Robin Williams Remembered With Heartfelt Accolades

Tributes are pouring in for American actor-comedian Robin Williams, who was found dead of an apparent suicide Monday at his California home. He was 63.

A statement from his publicist said he had been battling depression. Williams' longtime struggle with drugs and alcohol was well-known. Just last month, he admitted himself into a rehabilitation facility to help maintain his sobriety.

During his decades-long career in television and movies, Williams entertained fans of all ages. He won acclaim for numerous films, including Mrs. Doubtfire, Good Morning, Vietnam and Good Will Hunting, which earned him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1998.

President Barack Obama praised Williams as a "one of a kind" performer who touched "every element of the human spirit."

Williams' fellow actors, friends and fans took to Twitter to share their memories. Steve Martin, who co-starred with Williams in Waiting for Godot, wrote that he "could not be more stunned" by the loss, calling Williams a "great talent, acting partner" and a "genuine soul."

Local authorities say they believe Williams killed himself by asphyxia, but the cause of death is still under investigation. An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday.

TV debut

Born in Chicago in 1951, Williams was a stand-up comedian when he made his television debut in the late 1970s, playing an alien in the situation comedy Mork and Mindy.

Williams also acted on Broadway and continued performing stand-up comedy even after becoming a movie star, delighting audiences with his rapid-fire, improvisational routines. 

Academy Award-winning director Steven Spielberg, who directed Williams in the 1991 film "Hook," described the comedian as "a lightning storm of comic genius."

Outside Williams' home in the town of Tiburon, north of San Francisco, people left flowers, with the entertainer's neighbors praising him for his niceness.

The late actor's wife, Susan Schneider, released a statement saying, "As he is remembered, it is our hope the focus will not be on Robin's death, but on the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions."

In addition to his wife, Williams is survived by his three adult children.

Queen of Disco Loses Battle with Cancer

Music legend Donna Summer, known by many as the Queen of Disco, has died.

The five-time Grammy Award winner died Thursday at the age of 63 in Florida. Those close to her say she had been battling lung cancer for some time but had tried to keep her illness private.

Summer rose to stardom in the 1970s with hits like “Hot Stuff” and “Bad Girls,” and “Last Dance,” which helped define the disco era.

She was born Donna Gaines 31 December 1948 in Boston, Massachusetts to a religious family and much of her early training came from singing in a church choir.

She moved to Europe in the late 1960s, where she was cast in a German production of the musical “Hair,” and even learned to speak fluent German.

Summer returned to the United States and enjoyed popular success, culminating in 1979 with the “Bad Girls” album.

She continued to have hits in the 1980s, including 1983's “She Works hard for the Money.”

Summer married singer and songwriter Bruce Sudano in 1980. The couple had two children.

President Barack Obama says he and first lady Michelle Obama are saddened at Summer's passing, calling her a legend with an unforgettable voice.

Leader of Cuban Protest Group Dies

One of Cuba's leading dissidents, Laura Pollan, has died at the age of 63.

Members of the activist group Pollan founded, Ladies in White, said she died Friday in a Havana hospital.

Pollan was hospitalized on October 7 with respiratory problems.

The former teacher became one of Cuba's leading dissidents in 2003 after her husband and 74 other government opponents were jailed in a crackdown on dissidents.

Soon after the arrests, Pollan and other wives of the jailed dissidents began marching every Sunday in Havana, wearing white and carrying flowers to demand their husbands release.

In 2005, the European Union honored the group with its human rights Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

By 2010, all the dissidents jailed in the government crackdown were released from prison, but the Ladies in White continued to hold marches to protest Cuba's government.

