The Marin County Sheriff's Office is investigating death of actor Robin Williams.

The Marin County Sheriff's Office is investigating the death of actor Robin Williams. Check back for updates.

Update:

Oscar winning actor and comedian Robin Williams died this morning at 63. While his publicist wouldn’t confirm that it was a suicide, they did issue this statement. “Robin Williams passed away this morning. He has been battling severe depression of late. This is a tragic and sudden loss. The family respectfully asks for their privacy as they grieve during this very difficult time.”

Williams, who won an Oscar for his supporting role in Good Will Hunting, will reprise his role as Theodore Roosevelt in the third installment of Night at the Museum this December.

He had recently signed on to reprise his beloved role as Mrs. Doubtfire in a sequel to be directed by Chris Columbus and was last seen opposite Annette Bening in the indie film The Face of Love.

According to a press release issued by the Marin County Coronor’s office, the Sheriff’s office suspects the death to be “suicide due to asphyxia.” The 9-1-1 phone call came in just before noon today.

 Around 11:55 a.m. Monday, sheriff's officials said, a 911 call came in about a man unresponsive in his home in Tiburon. He was pronounced dead at the scene.


Check out this MSN video - Depression, Addiction - Robin Williams' Dual Struggle

Update 08/13/2014

The Full Transcript From the Press Conference Regarding the Death of Actor Robin Williams  

"First off, I would like to extend the condolences of the Sheriff’s offices to the Williams family before we begin. I have a prepared statement, and I ask you withhold your questions until the end of the statement. My last name is spelled B-O-Y-D.

On August 11th, 2014, at approximately 11:55 am, Marin County Communications received a 9-1-1 telephone call reporting that a male adult had been located unconscious and not breathing inside his residence located at 95 St. Thomas Way in unincorporated Tiburon, California.

The caller was distraught and indicated at that time that an apparent suicide due to a hanging and that rigor mortis had set in.  The sheriff’s office, as well as representatives of the Tiburon fire department and Marin fire protection district were dispatched to the incident with emergency personnel arriving on scene at 12:00 pm. The male subject who was pronounced at the scene by firefighters from the Tiburon fire department at 12:02 pm has been identified as Robin McLauren Williams, a 63-year-old resident of unincorporated Tiburon, California. Preliminary information developed during the investigation by coroner division personnel has revealed Mr. Williams had been seeking treatment for depression.

Mr. Williams was last seen alive by his wife at approximately 10:30 pm on August 10th, 2014, when she retired for the evening in a room in the home. It is unknown at this time when Mr. Williams retired for the evening in a bedroom in his home. At approximately 10:30 am, on August 11th, 2014, Mr. Williams’ wife left the home believing Mr. Williams to still be asleep. Mr. Williams personal assistant became concerned at approximately 11:45 am when he failed to respond to knocks on his bedroom door.

    At that time, the personal assistant was able to gain access to Mr. Williams’ bedroom and enter the bedroom to find Mr. Williams clothed in a seated position, unresponsive with a belt secured around his neck with the other end of the belt wedged between the closed closet door and the door frame. His right shoulder area was touching the door with his body perpendicular to the door and slightly suspended. Mr. Williams, at that time, was cold to the touch with rigor mortis present in his body and rigor mortis positioned appropriately from the position he was in. The inside of Mr. Williams’ left wrist had several acute superficial transverse cuts. A pocket knife with a closed blade was located in close proximity to Mr. Williams. The pocket knife was examined and a dry, red material was located on the blade of the knife which appeared consistent to dried blood. It is unknown at this time if the dried, red material is, in fact, blood or if it is Mr. Williams’ blood. But scientific testing will be conducted to evaluate its investigative value.

    Mr. Williams was transported from the scene to the Marin County sheriff’s office by the coroner division pending a forensic examination which was conducted this morning prior to this press conference. A forensic examination conducted by Dr. Joseph Cohen, who is the Marin County’s chief forensic pathologist, did not reveal any injuries indicating Mr. Williams had been in a struggle or physical altercation prior to him being located deceased. The preliminary, and I say again preliminary, results of the forensic examination reveal supporting physical signs that Mr. Williams’ life ended from asphyxia due to hanging. Toxicology testing will be conducted to determine if Mr. Williams had any chemical substances in his system at the time of his death. Toxicology results will not be available for approximately two to six weeks while the testing is being performed.

    Please note this is an active investigation into the cause, manner, and circumstances of Mr. Williams’ death. The work of the coroner’s office is not complete at this time. The final cause and manner of death will not be certified until the conclusion of the investigation which is several weeks away. When the investigation is concluded and our final results are ready for dissemination, a press conference will be scheduled at that time. Additionally, I have received numerous requests for copies of 911 and dispatch reportings as well as investigative reports. Please note each request will be handled in accordance with public record guidelines with responses provided to those who have submitted them within 10 days. Media inquiries should be continued to be directed to me, Lt. Keith Boyd, via my email at KBoyd@Marinsheriff.org. I will respond to these inquiries time permitting as I receive them. Please keep in mind that the coroner’s division is also investigating active cases from other residence in this community, so I will respond to your written inquiries time permitting."

End of transcript.

Actor Robin Williams was a true gift, his death beyond tragic. Depression is a disease, and it is a shame that so many have lost loved ones because of this disease. 

Update 08/13/2013

 A beautiful letter written by Zelda Williams

"My family has always been private about our time spent together. It was our way of keeping one thing that was ours, with a man we shared with an entire world. But now that’s gone, and I feel stripped bare. My last day with him was his birthday, and I will 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, ever 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 with millions. It doesn’t help the pain, but at least it’s a burden countless others now know we carry, and so many have offered to help lighten the load. Thank you for that.

To those he touched who are sending kind words, know that one of his favorite 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…

Dad was, is and always will be one of the kindest, most generous, gentlest souls I’ve ever known, and while there are few things I know for certain right now, one of them is that not just my world, but the entire world is forever a little darker, less colorful and less full of laughter in his absence. We’ll just have to work twice as hard to fill it back up again."

Here’s Zelda’s full statement from her personal Tumblr.