Russell Brand's tribute to Robin Williams, the comedian and actor we all knew and loved, who sadly died of an apparent suicide on Monday, makes some pretty important points.
The British comedian, who himself has struggled with drug addiction and mental illness, has written, as ever, really beautifully on the subject. He began by explaining his theories of Robin's comedy talents - he wasn't working hard to bust the jokes out, but instead had an overflow of energy and emotion that had to be released every now and then, and could, tipped the wrong way, go wrong: 'He seemed to be sat upon a geyser of comedy', Russell wrote in *The Guardian, * saying his giddy, energetic performances were 'a refinement of an energy that could turn as easily to destruction as creativity.'
READ MORE: Remembering Robin Williams's Career Is A Nostalgic Trip Through Our Childhood And Beyond
After explaining the position of privilege Robin was in thanks to his talents and family set-up - 'He must have known his wife and kids loved him, that his mates all thought he was great, that millions of strangers the world over held him in their hearts, a hilarious stranger that we could rely on to anarchically interrupt, the all-encompassing sadness of the world' – Russell then took it much broader, and this is where the most pressing point is made.
Though there really is little to be gained apart from sorrow at the loss of a talent aged just 63, at the very least, the particulars of his death – the fact it was suicide – can be used to make an important point about depression and drug abuse, two things Robin had spoken publicly about throughout his career. As Russell puts it: 'Fame and accolades are no defence against mental illness and addiction.'
Basically, if it could affect Robin Williams, it could affect anyone – depression doesn't discriminate, drug abuse doesn't discriminate: people much less famous and much less talented than Robin might be feeling the lows he felt. 'All around us people are suffering behind masks less interesting than the one Robin Williams wore,' Rusell writes.
At a loss of where to go next, Russell said he might watch some of Robin's back catalogue, 'and I might be nice to people, mindful today how fragile we all are, how delicate we are, even when fizzing with divine madness that seems like it will never expire'. A lesson we're also going to heed.
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Picture: Wynn Miller/The LIFE Images Collection
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.