Final Exits, 1-7 June 2011

Obituaries for 1-7 June 2011

Photo: Martin Rushent on 17 February 2011. (Photographer: Mattgirling)

1
* Munir Dar, 76, Pakistani Olympic gold medal-winning (1960) field hockey player.
* Matt Fong, 57, American politician, California State Treasurer (1995–1999), skin cancer.
* Giorgos Kosmopoulos, 74, Greek politician, Mayor of Olympia (1991–1994). (Greek)
* Manolo Otero, 63, Spanish singer and actor, liver cancer. (Portuguese)
* Frank Ponta, 75, Australian paralympian, after long illness.
* Haleh Sahabi, 54, Iranian humanitarian, daughter of Ezzatollah Sahabi, cardiac arrest.

2
* Ray Bryant, 79, American jazz pianist, after long illness.
* Willem Duys, 82, Dutch radio and television presenter and record producer, infection. (Dutch)
* Josephine Hart, 69, Irish-born British novelist and poetry promoter, ovarian cancer.
* Philip Holland, 94, British politician, MP for Acton (1959–1964); Carlton (1966–1983) and Gedling (1983–1987).
* Walter R. Peterson, Jr., 88, American politician, Governor of New Hampshire (1969–1973), lung cancer.
* Geronimo Pratt, 63, American political leader (Black Panther Party).
* Joel Rosenberg, 57, American science fiction author, heart attack.
* Albertina Sisulu, 92, South African anti-apartheid activist.
* Philip Rahtz, 90, British archaeologist.
* Lavina Washines, 71, American tribal leader, first female leader of the Yakima Nation (2006–2008).

3
* James Arness, 88, American actor (Gunsmoke), natural causes.
* Harry Bernstein, 101, British-born American author.
* Wally Boag, 90, American performer (Disneyland's Golden Horseshoe Revue).
* Papa Joe Chevalier, 62, American sports talk radio host, stroke.
* Bruce Crozier, 72, Canadian politician, Ontario MPP for Essex South (1993–1999) and Essex (since 1999), aortic aneurysm.
* Andrew Gold, 59, American singer-songwriter ("Lonely Boy", "Thank You for Being a Friend"), heart attack.
* John Henry Johnson, 81, American Hall of Fame football player (49ers, Lions, Steelers, Oilers).
* Miriam Karlin, 85, British actress and activist, cancer.
* Jack Kevorkian, 83, American right to die activist, pulmonary thrombosis.
* Bhajan Lal, 80, Indian politician, Chief Minister of Haryana (1979–1985; 1991–1996), cardiac arrest.
* Peter Murphy, 88, Irish television presenter (RTE).
* Sammy Ofer, 89, Israeli businessman, after long illness.
* Benny Spellman, 79, American R&B singer, respiratory failure.
* Jan van Roessel, 86, Dutch footballer (Willem II Tilburg).
* Wang Haifang, 47, Chinese football coach, car accident. (Chinese)

4
* Dimi Mint Abba, 52, Mauritanian singer, brain hemorrhage.
* Lilian Jackson Braun, 97, American author (Cat Who series), natural causes.
* Claudio Bravo, 74, Chilean painter, epilepsy.
* Tommy Brent, 88, American theatrical producer.
* Lindsey Durlacher, 36, American Greco-Roman wrestler.
* Lawrence Eagleburger, 80, American diplomat and politician, Secretary of State (1992–1993).
* Curth Flatow, 91, German dramatist and screenwriter, natural causes. (German)
* Maurice Garrel, 88, French actor. (French)
* Donald Hewlett, 90, English actor.
* Ilyas Kashmiri, 47, Pakistani leader of Harkatul Jihad al-Islami, drone strike.
* Andreas P. Nielsen, 58, Danish author and composer, cancer. (Danish)
* Martin Rushent, 63, English record producer (Buzzcocks, Human League, The Stranglers).
* Kiyoshi Sasamori, 70, Japanese cabinet advisor and labor union leader (RENGO), pneumonia.
* Betty Taylor, 91, American performer (Disneyland's Golden Horseshoe Revue).
* Frankie Toler, 59, American drummer (The Allman Brothers Band, Gregg Allman Band, Marshall Tucker Band), long illness following liver transplant.

