Robin Williams knew how to make people feel deeply. He could give you a belly laugh - or a cathartic cry. He knew how to entertain you in a way that only he could. He seemingly had so much energy it's like he vibrated around instead of walking like the rest of us. His mind seemed to move so FAST. And then his brilliant mind betrayed him. Or, rather, his mind just wasn't able to defend him from the cruel and degenerative disease of Lewy Body Dementia. With the diagnosis not coming until two years after his death, he had no idea why he was suddenly becoming more and more forgetful, confused, paranoid, and delusional. While he publicly continued making movies and tv shows, he privately suffered. And then on August 11, 2014, at the age of 63, he took his own life. Or, rather, Lew Body Dementia took it. A sad ending. But before that - what a life! From rich kid, to broke student, to struggling comic, to rocketing to fame and fortune with first Mork and Mindy, and then successful standup specials, and then classic films like Good Morning, Vietnam, Dead Poets Society, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Goodwill Hunting - Williams entertained hundreds of millions of people. And today we examine and celebrate his life - and even critique it a bit - while also learning about the disease that took him from us. We're donating $15,400 this month to the American Nurses Foundation Coronavirus Response Fund for Nurses. This Covid response fund provides mental health support, direct financial aid, education, and evidence-based information, and overall advocacy for nurses. To learn more: https://www.nursingworld.org/foundation/programs/coronavirus-response-fund/ Watch the Suck on YouTube: https://youtu.be/iB0yViCiJVoMerch - https://badmagicmerch.com/ Discord! https://discord.gg/tqzH89v Want to join the Cult of the Curious private Facebook Group? Go directly to Facebook and search for "Cult of the Curious" in order to locate whatever current page hasn't been put in FB Jail :) For all merch related questions/problems: [email protected] (copy and paste) Please rate and subscribe on iTunes and elsewhere and follow the suck on social media!! @timesuckpodcast on IG and http://www.facebook.com/timesuckpodcast Wanna become a Space Lizard? We're over 10,000 strong! Click here: https://www.patreon.com/timesuckpodcast Sign up through Patreon and for $5 a month you get to listen to the Secret Suck, which will drop Thursdays at Noon, PST. You'll also get 20% off of all regular Timesuck merch PLUS access to exclusive Space Lizard merch. You get to vote on two Monday topics each month via the app. And you get the download link for my new comedy album, Feel the Heat. Check the Patreon posts to find out how to download the new album and take advantage of other benefits.

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.