Robin Williams’ son Zak honors late actor on what would have been his 75th birthday
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: More than a decade after the late comedian Robin Williams' death, son Zak Williams paid tribute on Tuesday, July 21, marking what would have been the beloved actor's 75th birthday.
Zak shared a heartfelt tribute on social media celebrating his father's life and legacy while encouraging fans to honor the occasion through simple acts of kindness. The post also comes as Williams' family continues to reflect on the illness that emerged in the final year before his death and its impact.
Zak Williams pays tribute to Robin Williams with heartfelt birthday message
"Happy 75th Dad!" Zak wrote on social media, adding, "Today I’m remembering your weirdness and your extraordinary capacity to love. I remember those wrinkles in the corners of your eyes, the kind you get from a lifetime of smiling."
He continued, "I remember your unending need to see this world free of human and animal suffering." He accompanied the message with a photo of Williams as Mork from the sitcom 'Mork & Mindy,' which ran for four seasons beginning in 1978.
Zak also encouraged fans to celebrate his father's memory by spreading kindness, "For those out there who’d like to celebrate with me, go do something kind for someone, make someone laugh. Put a little more good into the world."
He ended the tribute with, "Love you forever." Williams, known for films including 'Good Will Hunting,' 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' 'The Birdcage,' and 'Good Morning, Vietnam,' died on August 11, 2014, after struggling with severe depression and the early stages of Parkinson's disease.
Zak is Williams' son with first wife Valerie Velardi, to whom the comedian was married from 1978 to 1988. He later welcomed daughter Zelda and son Cody with second wife Marsha Garces before marrying Susan Schneider in 2011.
Susan Schneider reflects on Robin Williams' Lewy body dementia diagnosis
The family has continued to remember Williams over the years. In 2020, Zelda encouraged fans to donate $69.69 to local homeless shelters in his honor, writing, "Join me if you like, but regardless, know I am wishing you all at least one hearty, immature belly laugh on Dad today."
On August 11, 2023, Zak also reflected on his father, writing, "These days are always hard and I love remembering you for being so very, very YOU." He added that his own mental health journey includes "prioritizing self-care before I can show up for others... One thing I found very healing for me through my experience has been service and commitment to service work."
He continued, "specifically around mental health and mental health support organizations." In November 2015, Susan Schneider challenged the public perception surrounding Williams' death, pointing to the condition identified in the coroner's report.
Susan said Williams' death was driven by Lewy body dementia rather than depression, explaining that depression was only "one of let's call it 50 symptoms and it was a small one." Calling the case "very unique," she expressed hope that it would raise awareness of Lewy body dementia, adding, "Because we didn't know. He didn't know."
She also revealed that he experienced worsening anxiety attacks, delusions, impaired movement and muscle rigidity in the months before his death, while doctors were unable to identify the disease until after the autopsy.
According to her, one doctor later told her, "Robin was very aware that he was losing his mind and there was nothing he could do about it."
