Robin Williams’ children Zak and Zelda have paid emotional tributes to their late father on social media on the eighth anniversary of his death.
The actor, who died aged 63, was joined by his son Zak, 39, who shared an old photo of him and hailed the “wonderful, hairy man”.
The Good Will Hunting actor committed suicide at his home in Paradise Cay, California in 2014. His autopsy revealed undiagnosed Lewy body disease, a form of progressive dementia.
In tribute: Robin Williams’ children Zak and Zelda shared emotional social media tributes to their late father on the eighth anniversary of his death
On Thursday, Zak tweeted: “Dad, on the eighth anniversary of your death, I remember how incredibly kind and cheerful you were.
“I miss you very much, you wonderful, hairy man, and today I will celebrate your life. I love you so much!’
Also in honor of her father, Zelda, 33, shared a quote from writer Haruki Murakami that appeared in the context of suicide prevention.
Tragic: The Good Will Hunting actor committed suicide at his home in Paradise Cay, California in 2014. His autopsy revealed undiagnosed Lewy body disease, a form of progressive dementia (pictured in 2006).
It read: “And when the storm is over you won’t remember how you got through it, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure if the storm is really over.
“But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person that came in.’
She also shared a thread on suicide prevention resources and hotlines, asking her followers to add more if they knew.
Special: In honor of her father, Zelda, 33, shared a quote from writer Haruki Murakami that appeared to be related to suicide prevention
Zelda added: “I’m not asking much, but if I may, be gentle with your hearts today. I know I’m trying.”
For the anniversary last year, Zelda also shared a Murakami quote, which read, “Sometimes when I look at you it feels like I’m looking at a distant star.
“It’s blinding, but the light is from tens of thousands of years ago. Maybe the star doesn’t exist anymore. But sometimes that light seems more real to me than anything else.”
Robin also had son Cody, 30, from his relationship with Valerie Velardi.
Earlier this year, Zak shared a fun tribute to his father on what would have been the actor’s 71st birthday.
For dad: Zak shared a fun tribute to his father on what would have been the actor’s 71st birthday. seen in 2012
‘Happy 71st Birthday Dad! I will remember you today as you would like to be remembered, in spandex. Miss you and love you always!’ his son wrote on Instagram when he posted a photo of the comedian on a bike.
Robin was an avid cyclist, often riding the winding trails near his home in Marin County, California.
Last year, Zak said his father was “frustrated” by his health issues before eventually taking his own life.
The legendary comedian had been unknowingly diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and actually suffered from Lewy body dementia – the second most common type of progressive dementia after Alzheimer’s – as his family found out after his death.
Hilarious: “Happy 71st birthday dad! I will remember you today as you would like to be remembered, in spandex. Miss you and love you always!’ his son wrote on Instagram when he posted a photo of the comedian on a bike
“What I saw was frustration,” Zak told host Max Lugavere on his podcast, The Genius Life.
“What he was going through didn’t add up one-to-one [with what] many Parkinson’s patients experience. So, I think that was difficult for him.’
Zak, who campaigns for mental health, continued, “There was a focus issue that was frustrating him, there were issues related to how he was feeling, and also from a neurological perspective, he wasn’t feeling well,” adding, “He was very uncomfortable.’
Williams’ son also questioned the medications his father was given, suggesting they may have worsened his general health.
“These drugs are no joke,” he explained. “They are also very tough on the mind and body.
“I couldn’t help but feel beyond empathy. I couldn’t help but feel frustrated for him,” Zak continued. “It can be really isolating even when you’re with family and loved ones.”
Lewy body dementia causes a progressive decline in mental abilities, and sufferers may have visual hallucinations and changes in alertness and attention.
Zak also shared his experiences of losing his father and how it affected his mental health.
“I drank heavily to control my mental health where it caused very harmful problems. Personally, I had health problems. I had psychosis and when I spoke to a psychiatrist I was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder,” he said.
Adding: “I self-medicated through the trauma with alcohol.”
Zak, who is a father of two, sought help from a 12-step program and group therapy that helped him.
WHAT IS LEWY BODY DEMENTIA?
Lewy body dementia (LBD) is the second most common form of degenerative dementia after Alzheimer’s.
It’s the form Robin Williams was diagnosed with before he took his own life in 2014.
Unlike Alzheimer’s, LBD affects the brain regions responsible for vision – as opposed to memory.
This means sufferers may start out with memory loss, but over time the more debilitating symptoms will include intense hallucinations, nightmares, and problems with spatial awareness.
LBD is closely linked to Parkinson’s disease, which means many sufferers will also develop Parkinson’s – like Robin Williams.
SYMPTOMS:
The most common symptoms include:
- impairment of thinking, such as B. Loss of executive function (planning, processing information), memory, or the ability to understand visual information.
- fluctuations in cognition, attention, or alertness;
- Movement problems including tremors, stiffness, slowness and difficulty walking
- Visual hallucinations (seeing things that are not there)
- Sleep disorders, such as acting out dreams while you sleep
- Behavioral and mood symptoms, including depression, apathy, anxiety, agitation, delusions, or paranoia
- Changes in autonomic bodily functions such as blood pressure control, temperature regulation, and bladder and bowel function.
HOW IT STARTS:
Many sufferers first develop Parkinson’s and suffer from physical disabilities before doctors diagnose their dementia. That’s exactly what happened to the late revered actor Robin Williams.
Some start with memory loss that could be confused with the more common Alzheimer’s disease. Over time, they will develop symptoms more clearly associated with LBD.
WHAT CAUSES IT:
There is no known cause. What we do know is that the risk increases with age.
At the cellular level, LBD is characterized by tiny clumps of abnormal proteins produced by the brain when its cells aren’t functioning properly.
They cause memory problems, although these are usually not as severe as Alzheimer’s – which is linked to a build-up of the protein beta-amyloid.
Another key difference is that Lewy body dementia affects regions of the brain responsible for vision, causing powerful hallucinations, nightmares, and problems with spatial awareness.