A LITTLE KNOWN ROBIN WILLIAMS STORY

[Playinghardball]

Years ago I learned a very cool thing about Robin Williams, and I couldn’t watch a movie of his afterward without thinking of it. I never actually booked Robin Williams for an event, but I came close enough that his office sent over his rider. For those outside of the entertainment industry, a rider lists out an artist’s specific personal and technical needs for hosting them for an event- anything from bottled water and their green room to sound and lighting requirements. You can learn a lot about a person from their rider. When I got Robin Williams’ rider, I was very surprised by what I found.

He actually had a requirement that for every single event or film he did, the company hiring him also had to hire a certain number of homeless people and put them to work. I never watched a Robin Williams movie the same way after that. I’m sure that on his own time and with his own money, he was working with these people in need, but he’d also decided to use his clout as an entertainer to make sure that production companies and event planners also learned the value of giving people a chance to work their way back. Thanks, Robin Williams- not just for laughs, but also for a cool example.

More here: http://brianlord.org/2014/08/12/a-little-known-robin-williams-story/

Found on the Obama Diary

[bluesbassman]

1. We truly lost a singularly unique and amazing individual here.

RIP Robin.

[whathehell]

2. Damn, he was a good person..

We lost a great one in him.

[Android3.14]

3. As sweet as this sounds

I'd like some confirmation of this before I go all gooey inside.

[SwankyXomb]

10. Smoking Gun has a 2002 rider, but I didn't see anything about the homeless hire there

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/file/robin-williams-rider

Not saying it wasn't his standard policy, only that it isn't specified in the document above.

[Politicalboi]

32. Maybe the 4 locals are the homeless

Count: 16 (Tour 12/ Local 4)

[Duppers]

19. it has been reported from various sources

HuffPo for one.

[Android3.14]

34. They are all referencing the Brian Lord blog

That's not confirmation
I'm a huge fan of RWilliams, and have watched since Mork and Mindy. But this just sounds a little too sweet.

[Arugula Latte]

39. It seems likely considering all the Comic Relief benefits he did for the homeless.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

41. Absolutely. Makes sense. And riders can change over time.

This world wasn't the place for him. Too kind. Too sensitive. Too intelligent for his field.

[calimary]

4. NICE. Thanks for bringing that up, Playinghardball! What a great story - about a great man.

I hope it becomes more widely known, because that might inspire others of his peers (and others just in general) to do likewise. USE YOUR GIFTS. Use them for good. USE them for the greater good. Then we all become richer.

[Initech]

5. Robin Williams was a true liberal. RIP.

[Brother Buzz]

6. Walking the walk and talking the talk trumps lip service every time.

[kairos12]

7. He was a great man.

[0rganism]

8. i always thought his role in The Fisher King had a special meaning for him

above and beyond the rich content already in the film, it almost seemed like he was playing for someone special to him, like it was deeply personal for him.

i wonder if he'd made friends with a lot of the homeless at that time and felt like he finally had a shot at giving their situation a place on the big screen.

[whathehell]

14. Yes, he was wonderful in that film..

It was a great film, funny, but also very touching.

[Myrina]

29. There was. Jeff Bridges commented on it last week ...

I don't recall the gentleman's name but it was someone Robin knew in NYC that was the "model" for Parry.

Bridges saw him in/around the crowd at the opening for The Giver and had the tough task of letting him know that Williams had died, IIRC.

[alsame]

9. People who use their power

for good are the heroes of this world.

What a loss for humanity

[Uncle Joe]

11. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Play.

[Playinghardball]

25. You're welcome Joe....

Hope you have a great weekend....

[Uncle Joe]

27. Likewise, Play, I hope you have a great weekend as well.

[swilton]

12. May this story fail to remain 'little known'

and become well known - just beautiful

[WillyT]

13. HUGE K & R !!! - THANK YOU !!!

[LittleGirl]

15. I gasped when I saw this photo

Geographic tongue is a sign of a thyroid disorder. It is very common in women but some men rarely get diagnosed. It can cause bi-polar symptoms and I wonder if he was undiagnosed?

We lost a true human with Robin. I can't believe I felt so bad for losing someone I've never met. We need more humans like him.

[glinda]

17. that is an interesting observation

although I would wonder if tests had been done regarding his thyroid when they discovered his Parkinson's anyways or even in regards to his depression???

[LittleGirl]

18. I don't know

and I apologize. I said geographic and I really meant scalloped tongue. Sorry for the boo boo.

[tavalon]

38. You know, when you said geographic, my brain translated it to scalloped

Medical brains as all brains, sometimes glitch. It isn't any big deal, but yeah, I hope that in the course of his life, he was checked for everything as bipolar is more physical than we give it or any of the "mental illnesses" credit for. Then again, the body is more attached to the mental than we ever gave it credit for.

We should never have split the brain and all the other body organs and pretended that mental illness resides solely in the head and vice versa.

Robin Williams was a good egg. So many people think he killed himself to avoid the worst of the Parkinson's and he may well have, but having had a heart valve replacement in his mid life already put him in a high suicide risk category. Interesting huh? Fixing a heart can cause debilitating depression.

[LittleGirl]

43. maybe so

I also think that the drugs they put you on after a surgery like that can make someone depressed, especially if he had an undiagnosed thyroid condition.

[tavalon]

44. Oh, I bet you anything they had already diagnosed that

but who knows. Clearly depression was missed, for whatever reason and that is really, too bad. Or it was fear based. Not everyone has the fortitude that Michael J. Fox has in abundance. I'm pretty amazed at his attitude, given the shitty hand he was dealt.

[LittleGirl]

45. another awesome talent

robbed of his life for a disease. He's another I grew up watching and admiring.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

20. I don't see any lesions

[LittleGirl]

22. sorry

I meant scalloped tongue which isn't geographic tongue. see note above.

[navarth]

16. whether it's true or not

it's really easy to believe with a great guy like Robin.

Yes, a really great loss.

And James Garner and Lauren Bacall too.

[KittyWampus]

23. I waited on Lauren Bacall multiple times. She was nasty to myself and all my coworkers. So no,

I can't imagine her doing the same.

I think she talked a good game in front of the cameras.

BTW, this was in the 80's. Maybe she was just bitter because she had to do her own shopping because her help wasn't available or something.

[MissDeeds]

21. What a good and caring man

As more comes out about Robin Williams in the days following his death, I am realizing that we not only lost a gifted actor and comedian but also a truly wonderful human being.

Thanks for the post.



K&R

[RockaFowler]

24. I hope Whoopi and Billy will do another Comic Relief in Robin's honor

This story is amazing

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

26. Awesome story. Thanks for posting!

[Ilsa]

28. Christopher Reeve said RW helped come back

from suicidal depression after his accident that paralyzed him. He said Williams gave him the courage to keep going when he was having to learn a different way of living again.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

30. I miss him.

Such a bright light.

Never met him, but his compassion made me feel like I had.

[secondwind]

31. someone I know waited on his table in Los Angeles twice... it was a coffeehouse.... he was

jovial, generous and a good customer..

And both times, he left a 100-dollar bill as a tip.. for coffee.

[yallerdawg]

33. O Captain! My Captain!

[FuzzyRabbit]

35. Robin Williams donated money from his shows to West Seattle Food Bank

http://q13fox.com/2014/08/12/robin-williams-donated-money-from-his-shows-to-west-seattle-food-bank/

[Omaha Steve]

36. K&R!

[tavalon]

37. Wow, that is just so cool

[ailsagirl]

40. What a loss

It still boggles the mind.