The world was shocked when he committed suicide in 2014 at the age of 63.
And now a new documentary from HBO promises to take viewers inside the mind of Robin Williams.
In the first trailer for the film released Thursday, the comic genius is heard talking about himself, sharing insights into his motivations, feelings and interactions with the world.
‘You’re only given a little spark of madness and if you lose that, you’re nothing,’ he says.
Legend: The world was shocked when he committed suicide in 2014 at the age of 63. And now a new documentary from HBO promises to take viewers inside the mind of Robin Williams
‘You’re only given a little spark of madness and if you lose that, you’re nothing,’ the comic says in the footage
The documentary titled Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind includes rare footage of Williams on stage where he reduced audiences to tears with his quick-fire routines and range of characters.
There are also interviews with some of his famous friends and fellow comics including Eric Idle, Steve Martin and Billy Crystal.
‘Every person is driven by some deep secret,’ he’s heard saying over a montage of photos of him looking pensive.
In his own words: ‘You’re only given a little spark of madness and if you lose that, you’re nothing,’ Williams is heard saying as she talks about his comedy in the film’s trailer
Driven: ‘For me, stand-up is survival,’ he is heard saying. ‘For me, that’s jazz, that’s what I have to do’
Exploration of genius: The two-minute clip drives home the notion that Williams was driven to be funny and it was a deep integral part of his identity
The two-minute clip drives home the notion that Williams was driven to be funny and it was a deep integral part of his identity.
‘For me, stand-up is survival,’ he is heard saying. ‘For me, that’s jazz, that’s what I have to do.’
As for his craft, he explains: ‘I don’t tell jokes. I just use characters as a vehicle for me.’
His pal Eric Idle backed up the Mork And Mindy star’s theories about himself.
‘It was a need to communicate and be funny,’ the Monty Python alum said.
Made people laugh: In the first trailer released Thursday, the comic genius is heard talking about himself, sharing insights into his motivations, feelings and interactions with the world
Insights: The documentary includes interviews with some of the star’s famous friends and fellow comics including Eric Idle, Steve Martin and Billy Crystal (pictured)
Knew him well: His pal Eric Idle backed up the Mork And Mindy star’s theories about himself. ‘It was a need to communicate and be funny,’ the Monty Python alum said
Funnyman: Of his craft, Williams says: ‘I don’t tell jokes. I just use characters as a vehicle for me’
Inside story: Steve Martin observes in the trailer that the public and the private man were almost polar opposites
Conflicted: ‘He was really comfortable on stage,’ Martin explains. ‘Off stage, I just felt he was holding himself together’
Steve Martin observes in the trailer that the public and the private man were almost polar opposites.
‘He was really comfortable on stage,’ Martin explains. ‘Off stage, I just felt he was holding himself together.’
The film also addresses Williams’s history of alcohol and drug addictions as well as the fears of abandonment that he had as a child.
Deep roots: The film also addresses Williams’s history of alcohol and drug addictions as well as the fears of abandonment that he had as a child
Personal roller coaster: Williams enjoyed success on stage, on television and in the movies. He married three times and had three children
Dad: Williams’s eldest son Zak is also featured in the documentary. ‘My father didn’t always feel he was succeeding. But he was the most successful person I know,’ he says poignantly
His son Zak Williams, 35, is also featured in the documentary.
‘My father didn’t always feel he was succeeding. But he was the most successful person I know,’ he says poignantly.
Williams killed himself on August 11 at his home in Marin Country, Calfifornia.
The official cause of death was recorded as asphyxia and hanging.
Toxicology reports revealed he had antidepressants, caffeine and levodopa, a drug used to treat Parkinson’s disease, in his system at the time of his death.
Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind will premiere on HBO on July 16.
Suicide: Williams killed himself on August 11 at his home in Marin Country, Calfifornia. The official cause of death was recorded as asphyxia and hanging
Coming soon: Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind will premiere on HBO on July 16