Robin Williams death: children of tragic star pay tribute to father as storm rages over 'coward' comments

 
Missed: Williams posted this picture of himself with his now 25-year-old daughter Zela Rae when she was a child on Instagram two weeks before his death

Robin Williams's three children spoke of their deep adoration for the tragic actor today as a storm raged over a US TV presenter’s claim that the star was a “coward” for hanging himself.

In heartbreakingly touching statements, all three told of their love for their father, who they knew was struggling through a long and ultimately doomed battle with depression.

The comments contrasted with broadcaster Shepard Smith, who attacked him on-screen for taking his own life.

Smith apologised after referring to Williams’s children, saying: “You could love three little things so much, watch them grow, they’re in their mid-20s and they’re inspiring you and exciting you and they fill you up with the kind of joy you could never have known.

“And yet, something inside you is so horrible or you’re such a coward or whatever the reason that you decide that you have to end it. Robin Williams, at 63, did that today.” In what appeared a rebuttal of the attack, Williams’s daughter Zelda, 25, said she felt “stripped bare” following her father’s death.

Robin Williams: a life in pictures

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But she continued: “My last day with him was his birthday and I’ll be forever grateful that my brothers and I got to spend that time alone with him, sharing gifts and laughter. He was always warm, even in his darkest moments.

“While I’ll never understand how he could be loved so deeply and not find it in his heart to stay, there’s minor comfort in knowing our grief and loss, in some small way, is shared by millions.

“To those he touched who are sending kind words, know that one of his favourite things in the world was to make you all laugh.

“As for those who are sending negativity, know that some small, giggling part of him is sending a flock of pigeons to your house to poop on your car. Right after you’ve had it washed. After all, he loved to laugh too.”

Her brother Cody, 23, said: “There are no words strong enough to describe my love and respect for my father. The world will never be the same without him.” Brother Zak, 31, whose mother Valerie Velardi was Williams’s first wife, added: “I lost my father and a best friend and the world got a little greyer.”

Marsha Williams, the actor’s second wife and mother to Cody and Zelda, told of her “immeasurable loss”.

On Father’s Day in June, Zelda had posted a photograph of herself with the star during filming of his hit Mrs Doubtfire, along with the message: “An oldie but a goodie.” The family’s show of solidarity came as police in Marin County, California, released new details of Williams’s last moments.

He was last seen alive by third wife Susan Schneider when she went to bed at 10.30pm on Saturday at their Tiburon mansion on San Francisco Bay.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=9&amp;id=222025&amp;p=http://t.co/UEtjQ1f2zS" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-183061-http://t.co/UEtjQ1f2zS" data-vars-event-id="c23">pic.twitter.com/UEtjQ1f2zS</a>— Zelda Williams (@zeldawilliams) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/zeldawilliams/statuses/499045688559165440" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-183061-https://twitter.com/zeldawilliams/statuses/499045688559165440" data-vars-event-id="c23">August 12, 2014</a>

Williams locked himself in another bedroom and next morning his assistant found him hanged. He had several superficial cuts on his left wrist. A pocket-knife with what appeared to be dried blood was discovered nearby. No suicide note was found but friends said Williams had been depressed over financial worries.

Two co-stars in Good Will Hunting, for which Williams won an Oscar, paid tributes today. Matt Damon said: “Robin brought so much joy into my life.” Ben Affleck wrote online: “Thanks chief for your friendship and for what you gave the world.”

Samaritans provide support to people in distress. They can be contacted on 08457 90 90 90 or by email: jo@samaritans.org.uk.

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