:07:22,942 --> 00:07:27,906
blue suit with a t-shirt and
a funny beanie hat
198
00:07:27,906 --> 00:07:29,658
with a chicken
in his hand.
199
00:07:29,658 --> 00:07:31,785
Ran up to the stage,
and he ran around before
200
00:07:31,785 --> 00:07:34,871
he said anything, and then
he went, "America!
201
00:07:34,871 --> 00:07:39,125
---- a duck!" And the crowd-
never seen anything like it-
202
00:07:39,125 --> 00:07:40,502
they went crazy.
203
00:07:40,502 --> 00:07:43,171
And he just went on and on
in this character for...
204
00:07:43,171 --> 00:07:45,423
15 minutes,
without breaking.
205
00:07:45,423 --> 00:07:48,343
----- a duck.
-[Laughing]
206
00:07:48,343 --> 00:07:50,303
Cheap shot, no way.
207
00:07:50,303 --> 00:07:52,263
He just came onto the
scene, and it was just,
208
00:07:52,263 --> 00:07:54,099
you knew some shit was
going down, you know,
209
00:07:54,099 --> 00:07:55,225
with this guy.
210
00:07:55,225 --> 00:07:57,268
I shall die here on this
big broke sauna.
211
00:07:57,268 --> 00:08:00,814
[Laughing]
212
00:08:00,814 --> 00:08:03,525
I'm melting!
213
00:08:03,525 --> 00:08:06,361
-[Shrieking]
-[Applauding]
214
00:08:06,361 --> 00:08:11,324
Industry heavyweights
recognized Robin's raw talent.
215
00:08:11,324 --> 00:08:14,577
Gary Marshall was
the king of sitcom.
216
00:08:14,577 --> 00:08:16,830
♪ Sunday, Monday,
Happy Days! ♪
217
00:08:16,830 --> 00:08:20,083
Gary Marshall's son had
an idea for him to play
218
00:08:20,083 --> 00:08:22,711
a space guy
on 'Happy Days'.
219
00:08:22,711 --> 00:08:24,045
Wait a minute,
who are you?
220
00:08:24,045 --> 00:08:25,547
I am Mork,
from Mork.
221
00:08:25,547 --> 00:08:27,966
Kapazza! [Laughing]
222
00:08:27,966 --> 00:08:30,927
[Indistinct buzzing]
[Laughing]
223
00:08:30,927 --> 00:08:34,305
Gary Marshall was so thrilled
with Robin's appearance
224
00:08:34,305 --> 00:08:37,434
that he created
the show for him.
225
00:08:37,434 --> 00:08:40,520
♪
226
00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:41,730
He called me going,
"You won't believe it.
227
00:08:41,730 --> 00:08:44,190
I was on 'Happy Days', and
now I have my own series."
228
00:08:44,190 --> 00:08:47,652
Mork is an alien who
arrives on planet Earth.
229
00:08:47,652 --> 00:08:49,988
Oh, wow, surf's up!
230
00:08:49,988 --> 00:08:51,740
They wrote the right
show for him, an alien.
231
00:08:51,740 --> 00:08:53,366
Where the hell
did he come from?
232
00:08:53,366 --> 00:08:54,826
Fly, be free!
233
00:08:54,826 --> 00:08:56,870
[Laughing]
234
00:08:56,870 --> 00:08:59,122
But I was there for the
shooting of the pilot.
235
00:08:59,122 --> 00:09:01,499
No one could know
what to expect.
236
00:09:01,499 --> 00:09:04,878
Your honour,
the defence rests.
237
00:09:04,878 --> 00:09:07,297
He was so good in
that pilot, and he and
238
00:09:07,297 --> 00:09:09,924
Pam Dawber were so
beautiful together...
239
00:09:09,924 --> 00:09:12,385
-Like this?
-Yeah.
240
00:09:12,385 --> 00:09:13,595
It just clicked!
241
00:09:13,595 --> 00:09:14,971
Something strange
over there...
242
00:09:14,971 --> 00:09:16,222
He had jokes going.
243
00:09:16,222 --> 00:09:18,308
You would see he
got a new thought,
244
00:09:18,308 --> 00:09:21,186
and that sparkle
in his eyes,
245
00:09:21,186 --> 00:09:24,314
they literally
sparkled like jewels.
246
00:09:24,314 --> 00:09:27,108
♪
247
00:09:27,108 --> 00:09:29,027
I remember, it aired.
248
00:09:29,027 --> 00:09:32,197
The next day,
he was a superstar.
249
00:09:32,197 --> 00:09:35,283
To see him go from just a
guy that we all knew was
250
00:09:35,283 --> 00:09:38,203
gonna be huge,
to the next day,
251
00:09:38,203 --> 00:09:41,498
he's on People Magazine,
US Magazine,
252
00:09:41,498 --> 00:09:44,292
everybody else knew
what we knew.
253
00:09:44,292 --> 00:09:45,418
And when it first starts
happening, you're going,
254
00:09:45,418 --> 00:09:47,170
they know who I am!
255
00:09:47,170 --> 00:09:48,421
You can start getting
tables at restaurants.
256
00:09:48,421 --> 00:09:49,798
Before, they went,
"I'm sorry, Monsieur,
257
00:09:49,798 --> 00:09:51,841
we don't take your type."
258
00:09:51,841 --> 00:09:53,927
Newly famous and
newly married,
259
00:09:53,927 --> 00:09:57,263
Robin's life is an
exhilarating whirlwind.
260
00:09:57,263 --> 00:09:59,849
Everybody in Hollywood
and New York
261
00:09:59,849 --> 00:10:01,726
just wanted to
party with Robin.
262
00:10:01,726 --> 00:10:04,604
You just loved being around
Robin Williams.
263
00:10:04,604 --> 00:10:06,314
You get happy.
264
00:10:06,314 --> 00:10:08,983
I just thought, man,
this guy has it all.
265
00:10:08,983 --> 00:10:12,320
So talented, he married
the prettiest woman
266
00:10:12,320 --> 00:10:14,447
I'd ever seen in my life
at that point.
267
00:10:14,447 --> 00:10:16,366
And so sweet and nice.
268
00:10:16,366 --> 00:10:18,326
He's got everything.
269
00:10:18,326 --> 00:10:19,786
And the money was great.
270
00:10:19,786 --> 00:10:22,455
The whole world
was his oyster.
271
00:10:22,455 --> 00:10:25,124
But that sudden fame
comes at a price-
272
00:10:25,124 --> 00:10:27,335
he can't get away
from the spotlight.
273
00:10:27,335 --> 00:10:29,379
It's a little scary.
I mean, today's scary,
274
00:10:29,379 --> 00:10:31,673
all the crowds, and people
surround you asking for stuff.
275
00:10:31,673 --> 00:10:33,216
When you're that famous,
276
00:10:33,216 --> 00:10:35,301
everybody wants
something from you.
277
00:10:35,301 --> 00:10:38,096
Outside of Paramount,
people would be lined up.
278
00:10:38,096 --> 00:10:41,766
When we went to location,
people were lined up
279
00:10:41,766 --> 00:10:43,768
just to get a peek at him.
280
00:10:43,768 --> 00:10:45,395
It's a like a drug,
the fame and success.
281
00:10:45,395 --> 00:10:47,605
So, part of him likes it
because he loves people.
282
00:10:47,605 --> 00:10:49,774
But, he cherished
his time alone,
283
00:10:49,774 --> 00:10:52,068
when he didn't have to be on,
or when he didn't
284
00:10:52,068 --> 00:10:54,028
have to make
everybody laugh.
285
00:10:54,028 --> 00:10:57,615
He was always kind, and
smiling, and appreciative.
286
00:10:57,615 --> 00:11:00,243
But I also saw
the other side.
287
00:11:00,243 --> 00:11:03,496
He has turned down all
requests for interviews,
288
00:11:03,496 --> 00:11:06,040
photos, and
filming of his act.
289
00:11:06,040 --> 00:11:08,668
Robin's highs were so high,
290
00:11:08,668 --> 00:11:10,837
and his lows were often low.
291
00:11:10,837 --> 00:11:14,674
It's a paradox he'll battle
for the rest of his life.
292
00:11:14,674 --> 00:11:15,675
When you're a celebrity,
everybody wants
293
00:11:15,675 --> 00:11:18,177
a piece of you, sir.
Unless you can say, 'No',
294
00:11:18,177 --> 00:11:20,096
there will be no pieces
left for yourself.
295
00:11:29,272 --> 00:11:31,190
This is something that
I think would make
296
00:11:31,190 --> 00:11:32,901
any person in
show business.
297
00:11:32,901 --> 00:11:34,485
I mean, it's the cover
of Time Magazine.
298
00:11:34,485 --> 00:11:35,695
Did you ever imagine
it would get to that?
299
00:11:35,695 --> 00:11:37,488
No, it's still a
little strange.
300
00:11:37,488 --> 00:11:39,407
That is incredible.
301
00:11:39,407 --> 00:11:41,534
Robin Williams breaks out
as Mork
302
00:11:41,534 --> 00:11:44,203
at the start of the new
comedy boom.
303
00:11:44,203 --> 00:11:46,581
It was the new
rock and roll.
304
00:11:46,581 --> 00:11:49,417
1978, stand-up comedy
is hotter than
305
00:11:49,417 --> 00:11:51,085
you could ever imagine.
306
00:11:51,085 --> 00:11:55,798
Every club, even those clubs
in cities that are hosting
307
00:11:55,798 --> 00:12:00,219
unknowns like myself are lined
up for 3 shows a night,
308
00:12:00,219 --> 00:12:03,598
just to get a seat to sit in
front of a stand-up comic.
309
00:12:03,598 --> 00:12:05,266
Robin Williams!
