Robin Williams’ Life and Legacy Honored on 11th Anniversary of His Death originally appeared on Parade.
It’s been 11 years since Robin Williams’ death, but his absence is still felt just as strongly today as it was over a decade ago.
Just weeks before today’s anniversary, Robin’s son Zak Williams marked what would have been his father’s 74th birthday on July 21 with a heartfelt Instagram tribute.
“For me, grief isn’t linear. It loops and echoes. It softens, then crescendos. But alongside it lives a legacy, the kind built not from fame or recognition, but from generosity and relentless kindness,” Zak wrote. “My father lived to make people feel seen. He gave permission to feel deeply and to laugh through the pain. In his absence, that mission continues. So today, I hold close the idea that the best way to honor those we love is to live the values they stood for. To lead with service and compassion. To lift others when they’re down. And to find paths of light, even in the dark corners.”
Today, fans around the world are reflecting on the beloved actor and comedian’s life and legacy. Robin was celebrated around the world for the wide range of characters he played in several movies, but it was his ability to make people laugh that stood out the most. From his iconic run as Mork, a goofy but lovable alien, on Mork & Mindy, to his role as the Genie in Disney’s Aladdin, Robin knew how to put a smile on fans’ faces.
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The world was devastated to lose the beloved comedian by suicide on August 11, 2014. After his death, an autopsy revealed that he had Lewy body dementia. The condition leads to cognitive decline over the years and can cause severe depression, anxiety and hallucinations. Susan Williams, Robin’s wife, has been vocal about his diagnosis since his death and revealed that doctors initially misdiagnosed it as Parkinson’s disease.
In May 2014, doctors had given Susan a small bit of hope with the diagnosis of Parkinson’s, and toward the end of July in that same year, she thought things were getting back on track. When they were in the second weekend of August, she explained that his “delusional looping” had begun to calm down.
“Maybe the switch in medications was working. We did all the things we love on Saturday day and into the evening, it was perfect – like one long date. By the end of Sunday, I was feeling that he was getting better,” Susan wrote in an editorial published in the September 27, 2016, journal Neurology. “When we retired for sleep, in our customary way, my husband said to me, ‘Goodnight, my love,’ and waited for my familiar reply: ‘Goodnight, my love.’ His words still echo through my heart today. Monday, August 11, Robin was gone.”
It wasn’t until after Robin’s death did doctors finally discover what his true condition was.
“None of the doctors knew that there was this ghost disease underlying all of this. When that was revealed, that was like essentially finding out the name of my husband’s killer,” Susan continued.
Along with Susan, Robin is survived by his daughter, Zelda Williams, and sons, Zak and Cody Williams. His family’s tributes and Susan’s advocacy work have kept his memory alive for more than a decade, and his humor continues to inspire people around the world.
Robin Williams’ Life and Legacy Honored on 11th Anniversary of His Death first appeared on Parade on Aug 11, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
