- Robin Williams left a note two years before his passing that said, "I want to help people be less afraid."
- Depression was just one of 50 symptoms, as Williams was battling Diffuse Lewy Body Dementia, anxiety, and panic attacks.
- Williams struggled with losing his ability to memorize scripts, showing the devastating effects of his brain disease behind the scenes.
Even during his final years, Robin Williams kept everyone laughing. That held true during his final appearance on Jimmy Kimmel, with Matt Damon unable to keep a straight face during Robin's epic monologue.
In the following, we're going to take a closer look at a note Robin Williams left two years before his passing. It was a short note that had so much meaning and value. We'll reveal what it said, and if Robin left a note at the time of his passing as well.
In addition, we'll reveal how the actor's symptoms worsened over time, and what was taking place behind the scenes just prior to his passing.
Months Before His Passing, Robin Williams Sent A Concerning Text To A Close Hollywood Peer
Robin Williams was sending text messages out of fear to close friends and directors.Robin Williams Left A Note About His Legacy Two Years Prior To His Passing
During the summer of 2014, Robin Williams passed away at the age of 63. It was a devastating day. Williams battled undiagnosed dementia he never knew he had.
Still, during that battle, Robin was showing flashes of his true self. In the summer of 2012, Robin Williams left a short note inside his Twelve Steps book. The message was short, simple and impactful.
It wrote, "I want to help people be less afraid."
Robin Williams' widow Susan Schneider also spoke about the impact of this note.
"Robin and I were discussing what we wanted our legacy to be in life. Without missing a beat, he said, 'I want to help people be less afraid.' And I said, 'Robin, that's amazing, honey, because you're already doing that. That's your special superpower.' "
Robin Williams' Ex-Wife Marsha Garces Made A Surprising Decision With The Actor's Personal Belongings Following His Death
Four years after Robin Williams' death, ex-wife Marsha Garces put the late actor's prized items up for grabs.As for leaving an actual note at the time of his passing, it was reported that there wasn't any type of note. At the time, Williams was sleeping by himself. It was his assistant that found his body and notified the police of his death.
Robin Williams' Widow Revealed The Actor's Symptoms Worsened Without Any Knowing
Depression was deemed as the cause of death. However, Williams' widow revealed there was so much more going on inside Robin's head. The late actor was battling Diffuse Lewy Body Dementia at the time, though the doctors could not confirm this diagnosis at the time.
“It was not depression that killed Robin. Depression was one of let’s call it 50 symptoms and it was a small one.”
Robin was struggling behind the scenes with panic and anxiety attacks. Still, doctors could not pinpoint the exact issue. “I know now the doctors, the whole team was doing exactly the right things,” Susan says. “It’s just that this disease was faster than us and bigger than us. We would have gotten there eventually.”
Robin Williams Gave Hollywood A 25 Year Ban Following His Passing
Robin Williams set a ban on Hollywood until 2039 in his trust.Speaking alongside People, Susan revealed it was her goal to help others facing similar issues behind the scenes.
“I’ve spent this last year trying to find out what killed Robin. To understand what we were fighting, what we were in the trenches fighting and one of the doctors said, ‘Robin was very aware that he was losing his mind and there was nothing he could do about it,’ ” she says.
“This was a very unique case and I pray to God that it will shed some light on Lewy bodies for the millions of people and their loved ones who are suffering with it,” adds Susan. “Because we didn’t know. He didn’t know.”
Robin Williams Was Devastated That He Was Losing His Acting Abilities
Williams' widow Susan Schneider made other reveals. Among them, was Williams struggling with his career as an actor. Robin was still doing his best, but knew his ability to memorize scripts was getting harder and harder.
"He was the bravest man in the world, playing the hardest role of his life. 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."
Schneider continued, "It was getting harder and harder (for him) to get it right, and he was consumed with that."
The night before his passing, everything seemed okay with Williams. He wished his wife goodnight, and the general sense was that improvements were being made.
"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."
A tragic loss that fans still haven't gotten over all these years later.