310
00:12:05,266 --> 00:12:07,143
But even as a
massive TV star,
311
00:12:07,143 --> 00:12:09,145
Robin keeps
popping up in small clubs
312
00:12:09,145 --> 00:12:11,022
around
North America.
313
00:12:11,022 --> 00:12:13,232
♪
314
00:12:13,232 --> 00:12:16,527
Robin shows up to do
a set in Toronto, Canada
315
00:12:16,527 --> 00:12:20,198
and his reputation
preceded him as the hottest
316
00:12:20,198 --> 00:12:24,285
young comic out of LA
and from television.
317
00:12:24,285 --> 00:12:26,579
I was working out
in San Francisco,
318
00:12:26,579 --> 00:12:29,749
at a little urine-smelling,
beat up log cabin of a club
319
00:12:29,749 --> 00:12:31,459
called The Holy City Zoo.
320
00:12:31,459 --> 00:12:33,336
And one night, he comes in,
he's wearing a beret,
321
00:12:33,336 --> 00:12:35,129
and I go, "That's not him.
Is it him?
322
00:12:35,129 --> 00:12:37,048
What would he be doing
here? Nah, it's not him."
323
00:12:37,048 --> 00:12:38,967
This is really too
much fun, too early.
324
00:12:38,967 --> 00:12:41,177
-[Laughing]
-This is scary.
325
00:12:41,177 --> 00:12:43,388
My drugs are coming on
now too, look. [Zooming]
326
00:12:43,388 --> 00:12:46,182
He could never get
enough stage time.
327
00:12:46,182 --> 00:12:48,351
He could never-
he needed it.
328
00:12:48,351 --> 00:12:51,604
[Laughing]
329
00:12:51,604 --> 00:12:53,189
Hold on...
330
00:12:53,189 --> 00:12:54,857
Watch now, he can
either be very funny
331
00:12:54,857 --> 00:12:56,317
or break his ass.
332
00:12:56,317 --> 00:12:57,777
[Laughing]
333
00:12:57,777 --> 00:12:59,821
Robin has to balance
his stand-up gigs with a
334
00:12:59,821 --> 00:13:03,533
demanding schedule
on 'Mork & Mindy'.
335
00:13:03,533 --> 00:13:05,660
We'd shoot two
shows on Friday.
336
00:13:05,660 --> 00:13:07,203
It was a long day.
337
00:13:07,203 --> 00:13:09,205
We'd start at 10AM
in the morning,
338
00:13:09,205 --> 00:13:12,083
and after we wrapped
Friday night,
339
00:13:12,083 --> 00:13:14,585
we would then go to
the Comedy Store,
340
00:13:14,585 --> 00:13:16,421
where Robin would
do a set there.
341
00:13:16,421 --> 00:13:18,381
And then, we'd book
it over to The Improv.
342
00:13:18,381 --> 00:13:19,924
And then sometimes
after that,
343
00:13:19,924 --> 00:13:22,719
we'd go to The
Candy Store.
344
00:13:22,719 --> 00:13:25,096
Because, it hadn't been
a long enough day.
345
00:13:25,096 --> 00:13:26,556
You know, people see you
and they probably think
346
00:13:26,556 --> 00:13:28,683
you experiment with, ah...
347
00:13:28,683 --> 00:13:30,309
Foreign substances
in your body.
348
00:13:30,309 --> 00:13:32,478
-Medication, you mean.
-Yeah, something like that.
349
00:13:32,478 --> 00:13:34,063
What makes you
say that anyway?
350
00:13:34,063 --> 00:13:35,732
-[Laughing]
-No...
351
00:13:35,732 --> 00:13:36,649
Not me.
352
00:13:36,649 --> 00:13:38,109
He was so hyper onstage,
353
00:13:38,109 --> 00:13:40,611
we thought that
the cocaine was...
354
00:13:40,611 --> 00:13:42,488
pumping him up.
355
00:13:42,488 --> 00:13:44,699
Did Robin do drugs?
356
00:13:44,699 --> 00:13:47,368
I'm not sure, but I know
he went to the back of
357
00:13:47,368 --> 00:13:49,412
The Comedy Store.
I'll tell you that.
358
00:13:49,412 --> 00:13:50,413
I know what was
going on in the
359
00:13:50,413 --> 00:13:51,581
back of
The Comedy Store.
360
00:13:51,581 --> 00:13:53,082
He was funny onstage,
and he went to
361
00:13:53,082 --> 00:13:54,834
the back of
The Comedy Store.
362
00:13:54,834 --> 00:13:56,461
Yeah, he did drugs.
363
00:13:56,461 --> 00:13:59,922
In the early 80s, cocaine
was just something
364
00:13:59,922 --> 00:14:03,634
that was around,
and that people would do.
365
00:14:03,634 --> 00:14:05,636
I saw him do one thing,
366
00:14:05,636 --> 00:14:08,556
and I had a talk right then
when it happened.
367
00:14:08,556 --> 00:14:10,975
He said, ah...
368
00:14:10,975 --> 00:14:12,518
"Know anybody
with any blow?
369
00:14:12,518 --> 00:14:14,771
I have to go on, I can't go
on without the blow."
370
00:14:14,771 --> 00:14:17,065
And I sat down and go,
"I'm gonna help you."
371
00:14:17,065 --> 00:14:18,274
He goes,
"You have blow?" I go,
372
00:14:18,274 --> 00:14:20,068
"No. Are you out of
your ----ing mind?
373
00:14:20,068 --> 00:14:23,905
You're Robin Williams!"
And then after that,
374
00:14:23,905 --> 00:14:26,908
I don't think he would get
high when he had to perform.
375
00:14:26,908 --> 00:14:29,368
You know, afterwards
was another story.
376
00:14:29,368 --> 00:14:31,454
You'd walk offstage, and
people would just
377
00:14:31,454 --> 00:14:33,498
walk up to you and go,
"Hey, you want a bump?
378
00:14:33,498 --> 00:14:35,541
You want a bump?
You want to snort?"
379
00:14:35,541 --> 00:14:37,627
When you did have
that kind of fame,
380
00:14:37,627 --> 00:14:41,130
drugs were just
given to you.
381
00:14:41,130 --> 00:14:42,965
One night, we went to
this place called
382
00:14:42,965 --> 00:14:45,843
Flipper's Discotheque,
in Hollywood.
383
00:14:45,843 --> 00:14:49,806
And I had like a,
like a gram of coke.
384
00:14:49,806 --> 00:14:51,557
Robin said, "Ooh,
let me take that.
385
00:14:51,557 --> 00:14:53,684
Do you mind if I grab a hit
off that in the bathroom?"
386
00:14:53,684 --> 00:14:57,522
And I- he came back,
and it was empty.
387
00:14:57,522 --> 00:15:00,066
You know, it was like,
whoa, you know,
388
00:15:00,066 --> 00:15:02,652
it was like 8:15 at night.
389
00:15:02,652 --> 00:15:05,196
It's like, "Robin, you did
a whole gram?"
390
00:15:05,196 --> 00:15:07,281
"It was an accident,
I'm sorry."
391
00:15:07,281 --> 00:15:11,994
With drugs,
he was a monster.
392
00:15:11,994 --> 00:15:16,207
In 1980, Robin experiences
another kind of high...
393
00:15:16,207 --> 00:15:19,752
a leading role in a
major studio film.
394
00:15:19,752 --> 00:15:21,754
Do you have any
preconceived notion of
395
00:15:21,754 --> 00:15:23,381
how you're
gonna do Popeye?
396
00:15:23,381 --> 00:15:25,258
Ah, can you talk
about that at all?
397
00:15:25,258 --> 00:15:26,634
No, I'm just starting
to train for it now.
398
00:15:26,634 --> 00:15:27,760
Do a lot of acrobatics
and work-
399
00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:29,095
and some man's helping
with voice.
400
00:15:29,095 --> 00:15:30,471
I'm just, he's just-
It's a lot of-
401
00:15:30,471 --> 00:15:32,974
[Nasal vocalizations]
402
00:15:32,974 --> 00:15:34,475
-Is that the voice?
-Not yet.
403
00:15:34,475 --> 00:15:35,810
-Ah.
-[Laughing]
404
00:15:35,810 --> 00:15:37,186
That's just like the
beginning of the voice.
405
00:15:37,186 --> 00:15:40,189
It's like a baby, but like,
[Nasal vocalizations]
406
00:15:40,189 --> 00:15:45,778
'Popeye' was a wonderful, big
break for him to enter film,
407
00:15:45,778 --> 00:15:47,822
being, you know,
in that, strange,
408
00:15:47,822 --> 00:15:51,534
safe place that being a
character- "Ah-ga-ga-ga".
409
00:15:51,534 --> 00:15:53,202
How do you pull
off Popeye?
410
00:15:53,202 --> 00:15:56,581
What am I?
I'm Popeye, the sailor.
411
00:15:56,581 --> 00:15:59,208
We were shooting 'More & Mindy'
when he did 'Popeye'.
412
00:15:59,208 --> 00:16:02,336
And, he would have trainers
come to the set for dancing,
413
00:16:02,336 --> 00:16:04,338
or singing, or
different things.
414
00:16:04,338 --> 00:16:06,299
He was very excited about it.
415
00:16:06,299 --> 00:16:08,885
I thought it was great
because I knew
416
00:16:08,885 --> 00:16:12,972
he always wanted to do
something weightier than
417
00:16:12,972 --> 00:16:15,391
'Mork And Mindy'
was for him.
418
00:16:15,391 --> 00:16:17,685
This is his way to
get away from Mork.
419
00:16:17,685 --> 00:16:18,853
I think he thought
that this is
420
00:16:18,853 --> 00:16:20,688
his real shot at
movie stardom.
421
00:16:20,688 --> 00:16:22,940
I thought 'Popeye' was
a whole lot of fun.
422
00:16:22,940 --> 00:16:24,859
I recommend it for
the whole family.
