'Robin Williams: When the Laughter Stops': Release date, plot, news and everything you need to know about REELZ documentary
Robin Williams died by suicide in 2014 and the world lost a great actor and comedian. An unforgettable entertainer, Robin Williams was known for his improvisational style as a stand-up comedian and his stellar performances in movies like 'Good Will Hunting' and 'Dead Poets Society'. Chronicling his life in a new documentary titled 'Robin Williams: When the Laughter Stops', several unknown facets about his personality and struggle with Parkinson’s disease diagnosis will be brought to light.
His suicide in 2014 came as a big shock to the entertainment world and the unfortunate news still saddens many fans. The REELZ documentary takes a peek at his health towards the end of his life through interviews with his friends, family and close ones.
Release date
'Robin Williams: When the Laughter Stops' airs on REELZ on August 11 at 9 pm ET.
Plot
The official summary of the show reads: "In 'Robin Williams: When the Laughter Stops', we examine this brutal and tragic dichotomy, casting its incisive eye on the comedians’ personal lives, while separating fact from fiction, creative work from the human being behind it, to probe not just from where their genius sprung — but how that same wellspring often lead to their demise."
News
After William's death in 2014, his widow Susan Williams blamed the impact of Lewy body dementia. Although he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s a few months before his death, it was only discovered in his autopsy, according to STAT.
In a 2016 editorial, Susan Williams wrote, "He kept saying, ‘I just want to reboot my brain,'" Susan Williams wrote. "Robin was losing his mind and he was aware of it. Can you imagine the pain he felt as he experienced himself disintegrating? And not from something he would ever know the name of, or understand? Neither he, nor anyone could stop it — no amount of intelligence or love could hold it back."
Trailers
According to a trailer for the documentary, Williams checked into a rehab facility a few weeks before his death so he could “refocus.” Watch the clip here.
“Robin was more worried about the bouts of depression that were consuming him,” investigative journalist Dylan Howard said in the trailer. “While he was happy to talk publicly about his addictions to both booze and drugs, he kept his longer and more personally painful battle with Parkinson’s disease all to himself.”
Meanwhile, friend and comedian Jeffrey Gurian added, "Comedians, they experience highs and lows. They're usually very sensitive, very creative, very smart."
Where to watch
Watch the documentary on REELZ after it premieres on August 11 at 9 pm ET.
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