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.

Pioneering TV Comedian Sid Caesar Dies at 91

Pioneering U.S. television comedian Sid Caesar, who set the standard for TV comedy in the early 1950s, has died at 91.

The New York born-Caesar began his career as a big band saxophonist before moving into nightclubs and the Broadway stage.

He started his television career in 1949 when he partnered with the late comedienne Imogene Coca.

Their legendary series Your Show of Shows was must-see Saturday night viewing and attracted huge audiences. Caesar rejected typical TV slapstick and in favor of sketches that showcased the best and sometimes worst of human behavior -- ill-tempered bosses, angry husbands, life in suburbia, and pretentious professors.

Your Show of Shows also parodied foreign films to highlight Caesar's ability to speak in realistic-sounding Russian, Japanese, and French dialect which was actually gibberish and nonsense.

The writing staff of Your Show of Shows and Caesar's subsequent series reads like a "who's who" of American comedy. They include Mel Brooks, Woody Allen, Neil Simon, and Larry Gelbart.

After television, Caesar returned to Broadway and films and wrote candidly about his battles with alcoholism and drug abuse in an 1982 autobiography.

Beloved Greek Film Comedian Thanassis Veggos Dies at 84

Tuesday, 3 May 2011

Greek comedian Thanassis Veggos, whose slapstick comedies made him one of the country's most beloved performers, has died after suffering a series of strokes.

He was 84 years old.

Many in Greece referred to Veggos as the “Greek Charlie Chaplin” because, like the legendary American comedian, Veggos portrayed the average everyman struggling to cope with life.

He played in more than 120 movies from the 1950s until just last year. Most of his films were known for outlandish slapstick, but he also appeared on the stage and on television in dramatic parts.

Greek President Karolos Papoulias calls Veggos' death a cause of national grief, saying his loss is irreplaceable and his films will entertain generations to come.