If there was any doubt about Robin Williams’s impact, one need look no further than the massive outpouring of grief and love following the news of his death on Monday. From those who have followed Williams since he rose to fame on Mork & Mindy to millennials who know him mainly as Mrs. Doubtfire and the genie from Aladdin, he touched millions during a career that spanned five decades. Comedians including Steve Martin and Ellen DeGeneres flocked to Twitter to share remembrances of Williams and how he inspired them; even President Obama commented on his passing. Steven Spielberg, who worked with Williams on Hook and was a longtime friend, said, “Robin was a lightning storm of comic genius and our laughter was the thunder that sustained him. He was a pal and I can’t believe he’s gone.†Here’s how other stars remembered the comedian.
“I am completely and totally devastated. What more can be said?†— Pam Dawber, Williams Mork & Mindy co-star
“I saw him on stage the very first time he auditioned at the Improv and we have been friends ever since. It’s a very sad day.†— Jay Leno
“I’ve never known a sweeter, brighter, more considerate person than Robin. Robin’s commitment as an artist to lifting our mood and making us happy is compared to none. He loved us all and we loved him back.†— John Travolta
“Robin Williams was an airman, a doctor, a genie, a nanny, a president, a professor, a bangarang Peter Pan, and everything in between. But he was one of a kind. He arrived in our lives as an alien – but he ended up touching every element of the human spirit. He made us laugh. He made us cry. He gave his immeasurable talent freely and generously to those who needed it most – from our troops stationed abroad to the marginalized on our own streets. The Obama family offers our condolences to Robin’s family, his friends, and everyone who found their voice and their verse thanks to Robin Williams.†— President Obama