Zak Williams wishes his dad had gotten more time to find the help he needed.
On a recent episode of The Squeeze podcast, the 43-year-old mental health advocate spoke about Robin Williams’ final months and how difficult it was to watch him struggle.
“I was really feeling for him because he was having a frustrating time and was seeking support,” Zak said. “That was hard for me because I don’t think he was far off from finding something that would have felt like it was more helpful for him.”
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Searching for Answers
Robin was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease before his death in August 2014 at age 63. An autopsy later revealed that he also had Lewy body dementia — a condition he hadn’t known he was living with.
Zak has previously discussed how confusing his father’s symptoms were for the family. “What he was going through didn’t match one-to-one [with what] many Parkinson’s patients experience,” he said on The Genius Life podcast in 2021. “So, I think that was hard for him.”
Lewy body dementia can affect thinking, movement, sleep, behavior, and mood, according to the National Institute on Aging. It can be difficult to diagnose because symptoms overlap with other conditions, including Parkinson’s disease.
Memory loss isn’t always an early symptom; anxiety, sleep problems, or changes in movement may appear first. That can make it difficult to recognize, even when someone is already seeking medical care. There’s currently no cure, but treatments can help manage some symptoms.
Zak Williams and Robin Williams in 2002.
Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images
Remembering His Dad
For Zak, the questions about his father’s care are still painful. He remembers Robin seeking support and wishes his dad had found some relief.
“The main thing for me is just I loved him so much and you know I couldn’t have told him enough,” he said. “For someone who was such a loving human being and just giving his heart to the world, I had hopes that he would have found some peace.”
If you or someone you know needs support, call or text 988 or visit the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Help is free, confidential, and available 24/7 in the U.S.
