Tuesday 12 August 2014

Robin Williams hanged himself at home aged 63

Actor Robin Williams arrives at singer-songwriter Elton John's 60th birthday party in New York March 24, 2007. REUTERS-Eric Thayer
1 OF 11. Actor Robin Williams arrives at singer-songwriter Elton John's 60th birthday party in New York March 24, 2007.



Oscar-winning actor and groundbreaking comedian Robin Williams hanged himself with a belt in his Northern California home after he had sought treatment for depression, a coroner said on Tuesday based on preliminary findings.
Williams, 63, was found dead by his personal assistant at midday on Monday in a bedroom. He was suspended from a belt wedged between a closet door and a door frame, in a seated position just off the ground, Marin County's assistant chief deputy coroner, Keith Boyd, told a news conference.
"Mr. Williams' personal assistant became concerned at approximately 11:45 a.m. when he failed to respond to knocks on his bedroom door," said Boyd.
"His right shoulder area was touching the door with his body perpendicular to the door and slightly suspended. Mr. Williams at that time was cool to the touch with rigor mortis present in his body," Boyd added.
The official preliminary cause of death was asphyxia due to hanging, he said, and conclusion of the investigation is still weeks away.
Officials also found a pocket knife near Williams and superficial cuts on his left wrist with dried red material that matched what was on the knife blade. It was not yet known if it was his blood.
Williams was last seen alive by his wife, Susan Schneider, on Sunday night when she retired for the evening. She left the next morning around 10 a.m. thinking that her husband was still asleep.
Williams' publicist, Mara Buxbaum, said on Monday that he had been suffering from severe depression, and Boyd acknowledged that he had been seeking treatment without giving more details.
Boyd would not say whether Williams had left a suicide note.
"We're not discussing the note or a note at this point as the investigation is ongoing," said Boyd.
In addition to his wife, Williams is survived by three children. Funeral arrangements are pending. His body has been released by the coroner facility in neighbouring Napa County, Boyd said.
Boyd would not say if any drugs or alcohol were involved and that the full toxicology report would take two to six weeks.
COMEDY WORLD MOURNS
Comedians, politicians and several generations of fans collectively mourned the death of Williams, famous for his frenetically paced comedy and masterful impressions.
The news of Williams' death rippled across social media, stunning fans young and old and comedians who had been influenced by Williams since he broke out in the 1970's TV comedy "Mork & Mindy" as a strange and lovable creature from outer space.
"Goodbye pal. Thanks for everything," tweeted comedian Louis C.K. on Tuesday.
Williams had been open about his struggles with alcohol and cocaine and in the past months had entered a rehabilitation centre to help him maintain sobriety.
But many questions remained over his final months and what could have led to his apparent suicide.
On the Hollywood Walk of Fame, dozens of fans congregated around Williams' star early on Tuesday, leaving flowers and candles to honour the versatile actor.
"My kids grew up on 'Mrs Doubtfire'," said Erlinda Fantauzzi, referring to the hit movie in which he played a father who took on the persona of a tender British nanny to be close to his kids. "I feel so bad. He was a tortured soul and he died alone. He touched adults and children," she said.
Williams' appeal stretched across generations and genres, from family fare as the voice of Disney's blue Genie in "Aladdin" to his portrayal of a fatherly therapist in the 1997 drama "Good Will Hunting," for which he earned his sole Oscar.
The death of Williams shook Hollywood and colleagues mourned the loss of what many called a big-hearted man and one of the most inventive comedians of his time.
Sarah Michelle Gellar, who played his daughter in the recent CBS television comedy, "The Crazy Ones," said her life was better for knowing Williams. Their show was cancelled in May after one season.

"To my children he was Uncle Robin, to everyone he worked with, he was the best boss anyone had ever known, and to me he was not just an inspiration but he was the father I had always dreamed of having," Gellar said in a statement.
(Reuters)

Monday 7 April 2014

Peaches Geldof: Daughter of Bob Geldof and Paula Yates dies aged 25


Peaches GeldofPeaches Geldof, pictured in 2012

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Peaches Geldof, second daughter of musician Bob Geldof and the late Paula Yates, has died aged 25, leaving a husband and two sons.
"We are beyond pain," said her father, confirming her death. "She was the wildest, funniest, cleverest, wittiest and the most bonkers of all of us."
Police, who were called to an address in Kent around lunchtime on Monday, say the death is currently being treated as "unexplained and sudden".
Geldof was 11 when her own mother died.
TV presenter Yates died of an accidental drug overdose in September 2000. In September 2012 Geldof said she did not come to terms with her mother's death for several years.
Her final tweet, posted on Sunday, linked to an Instagram picture of her, as a baby, in her mother's arms.
The caption simply read: "Me and my mum."
Peaches Geldof's final tweetPeaches Geldof's final tweet was a picture of herself as a young child, held by her mother
Bob Geldof said: "How is this possible that we will not see her again? How is that bearable?
"We loved her and will cherish her forever. How sad that sentence is."
In a statement, Kent Police said: "Police were called at 13:35 BST on 7 April, 2014 to an address near Wrotham following a report of concern for the welfare of a woman.
"A woman aged 25 was pronounced dead by South East Coast Ambulance Service.
"Officers are working to establish the circumstances around the death."
Peaches GeldofGeldof attended a fashion show in London last week
The writer and TV presenter was married to musician Thomas Cohen, with whom she had two sons, Astala, one, and Phaedra, who will turn one on 24 April.

Bob Geldof's statement

Peaches has died. We are beyond pain. She was the wildest, funniest, cleverest, wittiest and the most bonkers of all of us.
Writing "was" destroys me afresh. What a beautiful child. How is this possible that we will not see her again? How is that bearable? We loved her and will cherish her forever. How sad that sentence is.
Tom and her sons Astala and Phaedra will always belong in our family, fractured so often, but never broken.
Bob, Jeanne, Fifi, Pixie and Tiger Geldof.
"My beloved wife Peaches was adored by myself and her two sons," said Cohen in a statement.
"I shall bring them up with their mother in their hearts everyday. We shall love her forever."
'Numb' about mother
Born in 1989, Peaches Honeyblossom Geldof embarked on a media career at the age of 15, when she began writing a column for Elle magazine.
She left home at 16 and went on to contribute to the Telegraph and the Guardian, as well as TV shows including ITV2's OMG! with Peaches Geldof.
She also worked as a model and, just last week, attended a launch for Tesco's F&F clothing range in London.
Peaches Geldof and Thomas CohenGeldof married Thomas Cohen, lead singer of the band SCUM, in 2012
Yates's death came after she split with Bob Geldof and formed a relationship with INXS frontman Michael Hutchence, who then died in 1997.
"I remember the day my mother died, and it's still hard to talk about it," Peaches told Elle in 2012.
"I just blocked it out. I went to school the next day because my father's mentality was 'keep calm and carry on'," she said.
"So we all went to school and tried to act as if nothing had happened. But it had happened. I didn't grieve. I didn't cry at her funeral. I couldn't express anything because I was just numb to it all. I didn't start grieving for my mother properly until I was maybe 16."
Peaches Geldof, Rosario Dawson and Pippa Middleton at London Fashion WeekGeldof was a regular face at London Fashion Week, and is seen here with Rosario Dawson (second left) and Pippa Middleton (centre)
Geldof said she had experimented with drugs as a teenager, but was "never that wild".
She was previously married to rock musician Max Drummey but the pair separated in 2009 after a six-month marriage.
She leaves her husband and sons; father Bob Geldof; sisters Fifi Trixibelle and Pixie; and younger half-sister, Tiger Lily Hutchence Geldof.

Source: BBC News