Bangarang, Mr. Williams, Bangarang

Hey everyone, as many of you know one year ago today we lost one of the funniest people to ever grace the silver screen. On August 11, 2014 Robin Williams passed away and left behind a legacy of film and Television. His charm and personality touched multiple generations and his passing was felt across all of them. It's still hard to believe he is no longer in our midst and one year later we feel his absence more than ever. Instead of using today to mourn the loss of one of our greatest comedic talents though, lets use today as a day to celebrate the life and work of Robin Williams.Through both film and television this man had created a small empire of entertainment and he dominated every second of it. 

Mr. Williams was a huge influence on me growing up as Jumanji, Aladdin, Jack, and Mrs. Doubtfire were frequently viewed in my household and his larger than life style of comedy and acting had a huge impact on me. Upon hearing of his passing last year I immediately wrote up a small tribute to this iconic hero, how could I not? While dealing with his own deep depression his work was busy helping others work through their own, he had a way of reminding you of what's good in life. Below I have included that post, unedited from last year, as I feel it still captures my exact feeling one year later. The world is less funny now than it was a year ago and I think all of us film geeks have missed him for every second he has been gone. 

Bangarang, Mr. Williams, Bangarang

               

If you came up to me today and told me the world is significantly less funny, I’d have no choice but to agree. Yesterday, Monday August 11, Robin Williams was found dead of an apparent suicide. For nearly half a century this man inspired and touched generation after generation with his one of a kind personality, the likes of which the world will probably never know again.

Most of us movie nerds and pop culture junkies have been influenced by his movies, Television appearances and Stand-up comedy specials throughout most of our lives. Personally I grew up watching Jumanji and Aladdin more times than I can count and his role in Jack taught me a lot about the true value of being a kid while I was still actually one. Growing up loving his work not only shaped me as a movie geek but as a person too. Robin Williams was genius in the art of comedy, to say the least, and his art will continue to inspire generation after generation and keep his legacy alive.

I and millions like me all across the world could tell, just through his on screen performances that he was a one of a kind guy who wanted nothing more than to make people laugh. Clearly, however, there is much more to this man than his body of work. First and foremost he was a human being and if you have been following the landslide of personal stories from fellow comedians and actors who were fortunate enough to meet or work with him, then you know he was an even better person than he was a comedian.

Over the past 24 hours twitter and other social media have been flooded with personal stories from anyone who had worked with or just encountered Mr. Williams in their life. All painting pretty much the same picture, he was an incredible man with a heart as big as the sun. I don't think I've ever seen a performer be so openly and unconditionally loved by the masses, he found a way to make EVERYBODY love him. It's no secret the guy had made his share of dud movies but it didn't matter to anyone, he could have been making the Twilight movies and the masses would still swoon over him. There are only so many people like that in a lifetime and we are tragically without one of them now.

As with all celebrity deaths this one has brought out the trolls to say we are all ass holes for mourning a celebrity death when people die all over the world every day to which I say, who didn't love you? Robin Williams has touched millions of people and his work has without a doubt saved people from the brink of darkness and despair. We mourn the tragic loss of a man like him because he is a hero and in being so I hope that the focus of his passing is on all of the good he has brought us throughout his life and not the unfortunate ending it all had. Its horrible to think a man so incredibly loved by millions and millions of people felt in his own mind that he was loved by no one.

2014 has been a tough year, before this the world lost Philip Seymour Hoffman to a tragic drug overdose and then not too much later Harold Ramis passed away from illness. So, I think we should all use this week to look back and think about the things that make us happy, past and present. Watch your favorite movie, read your most treasured book, go out with your friends, put on your favorite song, it doesn't matter what it is as long as it makes you happy because let's be honest, if you're not happy then what’s the point? I myself will be using this week to binge watch Robin Williams filmography. From all the classics I've loved my whole life (like Jumanji and Jakob’s Ladder) to all the films of his I have yet to see (like Insomnia and World’s Greatest Dad). I will bask myself in the ambiance of the one of the greatest comedians of all time and bid Mr. Williams one last farewell.

RIP Robin Williams, I hope now you can see just how loved you really are. You will continue to inspire for decades to come. Thank you for everything, It has done more than you could ever imagine.

It's difficult to find any performer in this industry that could be universally loved but somehow this man found a way to do it. Throughout his massively impressive career there was at least one movie or T.V. show that touched you in some way and left a lasting effect. He had a personality that was larger than life and knowing that only made it more heart breaking to hear how damaged he truly was. Depression and mental illness affect so many people today and Mr. Williams untimely passing is only one of the most recent in an outcry for these problems to be taken more seriously. If you are suffering from any sort of mental illness, like so many others are, don't be afraid to seek help. This life is too short to go through it without a smile on your face, if you aren't happy than do something to try and change that. 

I am going to leave you all with the same advice I left everyone a year ago. Use today, and this next week, to celebrate what makes you happy and what makes you, well, you. Watch your favorite movies, put on your favorite album, read your favorite book,go out with your favorite people, do whatever it is that makes you smile. If there was one thing Robin Williams was a genius at, it was making us smile and I think he would love nothing more than to see people making themselves happy in his name. I for one will be binge watching his work all day today and into the rest of his week. We may no longer have him physically in our lives but we can make him live on eternally through his work. 

I've seen some people mentioning today should now be known as Robin Williams day and I couldn't agree more. Lets use August 11 of every year to celebrate the life of one of the funniest and most charismatic people to ever grace our screens. I am watching him in Hook as I'm writing this post and have plans to watch Aladdin and Good Will Hunting later tonight, you should do the same. Grab your favorite Robin Williams flick and pop it in, today is the day to remember why we all love him so much.



As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find me anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies