Robin Williams’ Son Was ‘There for Him on a Daily Basis’ Was Lost after His Death — He Now Helps Others Heal

• When Robin Williams’ family found out after his death that he was treated for a different diagnosis, they were shocked, but nothing could be changed.

• Robin’s son, Zachary, tried to heal himself from his grief but initially chose the wrong path.

Robin Williams’ eldest child, Zachary Williams, had a close relationship with him and was there for him in his last days. Zachary went on a downward spiral when his father tragically died.

Acclaimed actor Robin Williams was married three times in his lifetime. He first tied the knot with Valeria Velardi in June 1978, whom he met in San Francisco when he worked as a bartender at a tavern.

Actor Robin Williams and his wife Valerie Velardi pictured in 1984 in New York ┃Source: Getty Images

The former couple welcomed one child, a son named Zachary, in 1983 before they divorced in 1988. Robin and Velardi parted ways after reports that he had been cheating with his son’s nanny, Marsha Garces, two years prior.

The Academy Award winner married Garces in April 1989, who was six months pregnant with his child. Garces gave birth to the couple’s first child, Zelda, in 1989 and their second, Alan, in 1991.

In 2008, Garces filed for divorce from Robin and cited irreconcilable differences as a reason for their separation. Notably, he was last married to a graphic designer named Susan Schneider. The pair wed in October 2011 but did not have kids together.

Graphic designer Susan Schneider and Robin Williams attend The Comedy Awards 2012 at Hammerstein Ballroom on April 28, 2012 in New York City ┃Source: Getty Images

His oldest child Zachary opened up about their father-and-son relationship in an interview with People in 2020. Zachary said that he “looked up” to his father:

“I looked up to my dad being curious and thoughtful and loving, and he was all three in spades.”

The duo spent a lot of time together and shared a meaningful “friendship,” something Zachary appreciated the most: “I loved spending time with my dad, just doing things that children and their parents do, being normal, and I saw his friendship to be one of the most important things for me growing up as a parent,” he revealed.

“I valued his friendship to the umpteenth degree. We were also best friends; he would share a whole lot, so I understood a good deal of what he was going through,” Zachary explained.

Robin Became Sick & Isolated Himself

Robin suffered from undiagnosed Lewy Body dementia (LBD), a brain disease. Per The Guardian, people affected by LBD tend to experience memory loss and anxiety, among other things.

Those who previously worked with Robin before he passed, including the creator of “The Crazy Ones,” David E Kelly, shared what they noticed about the Hollywood star in his final days. Kelly revealed that Robin hid “his tremoring hand in his pocket.”

Meanwhile, the director of “The Night at the Museum,” Shawn Levy, disclosed Robin told him that he did not feel like himself, adding “his brain was not firing at the same speed” and that “the joy wasn’t there” ever since he started being sick:

“I’m not me anymore.”

Robin was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in May 2014 and told his kids. Still, the disease could not be associated with his experience with mild depression, paranoia, and hallucinations. The symptoms were treated as “satellite issues” instead of neurological issues.

In July 2021, Zachary got candid about his father’s Parkinson’s disease diagnosis in an interview on “The Genius Life” podcast. He revealed that the five-time Grammy Award winner became frustrated because of his condition.

Zachary disclosed that his dad’s experience differed a lot from other people who had been diagnosed with the same brain disorder:

“He felt frustrated. There was a focus issue that frustrated him. There were issues associated with how he felt. He didn’t feel great. There was more anxiety and depression and things he was experiencing, and talking to me about that made me realize he was very uncomfortable.”

Zachary concluded that his father struggled with his acting job, which “was irritating for him.” He explained that the diagnosis helped Robin with soul “searching and frustration.”

Zachary expressed his desperate desire “to be there” for his dad every day because the situation became “isolating,” regardless of being family.

The comedian’s condition worsened, and he and his third wife, Schneider, decided to go to a neurocognitive testing facility, but they never made it there. Robin sadly died a week before the appointment on August 11, 2014, at age 63 in Paradise Cay, California.

Schneider noted that her husband feared going to the facility because he thought they would admit him and he would never see the light of day again.

Robin Was Misdiagnosed

While Robin had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s, an autopsy proved otherwise. His family learned that he had Lewy body disease. Following his death, there were speculations about what led to his demise. There had been reports that he suffered from depression and alcohol addiction.

However, Robin’s wife set the record straight, revealing that though her husband had addiction issues previously, that was not what contributed to his health struggles:

“Depression is a symptom of LBD, and it’s not about psychology – it’s rooted in neurology. His brain was falling apart.”

Meanwhile, Zachary shared that his father’s death affected his mental health, and he used alcohol to cope with the loss. He saw a psychiatrist and got diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after that.

Zachary realized he needed to pull himself together and get help to overcome the daunting experience of losing his dad. By taking action, he enrolled in a 12-step program and went to group therapy.

Six years after Robin’s death, he became an advocate for mental health issues. Zachary realized that to heal himself; he had to do the same for other people. He admitted that his father’s passing took its toll on him:

“I was unable to sleep, and I was unable to relate to people and was feeling isolated.”

Zachary’s Recovery Journey – Overcoming His Father’s Death

To reach the point of self-realization, Zachary said he knew he could not continue living that way and that “something had to give.”

In being proactive, he started volunteering to teach financial literacy in prison, which later led to his involvement with mental health associations.

Zachary began working with mental health organizations to drive the conversation surrounding the disorder and revealed that was how he found healing:

“I actually found myself committing time to mental health advocacy as a means of healing that trauma. For me, it was very healing.”

Sharing his story and supporting others going through similar issues “was extremely aligned” with everything he needed for himself to heal.

The first organization that Zachary collaborated with was Bring Change 2 Mind. He misses his dad and now has a son named McLaurin, who reminds him of him, with whom he shares with his wife, Oliva June.

In August 2021, the father of one paid tribute to Robin on the seventh anniversary of his death alongside a photo of the Golden Globe Award winner.

“Dad, the joy and inspiration you brought into the world carries on in your legacy, your family and friends, and the fans you so loved. You lived to bring laughter and to help others. Love you forever,” Zachary tweeted in his post.

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