As the news of Robin Williams’ death on Aug. 11 spread like wildfire on television and the internet, it struck base to many OHS students who had him in a special place in their hearts. From being the Genie in Disney’s Aladdin (1991) to Theodore Roosevelt in the Night at the Museum (2006), Robin Williams has influenced all students who grew up with him from their childhood in his own eccentric fashion.

Robin Williams was a symbolic American actor and filmmaker who was born July 21, 1951 and died August 11,2014 of suicide. He began as a stand-comedian and his career soared from there as he made his first rise to fame in the TV series Mork & Mindy (1978–82) as Mork the alien. His film career included multiple acclaimed movies that are well known to OHS students such as Dead Poets Society (1989), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), Jumanji (1995), and many others.

Sylvia Lin (12)  explained that Williams’ tragedy teaches an important aspect about depression. “He hid his sadness so well that everyone thought he was fine.”

However, what was not well known by many fans was that he suffered from an illness that has risen to affect 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older (18% of U.S. population): Depression. This estimate was made by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America last year, and the numbers are still rising as more teens are becoming affected by illnesses such as Social Anxiety and Major Depression. In the light of Robin Williams’ tragic end, his death has rekindled the a sense a unity among many OHS peers and brought up the need of people who do suffer from Anxiety to get up and get help, because they are not alone.

“At first I was genuinely surprised that someone as fun-loving and happy as him had depression,”  John-David Sinks (12) said.

While  Robin Williams’ career is over, his influence on all  generations here at OHS will never fade. He will be remembered as a comical, philosophical, and childhood friend.

“He was always there and apart of everything,” Vi Vi Phan (11) said.