423
00:16:24,859 --> 00:16:27,862
I remember when we all
stood in line for 'Popeye',
424
00:16:27,862 --> 00:16:29,280
it seemed like
it was, you know,
425
00:16:29,280 --> 00:16:31,991
destined to be a big hit.
426
00:16:31,991 --> 00:16:36,704
But Robin's film debut is a
box office disappointment.
427
00:16:36,704 --> 00:16:38,873
'Popeye' was a huge flop.
428
00:16:38,873 --> 00:16:43,169
'Popeye' is an unsung
masterpiece that
429
00:16:43,169 --> 00:16:45,129
came out at
the wrong time.
430
00:16:45,129 --> 00:16:49,425
If you released it now,
people would go crazy for it.
431
00:16:49,425 --> 00:16:52,428
I think Robin was really
scared about
432
00:16:52,428 --> 00:16:56,641
what his future film
career may be.
433
00:16:56,641 --> 00:16:59,393
He had a whole lot
on his shoulders.
434
00:16:59,393 --> 00:17:02,104
And his marriage was having
some troubles at that point.
435
00:17:02,104 --> 00:17:06,067
It was hard for Robin to
balance his personal life and
436
00:17:06,067 --> 00:17:09,445
try to be a good
husband, and be...
437
00:17:09,445 --> 00:17:12,240
be owned by the world.
438
00:17:12,240 --> 00:17:14,575
Robin starts showing up
late and exhausted to
439
00:17:14,575 --> 00:17:16,410
the 'Mork & Mindy' set.
440
00:17:16,410 --> 00:17:20,623
It's clear that
something is off.
441
00:17:20,623 --> 00:17:22,458
Hold on, we'll get
lots of people in here!
442
00:17:22,458 --> 00:17:24,460
Yo, free cocaine,
come on in!
443
00:17:24,460 --> 00:17:25,836
[Laughing]
444
00:17:25,836 --> 00:17:28,631
I can't tell you how many
times Robin came onstage at
445
00:17:28,631 --> 00:17:33,261
The Comedy Store and a big
part of his routine was
446
00:17:33,261 --> 00:17:36,222
cocaine and, and the
drugs that he had done.
447
00:17:36,222 --> 00:17:37,723
And even though
everybody was laughing,
448
00:17:37,723 --> 00:17:40,309
and it was really funny,
he was really doing a
449
00:17:40,309 --> 00:17:43,312
lot of cocaine,
you know, so...
450
00:17:43,312 --> 00:17:45,940
he found the
funny side of it,
451
00:17:45,940 --> 00:17:49,193
but ultimately,
it was real.
452
00:17:49,193 --> 00:17:53,030
And really, it's not funny,
but that's who he is.
453
00:17:53,030 --> 00:17:55,658
You're lying in bed, in a
big pool of your own sweat,
454
00:17:55,658 --> 00:17:58,661
with Buddy Rich on your
heart going- [Drumming]
455
00:17:58,661 --> 00:18:02,623
I remember, there was an
evening at The Candy Store
456
00:18:02,623 --> 00:18:05,084
when it had been closed
down to everyone,
457
00:18:05,084 --> 00:18:09,046
and Robin would talk about
the evils of cocaine
458
00:18:09,046 --> 00:18:11,382
at 5 o'clock in the
morning when...
459
00:18:11,382 --> 00:18:13,301
you know, no one
else was there.
460
00:18:13,301 --> 00:18:15,678
[Snorting] Agh!
461
00:18:15,678 --> 00:18:17,096
What was in that, man?
462
00:18:17,096 --> 00:18:18,764
Fiberglass.
463
00:18:18,764 --> 00:18:22,059
There was a very famous
line that Robin had...
464
00:18:22,059 --> 00:18:23,936
You know, cocaine is
God's way of saying,
465
00:18:23,936 --> 00:18:27,023
"You're making too damn
much money, you know that?"
466
00:18:27,023 --> 00:18:30,276
Robin was running with a
lot of really scary figures,
467
00:18:30,276 --> 00:18:34,905
and Robin himself was kind of
a scary figure for a while.
468
00:18:34,905 --> 00:18:37,616
No one is more notorious
for hard partying
469
00:18:37,616 --> 00:18:40,453
than Robin's pal,
John Belushi.
470
00:18:40,453 --> 00:18:42,872
John and Robin
were both wild men,
471
00:18:42,872 --> 00:18:45,291
because they would
say and do anything.
472
00:18:45,291 --> 00:18:47,293
But Robin and I went
to On The Rocks,
473
00:18:47,293 --> 00:18:49,337
which was a club and,
we were up there,
474
00:18:49,337 --> 00:18:51,047
and John was in there.
475
00:18:51,047 --> 00:18:54,008
John had his own bungalow
at the Chateau Marmont,
476
00:18:54,008 --> 00:18:58,721
and John invited Robin over
to see him on his way home.
477
00:18:58,721 --> 00:19:01,682
So, he stopped in at
the Chateau, saw John,
478
00:19:01,682 --> 00:19:04,852
and then he left and went
home in the wee, wee hours,
479
00:19:04,852 --> 00:19:06,312
'cause he had to shoot
'Mork & Mindy' the next morning,
480
00:19:06,312 --> 00:19:08,689
at 8 in the morning.
481
00:19:08,689 --> 00:19:11,359
I went over the next day
to visit him on the set,
482
00:19:11,359 --> 00:19:14,236
and Pam Dawber came over,
looking very distraught
483
00:19:14,236 --> 00:19:16,864
and said, "You won't
believe it, John is dead."
484
00:19:16,864 --> 00:19:19,575
Robin said, "John who?" And
she goes, "John Belushi."
485
00:19:19,575 --> 00:19:21,786
♪
486
00:19:21,786 --> 00:19:24,580
He goes, "Bullshit, I just
saw him. I just saw him
487
00:19:24,580 --> 00:19:26,791
3 or 4 hours ago."
She goes,
488
00:19:26,791 --> 00:19:30,002
"No, he's died of a
drug overdose."
489
00:19:30,002 --> 00:19:31,253
Just like someone threw a
490
00:19:31,253 --> 00:19:33,964
bucket of ice cold
water on him.
491
00:19:33,964 --> 00:19:36,092
Robin just looked
like a ghost.
492
00:19:44,975 --> 00:19:47,686
Comic actor John Belushi
died today at the rented
493
00:19:47,686 --> 00:19:50,689
hotel bungalow in the
Hollywood Hills.
494
00:19:50,689 --> 00:19:53,943
In 1982, Robin
Williams is reeling from
495
00:19:53,943 --> 00:19:57,696
the overdose of his
friend, John Belushi.
496
00:19:57,696 --> 00:20:00,074
After John Belushi
passed away,
497
00:20:00,074 --> 00:20:02,076
that scared the
hell out of him.
498
00:20:02,076 --> 00:20:03,577
When you're in
your early 30s,
499
00:20:03,577 --> 00:20:05,579
you're in the prime
of physical health,
500
00:20:05,579 --> 00:20:07,164
you don't think that,
you know,
501
00:20:07,164 --> 00:20:09,458
you can die by going out
and partying too much.
502
00:20:09,458 --> 00:20:11,419
This guy was as strong as
anybody you could ever meet.
503
00:20:11,419 --> 00:20:12,336
I mean, a bull.
504
00:20:12,336 --> 00:20:14,505
John, for a laugh,
could run into that wall.
505
00:20:14,505 --> 00:20:16,966
He'd get up and do it again.
So, if it took him out,
506
00:20:16,966 --> 00:20:20,761
you realize that, you know,
we're all pretty mortal.
507
00:20:20,761 --> 00:20:23,556
As one of the last
to see Belushi alive,
508
00:20:23,556 --> 00:20:26,142
Robin is asked to testify
before a grand jury
509
00:20:26,142 --> 00:20:28,853
investigating his death.
510
00:20:28,853 --> 00:20:31,355
On top of being sad, he's
freaked completely out that
511
00:20:31,355 --> 00:20:33,441
John was dead, the fact
that what you do at night,
512
00:20:33,441 --> 00:20:35,401
you can end up talking
about it in court,
513
00:20:35,401 --> 00:20:37,528
that's a scary thing.
514
00:20:37,528 --> 00:20:41,490
He's also taking on a life
-changing responsibility.
515
00:20:41,490 --> 00:20:42,992
I don't think we have
seen each other since
516
00:20:42,992 --> 00:20:44,034
you became a father.
517
00:20:44,034 --> 00:20:45,244
Your wife had
a baby, right?
518
00:20:45,244 --> 00:20:46,454
Oh, yes, oh, I find the
hardest part of
519
00:20:46,454 --> 00:20:47,830
being a father
is breastfeeding.
520
00:20:47,830 --> 00:20:49,540
[Laughing]
521
00:20:49,540 --> 00:20:52,543
The child's going,
"There's nothing there!"
522
00:20:52,543 --> 00:20:54,420
Fatherhood is
everything to him.
523
00:20:54,420 --> 00:20:55,713
All of these things
conspired to
524
00:20:55,713 --> 00:20:58,048
really help him
clean up.
525
00:20:58,048 --> 00:20:59,592
He stopped partying.
526
00:20:59,592 --> 00:21:01,218
He stopped partying,
you know,
527
00:21:01,218 --> 00:21:03,804
before people were
done partying with him.
528
00:21:03,804 --> 00:21:04,930
You can't do
cocaine with a baby.
529
00:21:04,930 --> 00:21:05,848
You can't come at a
5 o'clock, going,
530
00:21:05,848 --> 00:21:07,349
"Hey, 5 o'clock in the
morning, play time!"
531
00:21:07,349 --> 00:21:08,392
[Laughing]
532
00:21:08,392 --> 00:21:10,478
"Do you love, Daddy?
I know you don't.
