Robin Williams' Widow Discusses Husband's Tragic Death

an ABC News exclusive Robin Williams Widow Susan Williams speaking out for the first time since his death last year and Amy had a chance to sit down with her Amy that's right Robin after more than a year Susan Williams is breaking her silence opening up in an emotional interview about her husband's suicide and revealing a previously undetected medical condition in his final months she very much wants people to understand exactly what led to Robin's death and what made him the love of her life it's over 600 what's the O stand for oh my god it's early quicksilver wit and a quiet gravitas you don't know about real loss because that only occurs when you love something more than you love yourself there was no role too great for the brilliance of Robin Williams and yet his most extraordinary role was off screen as a family man it's the best love I ever dreamed you know it's what I always dreamed of a love would be is just really based on just honor love respect Robin and Susan had a seven-year relationship a happy and very private three year marriage but on August 11th last year life took a drastic turn Susan left for work that morning thinking her husband was still asleep Rebecca his assistant came over and he said call me when he's up or haven't called me when he's up and then she sent me a text I said he's not up yet what should I do and I said wake him and then she called me but why did she say I can't even I'm sorry that 24-minute car ride I just screamed the whole way Rob did you get to see her yes I got to tell him I forgive you with all my heart you're the bravest man I've ever known you know we were living a nightmare that nightmare at its worst in the months leading up to his suicide the 63 year old was secretly battling depression anxiety and paranoia which drove him to take his own life hanging himself with a belt when did you first notice that something wasn't quite right in November of 2013 he had a little gut pain next month it was another symptom it was like this endless parade of symptoms and not all of them would raise their head at once it was like playing whack-a-mole which which symptom is at this month I thought he was my husband a hypochondriac we're chasing it there's no answers and by now we I mean we tried everything some answers finally came in May that year when Robin was diagnosed with early stages of Parkinson's disease did he ever do anything well you were afraid for his physical safety yes yeah July 24th I was in the shower and all of a sudden I saw him lingering eyes sink for a while if something didn't seem right and I opened up the door and there was blood this doll was so soaked with blood and he was just downing his head I just screamed you know he pointed to the door and I said did you hit your head and he nodded his only response was I miscalculated did it ever cross your mind that he could be suicidal no it was what was going on inside of his brain the chemical warfare that no one knew about his autopsy later revealing he was suffering from a debilitating brain disorder Lewy body dementia Lewy body dementia is a complex disorder with many different presentations you can see very dramatic effects in thinking emotions and behavior most people think your husband killed himself because he depressed now Lewy body dementia killed Robin its what took his life and that's what I've spent the last year trying to get to the bottom of what took my husband's life was he losing his mind yes absolutely and he was aware of it he was keeping it together as best as he could but the last month he could not it was like the dam broke and in that last week doctors were planning to check him into a facility for neurocognitive testing was this Robins way of taking control back my opinion oh yeah I think he was just saying now and I don't blame him one bit your last conversation with Robin what was that so I was getting in bed and you came in the room a couple of times once to his closet and he said good night my love good love and then it came back again he came out with his iPad and he looked like can't something to do and that was like I think he's getting better and then he said good night good night that was the last today while the world continues to remember Robin Williams for his iconic movies my favorite movie of Robin Williams was Robin Williams being a human being not an actor right best movie in the world and Susan told me that Robin was completely sober when he died and had been for eight years and she explained that they had been sleeping in separate bedrooms because he had trouble sleeping that's a symptom a classic trait of Lewy body dementia you can see much more of my interview with Susan Williams tomorrow on GMA where she talks about the legal battle that then ensued with Robins adult children and all this time many thought it was the depression that led to it was dementia Lewy body dimension into my little children yes thanks

Channel: ABC News

Views: 4,927,612

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Keywords: Robin, Williams, Susan, Suicide, GMA, Exclusive, Death, Celebrity, Deaths, ABC, News

Id: sVq0V7rKImk

Length: 6min 12sec (372 seconds)

Published: Tue Nov 03 2015