Nathan Lane has shared an adorable story about the late, great Robin Williams.
Lane claims Williams managed to protect him from being outed on television.
Keep scrolling to read more…
Now, Williams is known for being the greatest comedian of all time.
He’s played several starring roles and inspired the lives of many with his energetic and upbeat personality.
The actor and comedian is best known for his quick wit and immaculate improvisational skills.
And throughout his career on stage and on the big screen, he displayed just how versatile he was as a performer.
Williams began his career in the ’70s, performing as a stand-up comedian in San Francisco and Los Angeles.
After gaining traction and experience, he got his first big break playing Mork the alien in Mork & Mindy from 1978 to 1982.
This catapulted Williams into the spotlight, and his fan base began to grow, with him getting his first ever leading role in Popeye in 1980.
That was only the beginning for the star, and Williams went on to appear in several critically acclaimed movies.
Most famously…
Good Morning, Vietnam, in 1987.
1989’s Dead Poets Society.
Already, there’s 2 classics that people demand be on everybody’s watch list.
He was also the unofficial king of family movies.
Mrs Doubtfire and Jumanji stand out as huge favorites for fans.
His skill on screen was recognized when he was nominated for 4 Academy Awards for Good Will Hunting, for which he won Best Supporting Actor.
And his accolades don’t stop there, he also received 2 Primetime Emmy Awards, 6 Golden Globe Awards, 2 Screen Actors Guild Awards, and 5 Grammy Awards.
But the road to the top wasn’t easy for Williams.
Sadly, we only found out about his mental health battles after his tragic death.
He often put on a smile, although we know now that he was masking a lot of pain in his later years.
Something which only his close family knew about.
Williams married his first wife, Valerie Velardi, in June 1978.
The pair met in 1976 while Williams was working as a bartender in San Francisco. They later welcomed a son, Zachary Pym “Zak” Williams, in 1983.
Sadly, Velardi and Williams divorced just 5 years later.
He then began dating Marsha Garces in 1986, and just 3 years later, they tied the knot. Not long after, Garces gave birth to their first child, Zelda Rae Williams, followed by their son, Cody Alan Williams, born 1991.
However, things didn’t work out for Williams and Garces, as in 2008 they filed for divorce.
A year after their divorce was finalized Williams went on to marry his third wife, Susan Schneider in 2011.
Although his relationships have been rocky, one thing Williams prided himself on was being a good dad.
Speaking about his children, he once said: “My children give me a great sense of wonder. Just to see them develop into these extraordinary human beings.”
It’s clear he has always been a positive role model to his children…
Who have ensured they carry on his amazing legacy after his tragic death.
Williams’ children, Zak and Zelda, recently attended a mental health event to present an award in their dad’s memory. The event was organized by Glenn Close and the Bring Change to Mind board of directors, PEOPLE reports.
Back in 2010, Close co-founded the national organization to help end the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental illness.
The event was hosted by Robin Roberts and managed to raise a staggering $1 million in total, ET Canada reports.
Zak and Zelda, who were also joined at the event by Zaks wife, Olivia June, took to the stage to present the Robin Williams Legacy of Laughter Award.
The Robin Williams Legacy of Laughter Award was presented to Schitt’s Creek stars, Dan Levy and Eugene Levy.
The outlet reports that the honor “recognizes and thanks entertainers who spread laughter and awareness through acts of kindness, charity and revelatory honesty that makes people feel heard, seen and less alone, and through many ways, make the world a brighter, more open and caring place.”
Sharing the news on Instagram, Close wrote: “THRILLED to be celebrating EUGENE & DAN LEVY with the ROBIN WILLIAMS LEGACY OF LAUGHTER Award and CHASE STOKES with our BC2M CHAMPION OF CHANGE Award.”
“So many of us are experiencing stress, anxiety and depression. Let’s decide to TALK to LISTEN and to LAUGH!!”
Congratulations, Dan and Eugene Levy!
After Williams’ tragic death, a lot of people speculated that it was depression that killed the late actor.
However, that didn’t seem to be the main reason for his death.
During an interview with Good Morning America, his wife, Susan Schneider opened up about the real reason: “It was not depression that killed Robin. Depression was one of, let’s call it, fifty symptoms, and it was a small one.”
Implying that Williams had a lot going on in his life which could’ve been a trigger point for him to commit suicide.
During the interview, she broke the news that Williams, in fact, had Lewie Body Dementia.
However, the disease was only confirmed during an autopsy.
He was also diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease which, alongside Dementia, made it harder for Williams to cope.
“He was keeping it together as best as he could,” said Schneider, “But the last month, he could not. It was like the dam broke.”
And this week on Sunday Today, Nathan Lane shared a heartwarming story about Williams.
“I finally got a big part in a movie, and I didn’t want to make it about my sexuality, although it was sort of unavoidable because of the nature of the film and the character,” he recalled.
“I don’t think Oprah was trying to out me, but I said to Robin beforehand: ‘I’m not prepared. I’m so scared of going out there and talking to Oprah. I’m not prepared to discuss that I’m gay on national television. I’m not ready.'”
But fortunately, Williams had his back…
“He said: ‘Oh, it’s alright, don’t worry about — we don’t have to talk about it. We won’t talk about it.’”
“Robin sort of swoops in, and diverts Oprah and goes off on a tangent and protects me, because he was a saint,” Lane said.
“I was terrified …”
“It’s great that everyone now feels comfortable, but homophobia is alive and well and there are plenty of gay people who are still hiding.”
“Robin was just the greatest person.”
“Such a beautiful, sensitive soul and so kind and generous to me.”
It’s now been almost 9 years since we lost Robin Williams.
Rest in peace, Robin Williams.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please visit www.988lifeline.org for free confidential help from skilled counselors.