Robin Williams Wouldn’t Have Wanted It Any Other Way

I try to watch something every morning that will make me laugh…it sets the pace for the day and helps keep me healthy. Laughter is SO good for everyone. Someone who made so many people laugh has left us behind and is now light years ahead. Robin Williams led a troubled life that was doused with drugs, depression, anger, infidelities and disappointments. In other words, he pretty much mirrored a lot of so-called ‘normal’ Americans. His mind wandered, raced & veered and his flair for comedy benefited by it.

A lot of ‘celebrities’ crave the spotlight for attention…others get enjoyment out of seeing the audience being entertained by what they do. I believe Robin Williams fit both categories…but he garnered attention in a way that was fun, not annoying. Robin was 63 but looked much younger; he had offers for more films; invitations to guest on talk shows; offers for standup concerts…in other words, he was still very much in demand in a business that tends to chew you up and spit you out when you reach your 40’s.

His character Mork was not what you’d call a handsome person (neither were Barney Fife, Otis Campbell, Granny Clampett, Gilligan, The Skipper, Archie Bunker, Gomer Pyle and many other sitcom characters). Nowadays, sitcom characters are young & beautiful, replacing actual talent. Robin - not necessarily classic handsome, but not unattractive to the ladies either – HAD the actual talent. The world saw Robin’s fresh comedic approach on “Mork & Mindy” and embraced him, giving him a welcome transition into films. But underneath his talent and happy-go-lucky persona was something dark that he had to face every day…some details we know, a lot we don’t…maybe someday we’ll get the full story.

In closing, if you were a fan of Mr. Williams, don’t let his passing prevent you from laughing every day…find someone or something to laugh with or about. He wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

John Robinson