San Francisco’s Roxie Theater is hosting a tribute to the late Robin Williams this weekend with showings of some of the actor and comedian’s early films.
The theater, located at 3117 16th St. in San Francisco will present a memorial tribute to the Bay Area actor with screenings of Moscow on the Hudson and Awakenings.
Both films will be presented in studio 35 mm prints.
Moscow on the Hudson will play today at 2 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. and on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. Awakenings will play Saturday at 4:30 p.m. and on Sunday at 9:15 p.m.
In a statement on the theater’s website, management wrote:
“As everyone knows by now, Robin called the Bay Area his home ever since the 1970s where his career as a genius stand-up comic exploded madly and rapidly, first on television, then on the big screen – where he immediately became a prolific presence to the delight of his millions of adoring fans. Robin Williams’ indelible imprint on the San Francisco film community is a proud and distinctive one.”
Williams’ wife, Susan Schneider, said in a statement last Thursday that he was coping with the early stages of Parkinson’s disease and remained sober before he died.
Williams, 63, was found dead in his home outside of Tiburon just before noon on Aug. 11 after apparently killing himself overnight, according to the Marin County coroner’s bureau.
His wife, who was the last person to see Williams alive, said last Thursday that he was struggling with mental health issues but remained sober:
“Robin’s sobriety was intact and he was brave as he struggled with his own battles of depression, anxiety as well as early stages of Parkinson’s disease, which he was not yet ready to share publicly.”
His struggles with drug and alcohol abuse were publicly documented throughout his life and he reportedly had entered a rehab facility earlier this summer.
Williams was a beloved actor and comedian with a long television and movie career.
He broke out in the 1970s TV show “Mork and Mindy,” won an Academy Award for his role in the 1997 movie “Good Will Hunting” and delighted children with his voice work as the Genie in the Disney cartoon classic “Aladdin.”
Among his starring roles were several movies set in San Francisco and the Bay Area, including the comedy “Mrs. Doubtfire.”
Williams had deep Bay Area ties, having moved as a teen to Marin County, where he attended Redwood High School in Larkspur and later the College of Marin for theater.
He was active in San Francisco’s comedy scene and owned a home in the city’s Sea Cliff neighborhood.
In addition to his wife, Williams is also survived by his sons Zak and Cody and daughter Zelda.
News of his death shocked people throughout the nation and spontaneous memorials have sprung up throughout the Bay Area and beyond.
Schneider said last Thursday:
“Robin spent so much of his life helping others. … Whether he was entertaining millions on stage, film or television, our troops in the frontlines, or comforting a sick child — Robin wanted us to laugh and to feel less afraid.”
Schneider said that Williams’ family hopes that others facing similar struggles find help:
“It is our hope in the wake of Robin’s tragic passing, that others will find the strength to seek the care and support they need to treat whatever battles they are facing so they may feel less afraid.”
There are 24-hour hotlines available nationwide for anyone coping with depression or suicidal thoughts.
The Bay Area Suicide and Crisis Intervention Alliance provides regional 24-hour hotlines for suicidal individuals.
In Alameda County the number is (800) 309-2131, in Contra Costa County it’s (800) 833-2900, in Marin County (415) 499-1100, in San Francisco (415) 781-0500 and in San Mateo County it’s (650) 579-0359.
More information can be found at www.bascia.org.
Last modified August 24, 2014 8:54 pm
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