Sam Neill’s heart aches for late Robin Williams, calls him ‘deeply depressed’: He was the loneliest man on lonely planet

In his memoir Did I Ever Tell You?, actor Sam Neill opened up about late Robin Williams, describing him as an ‘irresistibly’ and ‘outrageously’ funny person, but also as the ‘depressed’ and ‘loneliest person’ on the planet. He reflected on Robin as the ‘saddest person he has ever met,’ shedding light on the less-known side of the beloved comedian. Neill and Williams shared the screen in the 1999 film Bicentennial Man, cementing their friendship that lasted until Williams’ untimely passing. Through his memoir, Sam highlighted the importance of checking in with our loved ones and understanding that sometimes, those who appear to be the happiest are the ones who are struggling the most. (Also read: After confirming his romantic relationship with Lukas Gage, Chris Appleton has shared unseen holiday pics with him)

He gave a detailed account on Robin, and said, “We would talk about this and that, sometimes even about the work we were about to do. He was irresistibly, outrageously, irrepressibly, gigantically funny.”

Despite Sam’s acknowledgement of the late Robin Williams as the ‘funniest person’ he ever worked with, he also reveals that Sam was the ‘saddest person I ever met.’

He continued further, and revealed more about Robin, “He had fame, he was rich, people loved him, great kids—the world was his oyster. And yet I felt more sorry for him than I can express. He was the loneliest man on a lonely planet.” He expressed that he remembers him as ‘inconsolably solitary, and deeply depressed.’

Sam observed that despite sensing a ‘dark space’ in Robin Williams during their conversations, as soon as Williams switched on his humor, ‘funny stuff just poured out of him.’ Neill recounted how Williams’ comedic prowess would leave everyone in stitches, and the joy on Williams’ face when he made others laugh was palpable.

Robin struggled with addiction and depression throughout his life. He was open about his struggles with substance abuse and mental health issues, and he often used his comedy to cope with his pain. Tragically, he died by suicide on August 11, 2014, at the age of 63.

He rose to fame in the 1970s and 1980s with his role as Mork in the TV show ‘Mork & Mindy.’ He went on to star in a number of hit films, including ‘Good Morning, Vietnam,’ ‘Dead Poets Society,’ ‘Mrs. Doubtfire,’ and ‘Good Will Hunting.’ He was known for his quick wit, infectious energy, and ability to improvise, which made him a beloved figure in the entertainment industry.