533
00:21:10,478 --> 00:21:13,564
Here's the key, look at the
key, look at the key, woo!"
534
00:21:13,564 --> 00:21:16,275
"Father, please!"
535
00:21:16,275 --> 00:21:18,652
Robin just did it
cold turkey, man.
536
00:21:18,652 --> 00:21:21,363
He knew what an amazing
instrument that he had,
537
00:21:21,363 --> 00:21:23,574
and that it all is
related to his mind,
538
00:21:23,574 --> 00:21:25,576
and his imagination,
and his wit.
539
00:21:25,576 --> 00:21:27,411
And the more stuff
you do to deaden that,
540
00:21:27,411 --> 00:21:29,997
the more you're gonna burn
some more brain cells.
541
00:21:29,997 --> 00:21:32,166
And Robin didn't
want to do that.
542
00:21:32,166 --> 00:21:35,211
[Cheering & applauding]
543
00:21:35,211 --> 00:21:38,380
Newly sober,
Robin's career soars.
544
00:21:38,380 --> 00:21:41,425
Ah, damn, what the
---- am I doing here?
545
00:21:41,425 --> 00:21:42,426
This is incredible.
546
00:21:42,426 --> 00:21:43,427
How do you get to
The Met?
547
00:21:43,427 --> 00:21:46,639
Money. Lots and
lots of money.
548
00:21:46,639 --> 00:21:48,682
'Robin Williams
Live at The Met' was
549
00:21:48,682 --> 00:21:52,478
a real breakthrough
kind of show for him
550
00:21:52,478 --> 00:21:54,772
because he had
his act together,
551
00:21:54,772 --> 00:21:56,982
put certain
habits behind him.
552
00:21:56,982 --> 00:21:58,067
A little sip of
Perrier here.
553
00:21:58,067 --> 00:21:59,777
I had to stop drinking
alcohol because I used to
554
00:21:59,777 --> 00:22:01,570
wake up nude in my car
with my keys in my ass.
555
00:22:01,570 --> 00:22:03,239
[Laughing]
556
00:22:03,239 --> 00:22:05,074
He could still talk about
all the things that
557
00:22:05,074 --> 00:22:07,409
he had let go, but from
the perspective,
558
00:22:07,409 --> 00:22:08,911
you're on the
other side of it.
559
00:22:08,911 --> 00:22:10,162
You have this dream where
you're doing cocaine
560
00:22:10,162 --> 00:22:11,247
in your sleep, and you
can't fall asleep,
561
00:22:11,247 --> 00:22:12,206
and you're doing
cocaine in your sleep,
562
00:22:12,206 --> 00:22:13,290
and you can't fall asleep.
563
00:22:13,290 --> 00:22:15,417
And you wake up and you're
doing cocaine, bingo!
564
00:22:15,417 --> 00:22:17,169
[Laughing]
565
00:22:17,169 --> 00:22:19,547
His movie career
is in full flight.
566
00:22:19,547 --> 00:22:21,257
It's called
'Hello, Vietnam'.
567
00:22:21,257 --> 00:22:22,508
'Good Morning,
Vietnam'.
568
00:22:22,508 --> 00:22:23,467
'Hello, Vietnam'
would've been better.
569
00:22:23,467 --> 00:22:25,427
Then we could do
it as a musical.
570
00:22:25,427 --> 00:22:27,555
[Singing]
Hello, Vietnam!
571
00:22:27,555 --> 00:22:29,056
A lot of actors,
572
00:22:29,056 --> 00:22:32,309
you have a 'Popeye'
on your resume,
573
00:22:32,309 --> 00:22:34,103
and you're probably
not gonna get
574
00:22:34,103 --> 00:22:36,355
serious roles after that.
575
00:22:36,355 --> 00:22:40,776
But, somehow, Robin
was able to adapt.
576
00:22:40,776 --> 00:22:43,112
My name is Jenny Fields.
Are you a prostitute?
577
00:22:43,112 --> 00:22:44,572
-What's it to you?
-Hello!
578
00:22:44,572 --> 00:22:45,614
My name is Garth.
579
00:22:45,614 --> 00:22:46,657
My mother and I
were just passing-
580
00:22:46,657 --> 00:22:47,992
Your mother?
581
00:22:47,992 --> 00:22:52,037
The comics didn't know he's
a Juilliard trained performer.
582
00:22:52,037 --> 00:22:55,416
So, when the acting comes
around, it's like, boom!
583
00:22:55,416 --> 00:22:57,418
It's not a comic
gonna try to act.
584
00:22:57,418 --> 00:22:58,877
It's an actor.
585
00:22:58,877 --> 00:23:01,213
The nominees for best
performance by an actor...
586
00:23:01,213 --> 00:23:03,382
After he stopped staying out
half the night
587
00:23:03,382 --> 00:23:04,883
many nights a week...
588
00:23:04,883 --> 00:23:07,094
Robin Williams,
'Moscow on the Hudson'.
589
00:23:07,094 --> 00:23:09,096
...you have more time to
think about your career,
590
00:23:09,096 --> 00:23:11,140
and choose your
roles carefully.
591
00:23:11,140 --> 00:23:15,769
Robin Williams in
'Good Morning, Vietnam'!
592
00:23:15,769 --> 00:23:17,605
That was his shining dime.
593
00:23:17,605 --> 00:23:20,899
Robin Williams, for
'Dead Poet's Society'.
594
00:23:20,899 --> 00:23:23,110
But while Robin's
career is on overdrive,
595
00:23:23,110 --> 00:23:26,614
his personal life gets
torn apart by the press.
596
00:23:26,614 --> 00:23:29,992
Him and his wife had
separated, but not publicly.
597
00:23:29,992 --> 00:23:32,620
And he sat down to do
this interview with
598
00:23:32,620 --> 00:23:34,913
People Magazine,
where he talked all about
599
00:23:34,913 --> 00:23:37,458
his new girlfriend
and how she was really
600
00:23:37,458 --> 00:23:40,419
bringing a breath of
fresh air into his life.
601
00:23:40,419 --> 00:23:43,297
And, they completely
flipped the narrative.
602
00:23:43,297 --> 00:23:45,633
[Barbara Walters]
This cover appeared in 1988,
603
00:23:45,633 --> 00:23:48,344
it implied that Robin had
divorced his wife and
604
00:23:48,344 --> 00:23:50,137
run off with his
son's nanny.
605
00:23:50,137 --> 00:23:51,722
So, that was all bullshit.
606
00:23:51,722 --> 00:23:53,349
You know, we didn't
become involved until-
607
00:23:53,349 --> 00:23:56,226
it was a year after
I'd been separated.
608
00:23:56,226 --> 00:23:57,686
When you're
dealing with fame,
609
00:23:57,686 --> 00:23:58,979
no matter what you do,
610
00:23:58,979 --> 00:24:00,606
the general public's gonna
believe what the hell
611
00:24:00,606 --> 00:24:01,857
they want to
believe anyway.
612
00:24:01,857 --> 00:24:04,109
Alright, listen to me...
613
00:24:04,109 --> 00:24:05,611
I am not...
614
00:24:05,611 --> 00:24:07,821
-...who you think I am.
-Yeah, no shit.
615
00:24:07,821 --> 00:24:10,199
What your mouth,
young man.
616
00:24:10,199 --> 00:24:11,450
And the winner is...
617
00:24:11,450 --> 00:24:13,285
Professionally,
Robin is still
618
00:24:13,285 --> 00:24:14,912
a box office sensation.
619
00:24:14,912 --> 00:24:16,872
-Mrs. Doubtfire!
-[Cheering]
620
00:24:16,872 --> 00:24:19,833
Well, Robin thanked
everyone except himself.
621
00:24:19,833 --> 00:24:23,462
But another personal blow
threatens to derail him.
622
00:24:23,462 --> 00:24:25,964
♪
623
00:24:25,964 --> 00:24:28,676
Robin called me and said,
"Brother Reeve's in trouble."
624
00:24:28,676 --> 00:24:31,136
However, the actor does
remain paralyzed and on a
625
00:24:31,136 --> 00:24:35,099
respirator, his long-term
prognosis still is unknown.
626
00:24:35,099 --> 00:24:36,642
It was awful...
627
00:24:36,642 --> 00:24:37,685
it was awful.
628
00:24:37,685 --> 00:24:39,228
There were people making
decisions whether or not to
629
00:24:39,228 --> 00:24:41,772
keep him, you know,
on life support,
630
00:24:41,772 --> 00:24:44,024
and I came in dressed as a
doctor and I said I was
631
00:24:44,024 --> 00:24:46,485
a Russian proctologist.
-[Laughing]
632
00:24:46,485 --> 00:24:48,362
And most of the
other doctors, "Oh, no."
633
00:24:48,362 --> 00:24:49,196
And he looked up and
he kind of went,
634
00:24:49,196 --> 00:24:51,198
"Hey, Brother, what's up?"
And I said, "Would you mind,
635
00:24:51,198 --> 00:24:53,117
I'm just gonna do a brief
exam. Like what you said,
636
00:24:53,117 --> 00:24:55,202
if you feel two fingers,
it's your luck."
637
00:24:55,202 --> 00:24:57,246
[Laughing]
638
00:24:57,246 --> 00:24:59,248
Thank God I wear a seatbelt
in this chair because
639
00:24:59,248 --> 00:25:01,083
I would've fallen out
laughing.
640
00:25:01,083 --> 00:25:03,293
They told him, "Don't make
him laugh too much
641
00:25:03,293 --> 00:25:04,503
because he's on
a ventilator."
642
00:25:04,503 --> 00:25:06,630
It's funny, in the middle
of a tragedy like this,
643
00:25:06,630 --> 00:25:10,008
in the middle of
recuperation...
