'Robin's Wish': Release date, plot, cast and all you need to know about docu on Robin Williams' final days
Robin Williams' death in 2014 at the age of 63 affected nearly everyone. After all, the actor was best known for films such as 'Aladdin', 'Mrs Doubtfire', 'Flubber', 'Dead Poets Society', 'Hook', 'Patch Adams' and more – all childhood favorites that many of us tend to go back to watch over and over again.
It was not until after his death that many of Robin Williams' fans learned of his struggle with mental health and what was initially thought to be Parkinson's disease before he died. The telltale signs of Lewy body dementia were not discovered until his autopsy. A new documentary, 'Robin's Wish', will allow viewers to get an intimate retelling of his final days and a look at Lewy body dementia. Read on to know more details.
Release date
'Robin's Wish' will debut On Demand and Digital on September 1.
Plot
The official synopsis for the movie states, "Robin's Wish tells the powerful true story of actor/comedian Robin Williams' final days. For the first time, Robin's fight against a deadly neurodegenerative disorder, known as Lewy Body Dementia, is shown in stunning detail. Through a gripping journalistic lens, this incredible story sheds entirely new light on the tragedy, beauty, and power behind the mind of one of the greatest entertainers of all time."
In an editorial published in the journal, Neurology, Williams' widow, Susan Schneider Williams, wrote of Lewy body dementia as the "terrorist inside [her] husband's brain." The editorial chronicles Williams’s desperation as he sought to understand a bewildering array of symptoms that started with insomnia, constipation, and an impaired sense of smell and soon spiraled into extreme anxiety, tremors, and difficulty reasoning.
For nearly a year, Williams underwent tests and scans, and to fix himself he tried new medications, did physical therapy, worked out with a trainer, and sought out alternative treatments like self-hypnosis and yoga, but nothing worked. Williams struggled particularly while filming 'Night at the Museum 3' in the spring of 2014. He had a panic attack and had trouble remembering “even one line” in his role as Teddy Roosevelt. By contrast, Williams wrote, he had remembered hundreds of lines without error while performing on Broadway three years before.
Cast
Robin Williams
Robin Williams was an actor and comedian best known for his roles in 'Jumanji', 'Patch Adams', and more. He won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in 'Good Will Hunting'. In August 2014, Williams died by suicide.
Susan Schneider Williams
Susan Schneider Williams is a graphic designer. She married Robin Williams in 2011.
Shawn Levy
Shawn Levy is a Canadian director and producer best known for 'Stranger Things' and the 'Night at the Museum' franchise. In 'Robin's Wish' Levy describes Williams' struggle filming for 'Night at the Museum 3'.
Director
Tylor Norwood
'Robin's Wish' is directed by Tylor Norwood, who is also a cinematographer. He is best known for 'The United States of Detroit', 'Paper Tigers' and 'Toxic Hot Heat'.
Trailer
The trailer for 'Robin's Wish' can be seen here.
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