The children of Robin Williams on Tuesday expressed their love and grief for their dad a day after the comedy legend died in his California home — sharing remembrances, but also bafflement as to why the actor took his own life.
“While I'll never, ever understand how he could be loved so deeply and not find it in his heart to stay, there's minor comfort in knowing our grief and loss, in some small way, is shared with millions,” Robin Williams’ 25-year-old daughter, Zelda, said in a statement by the family.
"Yesterday, I lost my father and a best friend and the world got a little grayer,” said Williams’ 31-year-old son, Zak.
"There are no words strong enough to describe the love and respect I have for my father. The world will never be the same without him,” said his youngest child, 22-year-old Cody Williams.
Robin Williams’ former wife and the mother of Zelda and Cody, Marsha Garces Williams, said “My heart is split wide open and scattered over the planet with all of you,” referring to the actor’s many fans around the globe.
Robin Williams, 63, was found dead in his Triburon, California, home Monday morning. Police said Tuesday the Oscar winner hanged himself with a belt, and the actor’s representative said he had recently struggled with “severe depression.”
The family's full statements are below:
“"Yesterday, I lost my father and a best friend and the world got a little grayer. I will carry his heart with me every day. I would ask those that loved him to remember him by being as gentle, kind, and generous as he would be. Seek to bring joy to the world as he sought." — Zak Williams
"My family has always been private about our time spent together. It was our way of keeping one thing that was ours, with a man we shared with an entire world. But now that's gone, and I feel stripped bare. My last day with him was his birthday, and I will be forever grateful that my brothers and I got to spend that time alone with him, sharing gifts and laughter. He was always warm, even in his darkest moments. While I'll never, ever understand how he could be loved so deeply and not find it in his heart to stay, there's minor comfort in knowing our grief and loss, in some small way, is shared with millions. It doesn't help the pain, but at least it's a burden countless others now know we carry, and so many have offered to help lighten the load. Thank you for that.“To those he touched who are sending kind words, know that one of his favorite things in the world was to make you all laugh. As for those who are sending negativity, know that some small, giggling part of him is sending a flock of pigeons to your house to poop on your car. Right after you've had it washed. After all, he loved to laugh too… Dad was, is and always will be one of the kindest, most generous, gentlest souls I've ever known, and while there are few things I know for certain right now, one of them is that not just my world, but the entire world is forever a little darker, less colorful and less full of laughter in his absence. We'll just have to work twice as hard to fill it back up again." — Zelda Williams
"There are no words strong enough to describe the love and respect I have for my father. The world will never be the same without him. I will miss him and take him with me everywhere I go for the rest of my life, and will look forward, forever, to the moment when I get to see him again." — Cody Williams
"My heart is split wide open and scattered over the planet with all of you. Please remember the gentle, loving, generous - and yes, brilliant and funny - man that was Robin Williams. My arms are wrapped around our children as we attempt to grapple with celebrating the man we love, while dealing with this immeasurable loss." — former wife, Marsha Garces Williams