644
00:25:10,008 --> 00:25:12,010
you can still experience
genuine joy,
645
00:25:12,010 --> 00:25:15,764
and laughter,
and love, and...
646
00:25:15,764 --> 00:25:17,307
Anybody who says life's
not worth living is
647
00:25:17,307 --> 00:25:19,768
totally wrong,
totally wrong.
648
00:25:19,768 --> 00:25:21,770
He rehabbed for
months and months.
649
00:25:21,770 --> 00:25:23,772
We had no idea how
strong Chris was.
650
00:25:23,772 --> 00:25:26,859
And then Robin said, "I don't
think I could ever do this.
651
00:25:26,859 --> 00:25:30,571
If I had to do that,
I would go."
652
00:25:30,571 --> 00:25:34,658
And the Oscar
goes to...
653
00:25:34,658 --> 00:25:36,910
Robin Williams in
'Good Will Hunting'!
654
00:25:36,910 --> 00:25:39,371
[Cheering & applauding]
655
00:25:39,371 --> 00:25:43,792
Robin manages to push
through his pain.
656
00:25:43,792 --> 00:25:46,086
I think 'Good Will Hunting'
might be
657
00:25:46,086 --> 00:25:48,380
his strongest
dramatic role, for me.
658
00:25:48,380 --> 00:25:50,174
Don't ---- with me.
659
00:25:50,174 --> 00:25:52,217
The scene where he's
telling Matt Damon,
660
00:25:52,217 --> 00:25:53,469
"It's not your fault."
661
00:25:53,469 --> 00:25:54,928
It's not your fault.
662
00:25:54,928 --> 00:25:56,472
Don't ---- with me,
alright!
663
00:25:56,472 --> 00:25:58,223
Don't ---- with me,
Sean, not you.
664
00:25:58,223 --> 00:25:59,683
It's not your fault.
665
00:25:59,683 --> 00:26:01,268
When he went deep,
it's like as deep as
666
00:26:01,268 --> 00:26:02,853
you've ever
seen anybody go.
667
00:26:02,853 --> 00:26:04,480
[Sobbing]
I'm sorry.
668
00:26:04,480 --> 00:26:07,566
And the pain, and so,
pain can take many forms.
669
00:26:07,566 --> 00:26:11,570
It doesn't have to come from
one set of circumstances.
670
00:26:11,570 --> 00:26:16,492
Any part he did that didn't
call upon his comedic tools
671
00:26:16,492 --> 00:26:19,119
was kind of more interesting
to me because
672
00:26:19,119 --> 00:26:21,371
it allowed me to see...
673
00:26:21,371 --> 00:26:25,584
I think, to get a, more
of a grasp of who he was.
674
00:26:25,584 --> 00:26:27,127
I'm just looking for
anything interesting.
675
00:26:27,127 --> 00:26:28,587
Things that kind of
change perception.
676
00:26:28,587 --> 00:26:29,963
I'm looking for...
677
00:26:29,963 --> 00:26:31,632
obviously, darker roles,
'cause everyone thinks
678
00:26:31,632 --> 00:26:32,883
I'm warm and cuddly.
679
00:26:32,883 --> 00:26:34,426
There was something today
in the paper that said,
680
00:26:34,426 --> 00:26:37,179
"A Cuddle Fest with Robin
Williams." Oh...
681
00:26:37,179 --> 00:26:38,180
So, you'd like to
play a villain?
682
00:26:38,180 --> 00:26:40,349
-Maybe a killer or something.
- A killer?
683
00:26:40,349 --> 00:26:42,893
-Yeah. Could you do that?
-Yeah, I could very easily.
684
00:26:42,893 --> 00:26:45,437
Just once again to show
the darker side too.
685
00:26:45,437 --> 00:26:47,523
We all have it.
686
00:26:47,523 --> 00:26:50,192
Friends start noticing a
darker side of Robin
687
00:26:50,192 --> 00:26:52,486
bubbling to the surface.
688
00:26:52,486 --> 00:26:56,156
In 2004, Bob Saget,
my brother,
689
00:26:56,156 --> 00:26:59,159
had his Scleroderma
charity events,
690
00:26:59,159 --> 00:27:01,954
and I saw Robin
before the show...
691
00:27:01,954 --> 00:27:05,082
and, he just
looked disheveled.
692
00:27:05,082 --> 00:27:09,044
And, it was a look that
I had never seen before.
693
00:27:09,044 --> 00:27:11,922
He just looked a
little bit different.
694
00:27:11,922 --> 00:27:14,758
There was
something going on.
695
00:27:14,758 --> 00:27:16,718
It was just a feeling
that was different,
696
00:27:16,718 --> 00:27:18,512
for me, personally.
697
00:27:18,512 --> 00:27:20,722
I really kind of made
a mental note of, gee,
698
00:27:20,722 --> 00:27:22,516
I hope this guy's okay.
699
00:27:22,516 --> 00:27:24,518
I saw a picture of him at
The Comedy Store with
700
00:27:24,518 --> 00:27:27,521
a glass in his hand.
"Oh, man, don't do that."
701
00:27:27,521 --> 00:27:29,565
I spoke to him about it
later on.
702
00:27:29,565 --> 00:27:32,150
And, he just started
drinking again.
703
00:27:32,150 --> 00:27:33,986
He tried to keep it
to himself.
704
00:27:33,986 --> 00:27:35,779
Do the math.
705
00:27:35,779 --> 00:27:37,739
Made by this
woman in a thong.
706
00:27:37,739 --> 00:27:39,074
Do the math!
707
00:27:39,074 --> 00:27:42,286
At this Cannes Film Festival,
he was at a charity auction.
708
00:27:42,286 --> 00:27:46,373
It was kind of like everyone
was there- Sharon Stone,
709
00:27:46,373 --> 00:27:49,209
Ivanka Trump, Fergie
The Duchess of York.
710
00:27:49,209 --> 00:27:51,545
Kanye West.
Get real, people!
711
00:27:51,545 --> 00:27:53,881
And then, walking out
of these clubs and these
712
00:27:53,881 --> 00:27:57,009
restaurants, and there
being walls of paparazzi.
713
00:27:57,009 --> 00:28:00,012
And, he was walking
around in sunglasses
714
00:28:00,012 --> 00:28:02,180
because he was
intoxicated.
715
00:28:02,180 --> 00:28:04,600
Robin's increasingly
erratic behaviour
716
00:28:04,600 --> 00:28:06,894
is now in plain sight.
717
00:28:06,894 --> 00:28:09,688
During this auction,
he spent $80,000
718
00:28:09,688 --> 00:28:11,982
for a private
performance by Wyclef,
719
00:28:11,982 --> 00:28:14,026
and then another
$40,000 for this
720
00:28:14,026 --> 00:28:15,527
Armani necklace.
721
00:28:15,527 --> 00:28:18,238
Just crazy
amounts of money.
722
00:28:18,238 --> 00:28:20,115
And he was inside of
his own head,
723
00:28:20,115 --> 00:28:22,826
knowing that the world
was going to find out,
724
00:28:22,826 --> 00:28:25,162
"I have a real problem."
725
00:28:25,162 --> 00:28:27,623
He fell off the wagon and,
once you do,
726
00:28:27,623 --> 00:28:29,458
I mean,
if you have that...
727
00:28:29,458 --> 00:28:32,878
gene in you that needs to
open not one little bottle,
728
00:28:32,878 --> 00:28:35,464
but if you open one,
you open 15 of them.
729
00:28:35,464 --> 00:28:37,674
After two decades
of sobriety,
730
00:28:37,674 --> 00:28:41,053
Robin's drinking has
spiralled out of control.
731
00:28:41,053 --> 00:28:43,722
I think he just went down
into a little dark hole for
732
00:28:43,722 --> 00:28:46,683
a while and, said,
"To hell with everything."
733
00:28:46,683 --> 00:28:48,936
The family started to say,
"We need to get him into
734
00:28:48,936 --> 00:28:50,979
rehab before he
kills himself."
735
00:28:57,110 --> 00:29:00,030
-How are you?
-I'm well, very well.
736
00:29:00,030 --> 00:29:02,240
-It is a good thing.
-Is it a good thing?
737
00:29:02,240 --> 00:29:04,242
-Oh, yeah, it's nice.
-Two months?
738
00:29:04,242 --> 00:29:06,870
Two months.
Club medicated.
739
00:29:06,870 --> 00:29:11,124
Away, quiet time.
Good though, I'm back.
740
00:29:11,124 --> 00:29:13,835
Two months out of rehab,
the public sees
741
00:29:13,835 --> 00:29:16,755
a more subdued
Robin emerge.
742
00:29:16,755 --> 00:29:19,299
-It was just alcohol?
-Just alcohol.
743
00:29:19,299 --> 00:29:20,968
-That's enough, really.
-Yeah.
744
00:29:20,968 --> 00:29:22,636
It's hard admitting it,
and then,
745
00:29:22,636 --> 00:29:24,846
once you've done that,
it's real easy.
746
00:29:24,846 --> 00:29:26,431
You think that
people don't notice.
747
00:29:26,431 --> 00:29:29,643
And then you find
out later on, "We knew."
748
00:29:29,643 --> 00:29:33,063
Humiliations give
you humility, literally.
749
00:29:33,063 --> 00:29:36,441
But the relapse will cost him
his second marriage.
750
00:29:36,441 --> 00:29:37,943
I really am happy
that you're here.
751
00:29:37,943 --> 00:29:41,321
And, how are- I'll ask,
how are things at home?
752
00:29:41,321 --> 00:29:42,781
Things are okay.
I mean, I'm in the
753
00:29:42,781 --> 00:29:44,700
middle of a divorce,
but we're trying to...
754
00:29:44,700 --> 00:29:47,577
kind of do it the way we
got married, with love.
755
00:29:47,577 --> 00:29:50,163
Divorce, from the old Latin
word divortium, meaning,
756
00:29:50,163 --> 00:29:51,832
having your genitals torn
out through your wallet.
