Herbert Emily - Robin Williams: when the laughter stops 1951--2014

The following is a selection of the tributes paid to the late Robin Williams.

Bill Cosby @BillCosby: Im stunned!

Melissa Joan Hart @MelissaJoanHart: Beyond upset about one of my idols passing away tragically!! RIP Robin Williams.

Lindsay Lohan @lindsaylohan: Mr. Williams visited me the first day of filming The Parent Trap. I will never forget his kindness. What an enormous loss. My condolences.

Joel McHale @joelmchale: RIP @robinwilliams. You were one of the very best that ever was. You were one of my heroes. #RobinWilliams

Anna Kendrick @AnnaKendrick47: O Captain! My Captain! Rise up and hear the bells. Rise up, for you the flag is flung, for you the bugle trills.

KirstieAlley @kirstiealley: RIP sweetie you made the world laugh for decades Rest a while xxxooo

Jane Lynch @janemarielynch: Our loss. Orsons gain. #RIPRobinWilliams

Rita Wilson @RitaWilson: I am heartbroken. Dear, sweet friend, Robin Williams, gone. Our prayers for peace to all his friends and family, his beautiful children.

Chris Colfer @chriscolfer: Robin Williams was my hero growing up. You know someone is special when the whole world considers them family.

Jeremy Piven @jeremypiven: my father took me to see Robin Williams do an improv set. Never seen anything like it, he was a spirit like no other. Will never forget him.

John Stamos @JohnStamos: god no. The first autograph I ever got: Dear money, send mom. Robin Williams.

Lori Loughlin @LoriLoughlin: Im shocked and saddened over the loss of Robin Williams. I had the great pleasure of working with him on Old Dogs. #RobinWilliams

Mindy Kaling @mindykaling: I am named after a character from a Robin Williams TV show when my parents still lived in Africa. He meant so much, to so many, so far away.

Lena Dunham @lenadunham: Just shared a moment of silence on the set for Robin Williams, a man who brought so much laughter, joy and healing to so many.

Kathy Griffin @kathygriffin: I met this sweet, generous & brilliant man Robin Williams in 1991. Here we are with HIS idol Jonathan Winters. #RIP.

Queen Latifah @IAMQUEENLATIFAH: Thanks for the years of feel good laughter. RIP Robin Williams.

Meredith Vieira @meredithvieira: I know he and his buddy Jonathan Winters are making the angels laugh out loud.

Ellen DeGeneres @TheEllenShow: I cant believe the news about Robin Williams. He gave so much to so many people. Im heartbroken.

Scott Weinger @ScottWeinger: Farewell to my childhood hero and my Genie. The world wont be the same without him.

Debbie Allen @msdebbieallen: OMG I am so devastated. What a loss for the world #riprobinwilliams.

Mandy Moore @TheMandyMoore: Honored to have worked w such a bright light and brilliant man. Love and prayers to his family and friends. #RIPRobinWilliams.

John Mayer @JohnMayer: The first thing I ever wanted to be when I grew up was Robin Williams inhabiting of Popeye. #RIPRobinWilliams. How awesome a contribution Robin Williams made to the world, that millions of people (and I) are now feeling real, deep human loss. So sad.

Goldie Hawn @goldiehawn: Oh Robin Our hearts are broken. Rest in peace darling. We loved you.

Sesame Street @sesamestreet: We mourn the loss of our friend Robin Williams, who always made us laugh and smile.

Cher @cher: Oh Robin. He was Sweet LOVELY, Man. He ran high voltage, Mind Always Going, It was who he was. I Know Well Many Xs from High There is Only Low. So Sad.

Jessica Chastain @jes_chastain: Robin Williams changed my life. He was a great actor and a generous person. Through a scholarship, he made it possible for me to graduate college. His generous spirit will forever inspire me to support others as he supported me. He will forever be missed.

What I might do is watch Mrs. Doubtfire. Or Dead Poets Society or Good Will Hunting and I might be nice to people, mindful today how fragile we all are, how delicate we are, even when fizzing with divine madness that seems like it will never expire.

R USSELL B RAND , R OBIN W ILLIAMS D IVINE M ADNESS W ILL N O L ONGER D ISRUPT THE S ADNESS OF THE W ORLD, THE G UARDIAN , A UGUST 2014

11 August 2014 and the world was in profound shock. Robin Williams, the Oscar-winning actor, comedian and all-round comic genius, had been found dead at his home in Tiburon, just outside San Francisco. He was only sixty-three. What had happened a heart attack, a stroke? Recently he hadnt been seen much in public but no one outside his immediate circle had been aware that anything could have been badly wrong.

Quite how wrong, however, soon became all too clear. For this wasnt a tragic medical emergency, rather it seemed that the talented but tormented comedian had taken his own life. The Marin County Sheriffs office put out a statement. [It] suspects the death to be a suicide due to asphyxia, it said. In other words, Williams had hanged himself. The world was aghast: Robin Williams was not just a popular actor but a much-loved one too. Generations had grown up watching his films; in his personal life he was known to be kind and generous too. Yes, hed had well-documented battles with drugs and alcoholism in the past but, despite a recent spell in rehab, it had been widely believed that he was free of his demons. Now it seemed this was not so.

More details began to emerge. The Marin County Sheriffs office had further information. It had received a 911 call at 11.55am Pacific time, it stated, with a man reported to be unconscious and not breathing inside his residence. Robin Williams was pronounced dead at 12.02pm.

The full statement read as follows:

On August 11, 2014, at approximately 11:55 a.m., Marin County Communications received a 9-1-1 telephone call reporting a male adult had been located unconscious and not breathing inside his residence in unincorporated Tiburon, CA. The Sheriffs Office, as well as the Tiburon Fire Department and Southern Marin Fire Protection District were dispatched to the incident with emergency personnel arriving on scene at 12:00 pm. The male subject, pronounced deceased at 12:02 pm, has been identified as Robin McLaurin Williams, a 63-year-old resident of unincorporated Tiburon, CA.

An investigation into the cause, manner, and circumstances of the death is currently underway by the Investigations and Coroner Divisions of the Sheriffs Office. Preliminary information developed during the investigation indicates Mr. Williams was last seen alive at his residence, where he resides with his wife, at approximately 10:00 pm on August 10, 2014. Mr. Williams was located this morning shortly before the 9-1-1 call was placed to Marin County Communications. At this time, the Sheriffs Office Coroner Division suspects the death to be a suicide due to asphyxia, but a comprehensive investigation must be completed before a final determination is made. A forensic examination is currently scheduled for August 12, 2014 with subsequent toxicology testing to be conducted.

The world was reeling but this was nothing compared to Williams nearest and dearest. This morning, I lost my husband and my best friend, while the world lost one of its most beloved artists and beautiful human beings, said his wife, Susan Schneider. I am utterly heartbroken. On behalf of Robins family, we are asking for privacy during our time of profound grief. As he is remembered, it is our hope the focus will not be on Robins death, but on the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions.