Children pay their tributes to Robin Williams

Police confirm troubled star died from hanging

THE CHILDREN of actor Robin Williams have paid tribute to their father after he was found hanged in his bedroom at his California home.

The Mrs Doubtfire star was discovered by his personal assistant on Monday morning after he failed to answer his door.

Williams, 63, was last seen alive by his wife Susan Schneider at around 10.30pm on Sunday before she went to bed, Lieutenant Keith Boyd, Marin County’s assistant chief deputy coroner, said.

She left their home in the town of Tiburon at 10.30am on Monday believing he was still in bed.

But his assistant found the father of three clothed, unconscious and not breathing in his room at about 11.45am, and after the “distraught” woman called emergency services, firefighters pronounced him dead at 12.02pm.

Lt Boyd told reporters in California: “Our indication at this time is that it is a suicide due to asphyxia due to hanging.”

The actor had recently grappled with severe depression, and on Tuesday Williams’ family were joined by giants from the world of Hollywood and politics as they mourned his death.

In a statement daughter Zelda Williams, 25, said: “Dad was, is and always will be one of the kindest, most generous, gentlest souls I’ve ever known, and while there are few things I know for certain right now, one of them is that not just my world, but the entire world is forever a little darker, less colourful and less full of laughter in his absence.

“We’ll just have to work twice as hard to fill it back up again.”

I lost my father

and a best friend and the world got a little greyer. Zak Williams, first son of the late

Robin Williams

His first son Zak Williams, 31, said: “Yesterday, I lost my father and a best friend and the world got a little greyer. I will carry his heart with me every day. I would ask those that loved him to remember him by being as gentle, kind, and generous as he would be. Seek to bring joy to the world as he sought.”

And his 23-year-old son Cody Williams added: “There are no words strong enough to describe the love and respect I have for my father.

“The world will never be the same without him. I will miss him and take him with me everywhere I go for the rest of my life, and will look forward, forever, to the moment when I get to see him again.”

His second wife Marsha Garces Williams, who he divorced in 2010, said: “My heart is split wide open and scattered over the planet with all of you. Please remem- ber the gentle, loving, generous – and yes, brilliant and funny – man that was Robin Williams. My arms are wrapped around our children as we attempt to grapple with celebrating the man we love, while dealing with this immeasurable loss.”

Last night Lt Boyd said Williams had been suffering from depression and the coroner’s office had been investigating his medical history.

It was not known what time the actor had gone to bed on Sunday, and a forensic examination found he had not suffered any injuries to suggest he had been “in a struggle or altercation”. He also said he would not be discussing “the note” or “a note” as the investigation was continuing.

Williams had battled addiction for decades and checked himself back into rehab last month but was not believed to have suffered a relapse.