757
00:29:51,832 --> 00:29:53,458
[Laughing]
758
00:29:53,458 --> 00:29:54,835
I think whatever
gratification Robin
759
00:29:54,835 --> 00:29:56,920
didn't get in life,
he got onstage.
760
00:29:56,920 --> 00:29:59,923
If he was sad, it would
help change his mood.
761
00:29:59,923 --> 00:30:02,259
If he was stressed out
about something,
762
00:30:02,259 --> 00:30:04,052
Robin got to
go to clubs and
763
00:30:04,052 --> 00:30:06,346
work his shit out in
front of people.
764
00:30:06,346 --> 00:30:08,056
To me, that means
something, improv!
765
00:30:08,056 --> 00:30:10,892
That means, jerk off a
lot of people at once!
766
00:30:10,892 --> 00:30:12,310
It was just outrageous.
767
00:30:12,310 --> 00:30:13,478
Does it help you?
768
00:30:13,478 --> 00:30:15,480
Yeah, it's cheaper
than therapy.
769
00:30:15,480 --> 00:30:17,733
Much cheaper and,
very few therapists
770
00:30:17,733 --> 00:30:19,818
have a
two-drink minimum.
771
00:30:19,818 --> 00:30:21,570
It's- and I have
such a good time
772
00:30:21,570 --> 00:30:23,822
because I can talk
about anything.
773
00:30:23,822 --> 00:30:25,574
[Cheering & applauding]
774
00:30:25,574 --> 00:30:28,493
There is no better
distraction from anything
775
00:30:28,493 --> 00:30:30,787
negative than to be
in the moment.
776
00:30:30,787 --> 00:30:35,459
You don't have room
to let your own...
777
00:30:35,459 --> 00:30:39,337
inner demons
make any noise.
778
00:30:39,337 --> 00:30:41,631
It's a whole other thing.
Performing, for me,
779
00:30:41,631 --> 00:30:42,924
is the greatest release
in the world.
780
00:30:42,924 --> 00:30:44,384
It's ah, it is a drug.
781
00:30:44,384 --> 00:30:45,719
He didn't have to
leave the stage,
782
00:30:45,719 --> 00:30:47,179
he wouldn't
leave the stage.
783
00:30:47,179 --> 00:30:49,389
If he could get to a stage
and there was a club open,
784
00:30:49,389 --> 00:30:51,892
and there was an audience,
he wanted to be there.
785
00:30:51,892 --> 00:30:56,104
It seemed like he
needed to do that.
786
00:30:56,104 --> 00:30:59,399
Many of us in the business
have an addictive personality,
787
00:30:59,399 --> 00:31:03,653
whether it be drugs,
alcohol, or comedy,
788
00:31:03,653 --> 00:31:05,155
it's all the same thing.
789
00:31:05,155 --> 00:31:07,240
Well, performing is a drug,
and this has been an OD.
790
00:31:07,240 --> 00:31:08,909
[Laughing]
791
00:31:08,909 --> 00:31:12,079
Maybe because comedy is a
good substitute for drugs...
792
00:31:12,079 --> 00:31:14,998
and that is more
socially acceptable In,
793
00:31:14,998 --> 00:31:17,793
if you can get laughs,
you can stick around.
794
00:31:17,793 --> 00:31:20,295
No matter how busy
Robin would get,
795
00:31:20,295 --> 00:31:22,380
he had to get a
live set in.
796
00:31:22,380 --> 00:31:24,257
And, this is even when-
797
00:31:24,257 --> 00:31:25,801
you can be
rewarded on set,
798
00:31:25,801 --> 00:31:27,469
you did something
funny on the set,
799
00:31:27,469 --> 00:31:29,638
they have to wait
'til you hear "Cut!",
800
00:31:29,638 --> 00:31:31,515
but then you'll hear
laughs of video village,
801
00:31:31,515 --> 00:31:32,766
the crew, whatever.
802
00:31:32,766 --> 00:31:34,851
The cast will laugh
and all of that.
803
00:31:34,851 --> 00:31:36,269
And that's nice.
804
00:31:36,269 --> 00:31:37,479
[Applauding]
805
00:31:37,479 --> 00:31:40,649
It's nothing like feeling
your sternum vibrate
806
00:31:40,649 --> 00:31:42,400
like you're
at a fireworks show,
807
00:31:42,400 --> 00:31:45,070
from the laughter.
Your skeleton buzzes.
808
00:31:45,070 --> 00:31:48,031
-Good night!
-[Cheering & applauding]
809
00:31:48,031 --> 00:31:50,117
Friends see that what
Robin craves most
810
00:31:50,117 --> 00:31:52,410
also depletes him.
811
00:31:52,410 --> 00:31:54,746
It was a big
responsibility to carry,
812
00:31:54,746 --> 00:31:56,706
to be the fastest guy
in the room,
813
00:31:56,706 --> 00:32:00,460
to be the most amazing
comedic genius ever,
814
00:32:00,460 --> 00:32:03,755
and to have this
extremely fast wit and,
815
00:32:03,755 --> 00:32:05,382
there were times where
I would see him,
816
00:32:05,382 --> 00:32:08,093
and I'd say, "How you
doing?" And he'd say,
817
00:32:08,093 --> 00:32:11,930
"Oh... Bro, I'm one tired
mother----er."
818
00:32:11,930 --> 00:32:13,807
If you were to sit with
him one-on-one,
819
00:32:13,807 --> 00:32:16,726
quietest, sweetest
man you ever met.
820
00:32:16,726 --> 00:32:18,145
One person walks
into the room,
821
00:32:18,145 --> 00:32:20,147
he becomes
Robin Williams.
822
00:32:20,147 --> 00:32:22,566
[Laughing]
823
00:32:22,566 --> 00:32:24,818
New York rats.
Nn-nn-nn-nn!
824
00:32:24,818 --> 00:32:29,072
In my experience,
it was either way on...
825
00:32:29,072 --> 00:32:32,868
or nothing, you know,
like, nothing.
826
00:32:32,868 --> 00:32:35,579
Oh, my God, I'm okay
now I'm out here.
827
00:32:35,579 --> 00:32:38,331
-Mama, I'm on TV!
-[Laughing]
828
00:32:38,331 --> 00:32:39,833
For my friends in
San Francisco-
829
00:32:39,833 --> 00:32:42,043
[Groaning]
How are you?
830
00:32:42,043 --> 00:32:44,546
People used to say,
"He's never off stage,
831
00:32:44,546 --> 00:32:47,007
he's never off," and I went,
"Well, you don't know him then,
832
00:32:47,007 --> 00:32:49,009
because he is very off."
833
00:32:49,009 --> 00:32:51,553
If he was goofing
around offstage,
834
00:32:51,553 --> 00:32:54,139
he's either uncomfortable
or he just felt like
835
00:32:54,139 --> 00:32:58,768
he didn't know the people
enough to be himself.
836
00:32:58,768 --> 00:33:01,188
Once the dust settles
from his relapse,
837
00:33:01,188 --> 00:33:05,817
Robin finds himself in a
much more grounded place.
838
00:33:05,817 --> 00:33:08,069
He started going to AA,
and that really
839
00:33:08,069 --> 00:33:10,614
did the trick for him.
It took a while.
840
00:33:10,614 --> 00:33:12,574
He had met someone new,
841
00:33:12,574 --> 00:33:15,076
and Susan was a
grounding force.
842
00:33:15,076 --> 00:33:17,412
But I think he had to go
through that dark hole,
843
00:33:17,412 --> 00:33:19,664
and come out again, and
realize that he could be
844
00:33:19,664 --> 00:33:22,709
really happy and
really healthy.
845
00:33:22,709 --> 00:33:25,670
He had finally found peace,
846
00:33:25,670 --> 00:33:28,048
and then of course,
tragedy struck.
847
00:33:38,141 --> 00:33:40,268
And while I was in rehab,
I read an article in
848
00:33:40,268 --> 00:33:41,937
The Enquirer about my being
drunk, and it was like,
849
00:33:41,937 --> 00:33:43,647
that poor -----
Oh, ----, that's me.
850
00:33:43,647 --> 00:33:45,732
[Laughing]
851
00:33:45,732 --> 00:33:47,525
In his late 50s,
Robin Williams
852
00:33:47,525 --> 00:33:51,154
enters an exciting new
chapter in his life.
853
00:33:51,154 --> 00:33:54,074
After he quit drinking
and he met Susan,
854
00:33:54,074 --> 00:33:56,576
it was a whole
new ballgame.
855
00:33:56,576 --> 00:33:58,828
There were several
years there of
856
00:33:58,828 --> 00:34:01,248
real happiness
and real bliss.
857
00:34:01,248 --> 00:34:03,250
I followed the scent, I took
a bite, and then- Ff!
858
00:34:03,250 --> 00:34:05,001
A gold ----ing gun!
859
00:34:05,001 --> 00:34:07,337
A tranquilizer dart comes
from out of nowhere...
860
00:34:07,337 --> 00:34:10,382
But, once again, friends
start noticing changes.
861
00:34:10,382 --> 00:34:12,384
...so that was depressing.
862
00:34:12,384 --> 00:34:13,635
[Laughing]
863
00:34:13,635 --> 00:34:16,930
My husband and I went to see
Robin in a Broadway show,
864
00:34:16,930 --> 00:34:19,808
'Bengal Tiger at
the Baghdad Zoo',
865
00:34:19,808 --> 00:34:21,685
where he was fantastic.
866
00:34:21,685 --> 00:34:23,478
And we saw him afterwards,
867
00:34:23,478 --> 00:34:25,021
and it was so
nice to see him.
