Summary
- As Robin Williams' health declined, he started experiencing delusional thoughts and insecurities, even reaching out to friends in a state of panic.
- Despite initial signs of improvement in his health, particularly in terms of sleep and engagement, Williams' brain disease ultimately led to his passing.
- Both friends and colleagues, including comedian Mort Sahl and director Shawn Levy, noticed changes in Williams, with the late actor expressing frustrations and self-doubt.
His passing was a tragic day in Hollywood. Although it was deemed as depression, widow Susan Schneuder revealed there was more to the actor's death.
In the following, we're going to take a closer look at Robin Williams' final months. The actor was not himself, and he grew very insecure because of his illnesses.
One instance in particular saw Williams having to need to message a fellow comedian feel like he was in danger. We'll reveal what was said in the text messages. We're also going to take a look at a director Williams would also frequently text, and how the late actor was improving his health during his final days.
Let's get started.
Robin Williams Tried Texting Mort Sahl At 3:30 AM Thinking He Was In Danger
Sadly, during his final days, Robin Williams' brain was very compromised, and it would lead to some tough situations. Behind the scenes, Robin was changing as well. He was no longer meeting friends or playing at comedy shows, instead he wanted to stay home given how insecure he suddenly was. Williams had delusional thoughts even at night prior to his sleep.
One of those thoughts took place regarding fellow comedian Mort Sahl. Feeling like his friend was in danger, Williams needed to text his close friend.
The publication wrote, "Williams awoke with an unshakable fear that his friend, comedian Mort Sahl, was in grave danger. He tried texting and calling Sahl for hours, and desperately wanted to drive over to Sahl's apartment to make sure he was OK. Schneider Williams repeatedly told her husband that Sahl was fine, and they finally went to sleep around 3:30 a.m."
That was just one of the many issues Williams faced throughout his struggles.
Robin Williams' Director Shawn Levy Would Also Receive Texts From The Actor
Both Susan Williams and director Shawn Levy noticed frustrations from Williams, particularly about his Hollywood career. Playing the role of Theodore Roosevelt in Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, Levy knew Williams wasn't himself on set.
"I would say a month into the shoot, it was clear to me — it was clear to all of us on that set — that something was going on with Robin. We saw that Robin was struggling in a way that he hadn't before to remember lines and to combine the right words with the performance."
"When Robin would call me at 10 at night, at two in the morning, at four in the morning, saying, 'Is it usable? Is any of this usable? Do I suck? What's going on?' I would reassure him. I said, 'You are still you. I know it. The world knows it. You just need to remember that. My faith in him never left, but I saw his morale crumbling," Levy says. "I saw a guy who wasn't himself and that was unforgivable."
Susan added that it was devastating to watch Williams' career suffer. "For someone as brilliant as Robin, who put his heart and soul into his career, to just start losing his abilities ... it was devastating for him to watch what it means to be human slipping through his fingers."
Although things were tough for Williams, it would appear as though improvements were being made.
Robin Williams Was Getting Better Prior To His Passing
Robin met his wife at an Apple Store back in 2007. Just a few weeks before his passing, Robin created a special moment with his wife Susan, bringing her flowers at the same spot that they had previously met at.
"I had to run an errand at that very same Apple store," Schneider Williams tells USA TODAY. "Out of the blue, he came walking in with flowers and surprised me. I looked at him like, 'Oh, my God, what are you doing?' And he said, 'This is where it all began."
Just before the late actor took his life, there was optimism about his health improving.
Schneider tells USA Today, "All signs looked like he was getting better. We were in the middle of adjusting medications for his Parkinson's and depression, and had just switched a couple of them. It appeared that he was starting to sleep better, and he seemed more engaged and interested in reading."
"But clearly, that (wasn't the case). Robin's suicide was really a consequence of brain disease; his brain was so compromised. I look at it like, Robin wanted to end the disease – he just didn't realize that meant he would end, too."
Sadly, the actor passed away at the age of 63.
