Robin Williams’ son Zak is sharing an emotional new reflection on his father’s final weeks, saying the beloved actor appeared to be searching for answers and may have been close to finding something that could have brought him relief.
Zak Williams, 43, spoke about his father during an appearance on The Squeeze podcast, looking back on the difficult period leading up to Robin’s death in August 2014.
Zak said his father had been struggling and actively seeking help in the weeks and months before he died.
He described watching Robin try to understand what was happening to him and search for something that might ease what he was experiencing.
For Zak, one of the hardest parts is believing his father may not have been far from finding support that could have helped.
He said that realization still leaves him with unresolved feelings more than a decade later.
Zak also reflected on how deeply he loved his father and how he wishes Robin had been able to find peace.
Robin Williams died at age 63 on Aug. 11, 2014.
At the time, he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
After his death, however, an examination revealed that he had diffuse Lewy body disease, the underlying brain changes associated with Lewy body dementia.
Lewy body dementia is a progressive neurological disorder that can affect thinking, movement, sleep, mood and behavior. Its symptoms can overlap with Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions, which can make diagnosis difficult.
Robin’s widow, Susan Schneider Williams, has previously spoken extensively about the symptoms he experienced before his death and the family’s struggle to understand what was happening.
Zak has also discussed the frustration surrounding his father’s diagnosis.
In a previous interview, he said the symptoms Robin experienced did not seem to line up neatly with what the family understood about Parkinson’s disease.
He also recalled watching his father struggle with physical and emotional discomfort while doctors attempted to determine the best course of treatment.
In the years since Robin’s death, Zak has become a prominent mental health advocate.
He regularly speaks about grief, emotional wellness and the importance of seeking support.
He has also shared tributes to his father on birthdays and anniversaries, often focusing on Robin’s kindness rather than his fame.
In one tribute, Zak described grief as something that does not follow a straight line.
He said it can fade and then suddenly return, but that his father’s legacy of generosity and compassion continues alongside it.
Robin Williams remains one of the most celebrated performers of his generation, remembered for roles in Mrs. Doubtfire, Good Will Hunting, Dead Poets Society, Good Morning, Vietnam and countless other films and television appearances.
For Zak, though, his memories remain much more personal.
His latest comments offer another glimpse into a son still trying to understand his father’s final chapter while keeping alive the compassion and kindness that defined so much of Robin’s life.