868
00:34:25,021 --> 00:34:27,857
We chatted for a bit, and
when we left the theatre,
869
00:34:27,857 --> 00:34:31,194
Brian, my husband, said,
870
00:34:31,194 --> 00:34:33,405
"Something is off."
And I said,
871
00:34:33,405 --> 00:34:34,864
"What do you mean?"
He said,
872
00:34:34,864 --> 00:34:38,034
"That sparkle in
his eye is gone."
873
00:34:38,034 --> 00:34:40,704
And I thought,
no, no, no, no.
874
00:34:40,704 --> 00:34:42,789
But he was right-
875
00:34:42,789 --> 00:34:47,502
that sparkle had faded.
876
00:34:47,502 --> 00:34:50,463
Occasionally he would repeat
things in a phone call that
877
00:34:50,463 --> 00:34:52,590
he had said, and that
was really unusual.
878
00:34:52,590 --> 00:34:56,636
The exchanges in text were
becoming more abbreviated.
879
00:34:56,636 --> 00:34:59,222
And, shorter sentences.
880
00:34:59,222 --> 00:35:01,599
And, all good, all lovely.
881
00:35:01,599 --> 00:35:03,184
It was just, everything
was shortening.
882
00:35:03,184 --> 00:35:05,812
I knew there was a change.
883
00:35:05,812 --> 00:35:08,732
Then I would hear murmurings
and things that there was a
884
00:35:08,732 --> 00:35:12,777
struggle going on, but no
one knew all the details.
885
00:35:12,777 --> 00:35:15,739
There was rumours about
what was going on.
886
00:35:15,739 --> 00:35:17,282
I, personally,
had friends that were
887
00:35:17,282 --> 00:35:19,868
working on
shows with him.
888
00:35:19,868 --> 00:35:23,455
And, people were
saying that he was tired.
889
00:35:23,455 --> 00:35:24,956
That he was overworked.
890
00:35:24,956 --> 00:35:25,790
[Indistinct shouting]
891
00:35:25,790 --> 00:35:27,208
-Ah!
-Ha-ha!
892
00:35:27,208 --> 00:35:28,960
-Got ya.
-Cut!
893
00:35:28,960 --> 00:35:30,003
Along with the
final film in
894
00:35:30,003 --> 00:35:32,714
the 'Night At The
Museum' trilogy...
895
00:35:32,714 --> 00:35:35,842
Robin has taken on a
brand-new TV series.
896
00:35:35,842 --> 00:35:38,011
It has been more
than 30 years
897
00:35:38,011 --> 00:35:39,137
since you were
on a TV series.
898
00:35:39,137 --> 00:35:41,431
-It has been a long time.
-It's been a long time.
899
00:35:41,431 --> 00:35:45,310
32 years, it was only
3 networks back then.
900
00:35:45,310 --> 00:35:49,314
Well, I heard he was having
trouble remembering lines.
901
00:35:49,314 --> 00:35:51,066
He wasn't having
the best time,
902
00:35:51,066 --> 00:35:52,525
and people knew that.
903
00:35:52,525 --> 00:35:55,278
But, it made sense,
he's doing a series,
904
00:35:55,278 --> 00:35:57,781
he's doing movies, he's
traveling all over the place.
905
00:35:57,781 --> 00:35:59,532
It wears on you,
you know.
906
00:35:59,532 --> 00:36:01,826
It wears on you,
physically and mentally.
907
00:36:01,826 --> 00:36:03,995
And then, people question,
"Why are you working so hard?
908
00:36:03,995 --> 00:36:06,206
Why do you have
to do that?"
909
00:36:06,206 --> 00:36:08,124
The last time I saw
Robin Williams,
910
00:36:08,124 --> 00:36:11,127
I hadn't seen him for a few
months then, and he was thin,
911
00:36:11,127 --> 00:36:13,004
and he didn't
recognize my wife.
912
00:36:13,004 --> 00:36:14,798
And he hardly
said a word.
913
00:36:14,798 --> 00:36:16,883
And it took him a second
to recognize me.
914
00:36:16,883 --> 00:36:20,011
And I go, "Whoa, something's
wrong here," and I didn't
915
00:36:20,011 --> 00:36:23,515
know what, and nobody would
really tell me, and...
916
00:36:23,515 --> 00:36:25,809
And then I never saw him
again after that.
917
00:36:25,809 --> 00:36:29,562
This is unusual
and upsetting,
918
00:36:29,562 --> 00:36:31,606
but we got some news...
919
00:36:31,606 --> 00:36:33,525
we got some news, ah...
920
00:36:33,525 --> 00:36:36,194
during the show that...
921
00:36:36,194 --> 00:36:40,156
that Robin Williams,
ah, has passed away.
922
00:36:40,156 --> 00:36:42,867
We're absolutely stunned.
923
00:36:42,867 --> 00:36:45,161
Tonight, the tributes pouring
in from around the world.
924
00:36:45,161 --> 00:36:46,913
Take a look at the
flowers, candles,
925
00:36:46,913 --> 00:36:48,873
and other mementos
left here.
926
00:36:48,873 --> 00:36:51,376
This is fans and
Hollywood celebrities
927
00:36:51,376 --> 00:36:53,336
weigh in on the
sudden loss.
928
00:36:53,336 --> 00:36:55,130
To the terrible news of...
929
00:36:55,130 --> 00:36:59,467
I remember, I got a call,
you know, "Robin died."
930
00:36:59,467 --> 00:37:03,263
And I, I was like,
"Robin who?"
931
00:37:03,263 --> 00:37:07,267
I couldn't even imagine.
932
00:37:07,267 --> 00:37:10,854
How could this be,
like, suddenly one day,
933
00:37:10,854 --> 00:37:14,691
the sun stops shining.
934
00:37:14,691 --> 00:37:16,568
I didn't fully know
what had happened.
935
00:37:16,568 --> 00:37:19,696
I was getting just
bits and pieces.
936
00:37:19,696 --> 00:37:22,240
Police say they
suspect it was suicide.
937
00:37:22,240 --> 00:37:24,742
When I heard Robin killed
himself, I didn't believe it.
938
00:37:24,742 --> 00:37:26,703
♪
939
00:37:26,703 --> 00:37:29,247
That is not Robin Williams.
940
00:37:29,247 --> 00:37:32,208
Nobody seemed to
have any clue why,
941
00:37:32,208 --> 00:37:34,043
or what had
happened, or...
942
00:37:34,043 --> 00:37:36,629
that something like that
was about to happen.
943
00:37:36,629 --> 00:37:38,381
We begin with what
we know so far about
944
00:37:38,381 --> 00:37:40,800
the death of Robin Williams.
945
00:37:40,800 --> 00:37:43,303
The media's a
bunch of vultures.
946
00:37:43,303 --> 00:37:46,014
Everybody was running amok
with nonsense trying to
947
00:37:46,014 --> 00:37:48,349
get the story, you know
how the media works.
948
00:37:48,349 --> 00:37:50,059
Behind the scenes,
he struggled mightily
949
00:37:50,059 --> 00:37:51,936
with substance abuse
and depression.
950
00:37:51,936 --> 00:37:55,940
The media jumps on Robin's
history with substance abuse.
951
00:37:55,940 --> 00:37:59,068
Obviously, as stories are
breaking, they evolve a lot.
952
00:37:59,068 --> 00:38:01,362
But, the narrative
of depression
953
00:38:01,362 --> 00:38:03,114
seemed to take hold.
954
00:38:03,114 --> 00:38:04,866
Robin Williams
suffered from...
955
00:38:04,866 --> 00:38:08,620
Robin's family decides to
stamp out media speculation,
956
00:38:08,620 --> 00:38:11,915
with a clearer picture
of Robin's last days.
957
00:38:11,915 --> 00:38:14,542
"Robin's sobriety was intact,
and he was brave as he
958
00:38:14,542 --> 00:38:18,004
struggled with his own battles
of depression, anxiety,
959
00:38:18,004 --> 00:38:20,757
as well as early stages
of Parkinson's Disease,
960
00:38:20,757 --> 00:38:24,010
which he was not yet
ready to share publicly."
961
00:38:24,010 --> 00:38:25,386
I've had friends
that had Parkinson's,
962
00:38:25,386 --> 00:38:27,305
and you can live
for years with that.
963
00:38:27,305 --> 00:38:29,974
Then, weeks after
Robin's death,
964
00:38:29,974 --> 00:38:33,353
an autopsy
reveals a secret.
965
00:38:33,353 --> 00:38:35,480
It taught us what
really happened.
966
00:38:35,480 --> 00:38:37,649
That's what was taking
him away from us.
967
00:38:44,155 --> 00:38:45,698
We're gonna turn now to the
surprising news about
968
00:38:45,698 --> 00:38:47,492
Robin Williams,
his wife revealing
969
00:38:47,492 --> 00:38:49,452
he had Parkinson's
Disease.
970
00:38:49,452 --> 00:38:52,455
After weeks of speculation
on Robin's death,
971
00:38:52,455 --> 00:38:56,376
an autopsy finds no evidence
of alcohol or illicit drugs.
972
00:38:56,376 --> 00:38:59,087
No illegal drugs or
alcohol in his system
973
00:38:59,087 --> 00:39:00,296
at the time of his death.
974
00:39:00,296 --> 00:39:02,966
But it does reveal a
darker explanation
975
00:39:02,966 --> 00:39:04,801
for Robin's systems.
976
00:39:04,801 --> 00:39:06,636
Autopsies revealed
another disease
977
00:39:06,636 --> 00:39:08,513
had ravaged Robin's mind.
978
00:39:08,513 --> 00:39:10,515
It's called Lewy
body dementia,
979
00:39:10,515 --> 00:39:13,059
and it has a strange
variety of symptoms.
980
00:39:13,059 --> 00:39:15,937
Lewy body dementia is
referring to the changes
981
00:39:15,937 --> 00:39:17,939
in the brain, so there's a
change in memory
982
00:39:17,939 --> 00:39:20,191
and thinking abilities.
