With his incredible performances, Robin Williams has earned a place among the most remarkable actors in Hollywood. But his contribution to the film industry isn’t just limited to his varied performances, along with the audience, the actor had also greatly impacted his fellow actors.
The actor had always been vocal about his alcohol addiction and once while having a conversation with his fellow actor Matthew Lawrence the actor reflected on his struggle with substance abuse. During an interview, Lawrence talked highly of the late actor and recalled his conversation with him.
Robin Williams raised awareness among his co-stars about the dangers of substance abuse
Robin Williams, a renowned actor and comedian, passed away at the age of 63. He struggled with substance abuse and battled addiction. Being aware of the harmful effects of alcoholism, the actor always tried to make sure that others never had to suffer from what he had.
While filming the 1993 film Mrs. Doubtfire, Williams formed a connection with Matthew Lawrence, with whom he openly discussed his battle with alcohol addiction. During an interview, fondly recalled his conversations with Williams, stating,
“I mean, as bright as he was on camera — I would go visit him in his trailer to talk to him — it was painful for him. It’s really painful for him. He didn’t hide it. He talked to me about it.”
Lawrence went on to share the most crucial point of their conversation, where Williams Williams expressed regret about living an alcohol-controlled life. Lawrence recalled,
“He was very serious. He was like, ‘You know when you come to my trailer and you see me like that?’ He’s like, ‘That’s the reason why. And now I’m fighting for the rest of my life because I spent 10 years doing something very stupid every day. Do not do it.’”
Lawrence further said that it was the impact of Williams’ talks that helped him stay away from alcoholism. He claimed that because of Williams, he refrained from it.
Robin Williams’ Struggle With Addiction
Throughout his life, Robin Williams was vocal about his struggle with addiction to alcohol and drugs. The actor actively sought treatment for his substance abuse issues and attended rehab centers to overcome his addictions. He frequently used humor as a coping mechanism and shared his experiences of addiction and recovery in his stand-up comedy routines.
However, the journey of overcoming his addictions was not easy. After maintaining sobriety for two decades, the actor experienced a relapse. During an interview, Williams explained that it happened because he couldn’t identify the root cause of his addiction. He said,
“There was still, in the background, this voice, like, ‘Psst.’ So when I relapsed, I went back hard. The one thing I hadn’t dealt with was, how honest do you want to live?”
However, looking at Williams’ condition, his family got concerned, and his son Zak Williams decided to take matters into his own hands. During an interview, the younger Williams said,
“There was an ultimatum attached to it. I’m pretty confident that if he continued drinking, he would not be alive today.”
Williams once again got back to a sober state, with the help of treatment. A source close to Willaims reported,
“He has been working hard and now has a break in his schedule, so wants to come back and be the best that he can be. This is his version of a retreat.”
As a former victim of drug addiction, the actor was acutely aware of the cost of living a life controlled by intoxication. That’s why Williams was always vocal about his condition, hoping that people could learn from his experiences and avoid repeating the same mistakes. He raised awareness about addiction and mental health issues and encouraged others to seek help.
These addictions later contributed to severe illnesses he suffered from during his last days. The actor faced various challenges, including depression. Williams was also diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, ultimately leading to his passing in 2014.
Source: The Things, The Hollywood Reporter
