In 2014, the world mourned the loss of the legendary Robin Williams, a true gem whose greatness was evident to all, whether they had the privilege of meeting him or not. Among the countless fans grieving his departure, there was a unique friend, Koko the gorilla, who felt the weight of the loss like so many others.
Their bond, which formed in 2001, was evident when news of Williams’ passing reached Koko, leaving the gorilla deeply saddened. This deep connection and bond between them truly goes to show the profound impact Williams had on both humans and animals around him.
Koko the Gorilla Was Absolutely Heartbroken By Robin Williams’ Passing
In the year 2001, Robin Williams paid a visit to the Gorilla Foundation located in California, where he had a memorable encounter with Koko, a gorilla renowned for her knowledge of American Sign Language. Their meeting was nothing short of magical as they shared laughter, exchanged playful tickles, and embraced each other like a couple of old friends.
Fast forward to a particularly sad Monday in 2014 when Koko unintentionally overheard Dr. Penny Patterson, her mentor conversation over the phone regarding the tragic news of Robin Williams’ passing. The effect on Koko was evident, she was extremely saddened upon realizing she lost her friend. Reflecting on the incident, Dr. Patterson shared on Koko.org (via Today) how deeply Koko was affected by the news, she wrote,
She became extremely sad. Robin’s ability to just ‘hang out’ with Koko, a gorilla, and in minutes become one of her closest friends, was extraordinary and unforgettable. Notice that Robin made Koko smile — something she hadn’t done for over six months, ever since her childhood gorilla companion, Michael, passed away at the age of 27, But not only did Robin cheer up Koko, the effect was mutual, and Robin seemed transformed.
Robin Williams also seemed very fond of the gorilla, their meeting was truly something extraordinary to witness. Speaking of their meeting, Williams elaborated on the video, the foundation posted on YouTube by stating,
I recently had a mind-altering experience communicating with a gorilla, We shared something extraordinary: Laughter. Koko understands spoken English and uses over 1,000 signs to share her feelings and thoughts about daily events, life, love, even death. It was awesome and unforgettable.
Four years following that incident, Koko passed away in 2018, leaving the nation mourning her loss. Many hope she was reunited with her beloved old friend, Robin Williams.
Robin Williams’ Everlasting Influence on Hollywood
Robin Williams, the legendary actor and comedian, left his fans with a legacy as colorful as his characters. His tragic passing in 2014 shook Hollywood to its core, sparking much-needed conversations about mental health in the media world.
From his roles in Dead Poets Society to Mrs. Doubtfire, Williams proved he could do it all, making people laugh, cry, and ponder life’s deepest questions.
Whether he was granting wishes as the Genie in Aladdin or charming the fans as the quirky alien in Mork & Mindy, his talent knew no bounds. However, that was not all, besides being a fantastic actor he was also an electrifying stand-up comic and left his audiences in stitches. Robin Williams wasn’t just an actor, he was truly a force of nature, reminding all to cherish each moment and find humor even in life’s darkest corners.