983
00:39:20,191 --> 00:39:22,652
The person is aware of
their disintegration.
984
00:39:22,652 --> 00:39:24,946
They're aware their
abilities are declining.
985
00:39:24,946 --> 00:39:27,365
Whereas, in Alzheimer's,
they're not aware.
986
00:39:27,365 --> 00:39:30,368
That's a marked difference,
and can really kind of
987
00:39:30,368 --> 00:39:34,831
add to the terror of this
particular disease.
988
00:39:34,831 --> 00:39:36,791
One of the doctors,
the specialist,
989
00:39:36,791 --> 00:39:39,168
said this was one of the
most advanced cases that
990
00:39:39,168 --> 00:39:42,422
he had ever seen of
Lewy body dementia,
991
00:39:42,422 --> 00:39:45,967
and how tough Robin was.
992
00:39:45,967 --> 00:39:48,261
By the end, he had a
slow, shuffling gate.
993
00:39:48,261 --> 00:39:51,598
His left arm, he had
cogwheel rigidity.
994
00:39:51,598 --> 00:39:53,600
Tremor in his left hand.
995
00:39:53,600 --> 00:39:56,686
The Parkinsonian mask,
weakened voice,
996
00:39:56,686 --> 00:39:59,689
which was crushing for him.
997
00:39:59,689 --> 00:40:02,775
In speaking with the doctor
who reviewed his records,
998
00:40:02,775 --> 00:40:06,696
most likely he did suffer
hallucinations, too.
999
00:40:06,696 --> 00:40:08,781
Interacting with people
became very difficult.
1000
00:40:08,781 --> 00:40:11,367
He would question things
afterwards, or during.
1001
00:40:11,367 --> 00:40:13,828
And, really in the
realms of, you know,
1002
00:40:13,828 --> 00:40:15,288
"Did I do okay?"
1003
00:40:15,288 --> 00:40:19,375
Things that focused
around insecurity or fear.
1004
00:40:19,375 --> 00:40:21,210
Paranoia was coming in,
1005
00:40:21,210 --> 00:40:24,422
delusions, looping.
1006
00:40:24,422 --> 00:40:27,050
That was so
difficult to quell,
1007
00:40:27,050 --> 00:40:31,179
was just going on
relentlessly for him.
1008
00:40:31,179 --> 00:40:34,891
You feel like you can't do the
thing that made you, you.
1009
00:40:34,891 --> 00:40:36,893
It can be very,
very distressing,
1010
00:40:36,893 --> 00:40:41,397
and that can make things
like depression worse.
1011
00:40:41,397 --> 00:40:44,400
Some evidence suggests that
people who have Lewy body
1012
00:40:44,400 --> 00:40:49,030
dementia are at high risk
for suicide attempts.
1013
00:40:49,030 --> 00:40:50,782
He, ah...
1014
00:40:50,782 --> 00:40:53,242
♪
1015
00:40:53,242 --> 00:40:55,703
Sorry, it's just...
1016
00:40:55,703 --> 00:40:56,996
when you watch your
best friend start,
1017
00:40:56,996 --> 00:40:59,207
start kind of falling apart
a little bit, it's-
1018
00:40:59,207 --> 00:41:01,459
he's not, he never
fell apart.
1019
00:41:01,459 --> 00:41:04,045
He just, you just see them
failing a little bit,
1020
00:41:04,045 --> 00:41:06,714
and there's really not much
you can do except be there
1021
00:41:06,714 --> 00:41:09,676
and let them know how
much you love them.
1022
00:41:09,676 --> 00:41:14,472
♪
1023
00:41:14,472 --> 00:41:17,058
♪
1024
00:41:17,058 --> 00:41:19,644
Robin was not the type of
guy to go, "I had enough,
1025
00:41:19,644 --> 00:41:21,729
I'm gonna kill myself."
1026
00:41:21,729 --> 00:41:25,274
Robin was no longer Robin.
1027
00:41:25,274 --> 00:41:27,026
'Cause it's all part of the
mind that actually flows
1028
00:41:27,026 --> 00:41:28,778
like that, because I realize
that the human mind is a
1029
00:41:28,778 --> 00:41:30,530
3 and a half pound gland
1030
00:41:30,530 --> 00:41:32,407
that pumps
neurons constantly
1031
00:41:32,407 --> 00:41:35,118
and deals with itself
by responding to stimulus,
1032
00:41:35,118 --> 00:41:36,119
that's what we're
designed to do.
1033
00:41:36,119 --> 00:41:37,954
We've all been slowly-
even Darwin's going,
1034
00:41:37,954 --> 00:41:40,081
"I have hopes."
[Laughing]
1035
00:41:40,081 --> 00:41:42,417
Now, imagine you're
that outgoing,
1036
00:41:42,417 --> 00:41:46,087
you're that quick,
you're that amazing...
1037
00:41:46,087 --> 00:41:47,797
and all of a sudden,
you can't remember
1038
00:41:47,797 --> 00:41:49,882
where the kitchen is in
your own house.
1039
00:41:49,882 --> 00:41:54,595
-Mama, we're on TV.
-[Laughing]
1040
00:41:54,595 --> 00:41:55,722
Please don't
keep moving and
1041
00:41:55,722 --> 00:41:57,932
changing the address.
1042
00:41:57,932 --> 00:42:00,393
My own interpretation-
1043
00:42:00,393 --> 00:42:05,022
laughter, for him,
was a life preserver.
1044
00:42:05,022 --> 00:42:07,942
And I believe at the end of
his life when he didn't feel
1045
00:42:07,942 --> 00:42:10,987
he had the capacity to
be able to do that...
1046
00:42:10,987 --> 00:42:13,614
there couldn't have been
anything more painful
1047
00:42:13,614 --> 00:42:15,950
or hard to face.
1048
00:42:15,950 --> 00:42:17,368
I think it was the
last thing he could do,
1049
00:42:17,368 --> 00:42:18,828
where he could be
in control, you know, he just,
1050
00:42:18,828 --> 00:42:20,663
"I'm gonna control this
one last time."
1051
00:42:20,663 --> 00:42:24,292
And he did,
and it was horrible.
1052
00:42:24,292 --> 00:42:26,753
He was being killed
by his own mind.
1053
00:42:26,753 --> 00:42:29,422
♪
1054
00:42:29,422 --> 00:42:32,383
So, I don't think he did it,
I think his mind did it.
1055
00:42:32,383 --> 00:42:34,218
Just before they go to bed,
you go, "Good night.
1056
00:42:34,218 --> 00:42:36,179
Good night, Son.
Sleep well.
1057
00:42:36,179 --> 00:42:37,889
Behind you!
Ha-ha-ha!"
1058
00:42:37,889 --> 00:42:39,724
Robin gave the
world of comedy
1059
00:42:39,724 --> 00:42:42,518
a career to envy,
to follow.
1060
00:42:42,518 --> 00:42:44,604
But, ultimately,
1061
00:42:44,604 --> 00:42:46,731
what he left the comedy
world are the
1062
00:42:46,731 --> 00:42:49,484
stories of what it was like
to know him as a person.
1063
00:42:49,484 --> 00:42:51,611
And, he was an authentic,
1064
00:42:51,611 --> 00:42:53,821
genuine, real person,
1065
00:42:53,821 --> 00:42:56,199
and he was a good friend
to a lot of people.
1066
00:42:56,199 --> 00:43:00,328
He always treated me like
we were equals, which,
1067
00:43:00,328 --> 00:43:02,663
you know, we weren't.
We weren't equals.
1068
00:43:02,663 --> 00:43:04,457
There, there- I don't
think anybody was
1069
00:43:04,457 --> 00:43:06,250
equal to his brilliance.
1070
00:43:06,250 --> 00:43:08,085
Look over here, Rick, you've
come back from Scotland.
1071
00:43:08,085 --> 00:43:09,587
That's right, look at this!
1072
00:43:09,587 --> 00:43:11,297
What Robin gave me
was friendship...
1073
00:43:11,297 --> 00:43:14,217
and, love and respect.
1074
00:43:14,217 --> 00:43:17,136
And, you know,
his, his time-
1075
00:43:17,136 --> 00:43:20,223
his precious,
precious time.
1076
00:43:20,223 --> 00:43:24,936
He was the most unique
talent and person...
1077
00:43:24,936 --> 00:43:27,271
I've ever encountered.
1078
00:43:27,271 --> 00:43:28,940
♪
1079
00:43:28,940 --> 00:43:32,235
He was the best friend and
brother I ever had in my life.
1080
00:43:32,235 --> 00:43:34,779
He used his intellect
and his imagination
1081
00:43:34,779 --> 00:43:36,989
and his zaniness,
1082
00:43:36,989 --> 00:43:39,033
to make the world
a better place.
1083
00:43:39,033 --> 00:43:40,576
Look how lucky we are.
1084
00:43:40,576 --> 00:43:42,161
Let's really make the
cameraman mad now.
1085
00:43:42,161 --> 00:43:45,665
[Laughing]
1086
00:43:45,665 --> 00:43:47,750
And he is one of a kind.
1087
00:43:47,750 --> 00:43:50,670
There will never be another
Robin Williams.
1088
00:43:50,670 --> 00:43:53,506
I don't care how long
this world lasts,
1089
00:43:53,506 --> 00:43:55,466
there will never be another
Robin Williams.
1090
00:43:55,466 --> 00:43:57,885
Until next week,
this is Mork signing off.
1091
00:43:57,885 --> 00:44:01,389
Na-no, na-no.
[Mimicks engine starting]
1092
00:44:01,389 --> 00:44:03,140
Agh!
1093
00:44:03,140 --> 00:44:07,937
♪
1094
00:44:07,937 --> 00:44:11,649
♪