5
* Mark H. Beaubien, Jr., 68, American politician, member of the Illinois House of Representatives (since 1997).
* Leon Botha, 26, South African artist and musical performer, progeria-related heart failure. (Afrikaans)
* Calvin Hannah, 81, American photographer.
* Azam Khan, 61, Bangladeshi pop singer, cancer.
* Gordon Lorenz, 61, British songwriter.

6
* John R. Alison, 98, American World War II combat flying ace.
* Derek Brien, 34, Irish motorcycle racer, race crash.
* Declan Costello, 84, Irish politician, TD for Dublin North West (1951–1969); Dublin South West (1973–1977), Attorney General (1973–1977) and High Court judge.
* Nils-Bertil Dahlander, 83, Swedish jazz drummer. (Swedish)
* Dulce Figueiredo, 83, Brazilian First Lady (1979–1985), widow of João Figueiredo. (Portuguese)
* Stefan Kurylowicz, 62, Polish architect, plane crash.
* Shrek, 16, New Zealand sheep known for its unshorn fleece, euthanised.
* Tillmann Uhrmacher, 44, German DJ, music producer and radio host. (German)

7
* Thomas Emma, 49, American basketball player (Duke University), fall.
* Buddy Gask, 64, British rock and roll singer (Showaddywaddy), after long illness.
* Walid Gholmieh, 73, Lebanese musician, director of Conservatoire Libanais.
* Genaro Hernández, 45, American boxer, cancer.
* José Pagán, 76, Puerto Rican baseball player (San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates).
* Nataraja Ramakrishna, 88, Indian dance guru, after long illness.
* Jorge Semprún, 87, Spanish writer and politician. (Spanish)
* Leonard B. Stern, 87, American television director, producer and writer (Get Smart, McMillan & Wife, The Governor & J.J.), creator of The Honeymooners.
* Edgar Tekere, 74, Zimbabwean politician, cancer.

Final Exits, 8-14 March 2011

Jack Hardy performing (as half of The Folk Brothers) at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, 25 July 2008. (Photo: Dan Tappan)

Obituaries for 8-14 March 2011

8
* Iraj Afshar, 85, Iranian bibliographer and historian.
* Sheekh Cumar Faaruuq, 71, Somali diplomat and religious advocate, heart failure.
* Herb Kawainui Kane, 82, American artist.
* Moses Katjiuongua, 68, Namibian politician.
* Jim Keane, 87, American football player (Chicago Bears).
* St. Clair Lee, 66, American musician (Hues Corporation).
* Sally Meyerhoff, 27, American long-distance runner, traffic accident.
* Bronko Nagurski Jr., 73, American player of Canadian football (Hamilton Tiger-Cats).
* Mike Starr, 44, American bassist (Alice in Chains, Sun Red Sun). (body found on this date)

9
* David S. Broder, 81, American journalist (The Washington Post), complications from diabetes.
* Edward A. Burdick, 89, American civil servant.
* Seán Cronin, 91, Irish journalist and republican, Irish Republican Army chief of staff (1957–1958, 1959–1960).
* Armando Goyena, 88, Filipino actor.
* Andrew Hao Jinli, 95, Chinese Roman Catholic underground Bishop of Xiwanzi (since 1984).
* Bob Marcucci, 81, American talent agent, respiratory complications.
* Des Meagher, 67, Australian footballer (Hawthorn).
* Manolis Rasoulis, 65, Greek singer-songwriter, author and journalist. (Greek)
* Inge Sørensen, 86, Danish swimmer and Olympic bronze medalist (1936). (Danish)

