The Oscar-winning actor died on Aug. 11, 2014, at the age of 63.
Zachary “Zak” Williams, the son of late actor Robin Williams, penned a touching tribute to his father on Monday, celebrating what would have been his 74th birthday.
“Every year, this season arrives with gravity. In just sixty days, we pass through Father’s Day, his birthday, and the anniversary of his death,” the entrepreneur wrote on Instagram. “It’s a tender and complicated stretch of time. One that asks a lot of the heart.”
Robin Williams died by suicide on Aug. 11, 2014, at the age of 63.
The actor is revered for his comedic and dramatic performances in a bevy of feature films, such as “Dead Poets Society” (1990), “The Birdcage” (1996), and “Good Will Hunting” (1998), the latter of which earned him an Oscar for “Best Actor in a Supporting Role.”
Robin Williams’s repertoire of accolades also includes two Emmys, five Grammy Awards, and five Golden Globe Awards, among them a win in 1994 for his role in the 1993 comedy-drama “Mrs. Doubtfire,” which he starred in alongside actress Sally Field.
In addition to his legacy of memorable characters, the beloved actor left behind three children: Zachary, Zelda, and Cody Williams, now 42, 35, and 33, respectively. He was also survived by his wife, Susan Schneider, whom he married in October 2011.
The actor’s eldest son, who serves as a board member of nonprofit organization Bring Change to Mind, said his father lived to make people feel seen—not only in the unforgettable characters he often portrayed but also in how he showed up for others off the screen.
“For me, grief isn’t linear. It loops and echoes. It softens, then crescendos. But alongside it lives a legacy, the kind built not from fame or recognition, but from generosity and relentless kindness,” the mental health advocate wrote in his Instagram post.
Zachary Williams said his father gave others permission to “feel deeply and to laugh through the pain.”
“In his absence, that mission continues,” he said.
“So today, I hold close the idea that the best way to honor those we love is to live the values they stood for. To lead with service and compassion. To lift others when they’re down. And to find paths of light, even in the dark corners.
“Happy birthday, Dad. Love you forever.”
