Robin Williams‘ widow Susan spoke out in an ABC News interview that aired on Tuesday’s “Good Morning America,” marking her first public comments since the comedian’s suicide last year.
“We were living a nightmare,” Susan Williams revealed to Amy Robach, speaking of Robin’s secret battle with anxiety, depression and paranoia. At the time, the couple didn’t know of his early Parkinson’s and Lewy body dementia.
“If Robin was lucky, he would’ve had maybe three years left. And they would’ve been hard years. And it’s a good chance he would’ve been locked up,” the “Good Will Hunting” star’s spouse said.
The Oscar winner had been planning with doctors to check himself into a facility to undergo neurocognitive testing the week of his death, she said. He had also been experiencing stomach pain, constipation, urinary trouble and sleeplessness. Eventually, stiffness, slumping, shuffling gait and a loss of vocal ability set in as well.
Also during the intimate interview, Susan Williams recalled her final conversation with her husband. She choked back tears remembering how she heard the news from Robin’s assistant.
Susan said she forgives Robin “50 billion percent, with all my heart,” calling him “the bravest man I’ve ever known.”
Robin Williams committed suicide in August 2014, hanging himself with a belt in their shared home. Susan said Robin was completely sober at the time and had been for eight years.
More of the wide-ranging interview airs Wednesday on “GMA.” It will run in its entirety Tuesday on“World News Tonight With David Muir” and “Nightline,” and Friday on “The View.”
Watch the video:
Remembering Robin Williams: A Life and Career in Pictures (Photos)
The actor, who would have turned 69 today, made his acting debut in a little-seen 1977 comedy "Can I Do It 'Till I Need Glasses?"
Getty Images
Williams made his big screen debut in little-seen 1977 comedy "Can I Do It 'Till I Need Glasses?"
Williams made several appearances doing sketches on 1977's "The Richard Pryor Show"
The quirky comedy series "Mork and Mindy," a spinoff from "Happy Days" and an alien character he debuted on that hit, premiered in 1978 and put Williams on the map.
Christopher Reeve presented Williams with a People's Choice Award for Favorite Male Performer for "Mork and Mindy" in 1979.
"The World According to Garp" (1982) marked one of Williams' first dramatic performances, in the title role of a John Irving novel adaptation.
Williams was received his first Oscar nomination for his role in 1987's "Good Morning, Vietnam."
O Captain! My captain! Williams captivated a young audience by playing an unorthodox professor in 1989's "Dead Poets Society."
"There you are, Peter." Williams played a grown up Peter Pan returning to Neverland in 1991's "Hook."
Williams memorably voiced the Genie in Disney's animated classic "Aladdin," which came out in 1992.
Disney
"Mrs Doubtfire" was released in 1993 and remains one of Williams' most iconic roles.
Williams played a wild man returning to civilization as a result of a board game gone very wrong in 1995's "Jumanji."
Williams played one half of a flamboyant gay couple opposite Nathan Lane in 1996's "The Birdcage."
Williams won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for 1997's "Good Will Hunting" with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.
Williams celebrating his Oscar win for "Good Will Hunting" in 1998 with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, who also won Oscars for Best Original Screenplay.
For a film in which he plays a doctor/clown, 1998's "Patch Adams" was a somber and dramatic turn for Williams.
Williams went dark and twisted for Mark Romanek's 2002 cult favorite thriller "One Hour Photo."
Williams played Teddy Roosevelt in 2006's "Night at the Museum" and reprised the role in the 2009 sequel. The threequel, "Secret of the Tomb," hit theaters in 2014 -- just months after his death.
Williams with his daughter Zelda (with second wife Marsha Garces) in 2009.
Williams with his wife, Susan Schneider, in 2012. The couple was married in 2011.
Williams played father to Sarah Michelle Gellar in his return to TV, 2013 CBS sitcom "The Crazy Ones."
Williams played President Dwight D. Eisenhower in Lee Daniels' "The Butler" in 2013.
The last Williams film to be released while he was alive was 2014's "The Angriest Man in Brooklyn," which co-starred Mila Kunis.
"Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb" was the last studio film Williams had completed prior to his death. He posted this photo with his stand-in and stunt double in May 2014.
The last photo Williams ever posted to social media was this #tbt featuring him with his daughter on July 31: "Happy Birthday to Ms. Zelda Rae Williams! Quarter of a century old today but always my baby girl. Happy Birthday @zeldawilliams Love you!"
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The actor, who would have turned 69 today, made his acting debut in a little-seen 1977 comedy ”Can I Do It ‘Till I Need Glasses?“
The actor, who would have turned 69 today, made his acting debut in a little-seen 1977 comedy "Can I Do It 'Till I Need Glasses?"
Getty Images