10
* Johnnie Baston, 37, American murderer, first inmate in U.S. executed by single drug (pentobarbital).
* Armand Bigot, 76, French Olympic equestrian. (French)
* Mario Clavell, 88, Argentine singer, actor and composer, after long illness. (Spanish)
* Günter Gollasch, 88, German clarinetist and bandleader. (German)
* Nick Harbaruk, 67, Polish-born Canadian ice hockey player, bone cancer.
* Baliram Kashyap, 74, Indian politician, MP for Bastar (since 1998), after long illness.
* Gabriel Laderman, 81, American painter, cancer.
* Nancy Merse, 79, American politician, Mayor of Edgewater, New Jersey (since 2003), cancer.
* Danny Paton, 75, Scottish footballer.
* Emmett J. Rice, 91, American economist and banking official, heart failure.
* Jiro Sakagami, 76, Japanese comedian, cerebrovascular disease. (Japanese)
* David Viñas, 83, Argentine dramatist, critic, and novelist. (Spanish)

11
* Jorge Cherques, 83, Brazilian actor, natural causes. (Portuguese)
* Rita Guerrero, 47, Mexican actress and singer (Santa Sabina), breast cancer.
* Jack Hardy, 63, American singer/songwriter.
* Hugh Martin, 96, American songwriter ("Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas") and film composer (Meet Me in St. Louis, High Spirits), natural causes.
* Danny Stiles, 87, American radio host.
* Gary Wichard, 60, American sports agent, pancreatic cancer.
* Donny George Youkhanna, 60, Iraqi archaeologist, anthropologist and author, heart attack.

12
* Ali Hassan al-Jaber, 56, Qatari photojournalist (Al Jazeera), shot.
* Günter Amendt, 71, German sociologist, sexual liberation activist and author, traffic accident. (German)
* Donald Brenner, 64, Canadian judge, Chief Justice of the British Columbia Supreme Court (2000–2009).
* Derry Brownfield, 79, American broadcaster, heart attack. (body found on this date)
* Olive Dickason, 91, Canadian historian and author.
* Juan García-Santacruz Ortiz, 77, Spanish Roman Catholic prelate, Bishop of Guadix (1992–2009).
* Shifra Lerer, 95, Argentinian-born American Yiddish theatre actress, stroke.
* Joe Morello, 82, American drummer (The Dave Brubeck Quartet).
* Dietmar Mues, 65, German actor and author, traffic accident. (German)
* John Nettleship, 71, British teacher, inspiration for character of Severus Snape, cancer.
* Mitchell Page, 59, American baseball player (Oakland Athletics), and coach (St. Louis Cardinals, Washington Nationals).
* Nilla Pizzi, 91, Italian singer. (Italian)
* Italo Pizzolante, 82, Venezuelan musician and composer. (Spanish)
* Tawfik Toubi, 88, Israeli Arab politician, last surviving member of the first Knesset.

13
* Brian Lanker, 63, American photojournalist, pancreatic cancer.
* Rick Martin, 59, Canadian ice hockey player (Buffalo Sabres, Los Angeles Kings), heart attack.
* Ritchie Pickett, 56, New Zealand country singer.
* Nicholas Smisko, 75, American clergyman, Head of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese (since 1984), cancer.
* Melvin Sparks, 64, American jazz and soul guitarist.
* Owsley Stanley, 76, American-born Australian underground LSD chemist and sound engineer (Grateful Dead), traffic accident.
* Leo Steinberg, 90, American art historian and critic.
* Vitaly Vulf, 80, Russian theater critic and television host.

14
* Gerald Barry, 63, Irish journalist and broadcaster, illness.
* Todd Cerney, 57, American country musician and producer, cancer.
* Joaquim Germano Pinto Machado Correia da Silva, 80, Portuguese politician, Governor of Macau (1986–1987).
* Bob Greaves, 76, British journalist and broadcaster, cancer.
* Eduard Gushchin, 70, Russian Olympic bronze medal-winning (1968) athlete.
* Ronnie Hammond, 60, American singer (Atlanta Rhythm Section), heart attack.
* Big Jack Johnson, 70, American guitarist and blues singer.
* Giora Leshem, 71, Israeli poet and publisher. (Hebrew)
* Larry Zolf, 76, Canadian journalist and humorist.