Legendary Actor Robin Williams Found Dead at 63 of Apparent Suicide

Legendary actor Robin Williams was found dead Monday of an apparent suicide inside his California home. He was 63.

The Oscar-winning actor, who battled addiction problems, was pronounced dead early in the afternoon after authorities received a phone call reporting an unconscious male not breathing at his residence.

An initial investigation ruled the death as an apparent suicide due to asphyxia, the Marin County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release. A more thorough forensic examination is scheduled for Tuesday.

Image source: Shutterstock

According to Williams' publicist, the actor had been battling "severe depression of late."

"This is a tragic and sudden loss," press representative Mara Buxbaum said. "The family respectfully asks for their privacy as they grieve during this very difficult time."

[sharequote align="center"]"This is a tragic and sudden loss."[/sharequote]

The actor's last post to Instagram was a tribute to his daughter who had just turned 25.

"Happy Birthday to Ms. Zelda Rae Williams!" he wrote on Twitter. "Quarter of a century old today but always my..."

Williams shot to fame in the late '70s as the alien in TV's "Mork and Mindy." He conquered the big screen in comic films such as "Good Morning, Vietnam" and "Mrs. Doubtfire." But he won his Academy Award in a serious role — as the therapist in "Good Will Hunting."

President Barack Obama released a statement following news of his death.

"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 said. "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. The Obama family offers our condolences to Robin’s family, his friends and everyone who found their voice and their verse thanks to Robin Williams."

Hollywood stars also immediately turned to Twitter to express condolences.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

—

Follow Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) on Twitter

—

Featured image courtesy of Shutterstock .