US actor-comedian Robin Williams has been found dead at his home in Northern California at the age of 63.
Marin County Sheriff's Office coroner's division said it suspected the death was a suicide but the cause was still under investigation, Reuters reports.
His publicist released a statement, reported by Entertainment Weekly, that said: “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.”
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Last month, the Good Will Hunting actor, who has struggled with addiction in the past, entered a Minnesota rehabilitation centre to help him maintain sobriety, Reuters reports.
His representatives at the time said he was not using drugs or alcohol but had gone to the centre to “fine-tune and focus” his sobriety after working a longer-than-usual schedule.
US President Barack Obama sent a statement from the White House on news of the comedian’s death.
Robin Williams was an airman, a doctor, a genie, a nanny, a president, a professor, a bangarang Peter Pan, and everything in between. But he was one of a kind. He arrived in our lives as an alien – but he ended up touching every element of the human spirit. He made us laugh. He made us cry. He gave his immeasurable talent freely and generously to those who needed it most – from our troops stationed abroad to the marginalized on our own streets.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, help is available.