Summary: Robin Williams’ widow, Susan Williams, said she was “forced” to battle with his children in court over the late comedian’s estate.
Robin Williams’ third wife, Susan, spoke with ABC News about her legal battle against Robin’s three children. The beloved comedian, who suffered from depression, paranoia, and anxiety, killed himself on August 11, 2014. Afterwards, a media frenzy ensued, and Robin’s children and Susan became embroiled in litigation over his estate.
Susan told ABC News in regards to the litigation, “I was forced into it, basically.”
“Two and a half weeks after Robin had left, I was still in shock. And not back in our home,” she said. “After being in the trenches with my husband for so long and trying to solve this thing, after seven years together in love, I was told that I might not be able to be able to keep our wedding gifts, that in fact, ‘While you’re out of the house … we need to come in and take everything out. Eventually once we’ve gone through it all, you can decide – tell us which items are yours. And we’ll decide whether or not that’s true.’ That was incomprehensible to me.”
Susan was married to Robin for three years, but they were in a relationship for four years prior. They lived together in California.
The case was settled out of court in October. The actors’ children, Zachary, Zelda and Cody, were represented by Meredith Bushnell.
Susan expressed that she was satisfied with the agreement.
“It was basically what my husband wanted, which was just that I could live in the home until I die. And that’s it,” she said.
The ABC News interview aired on Good Morning America and was the first interview for the 51-year-old artist since his death. She got emotional as she described his mindset before his suicide and the reason she believed he took his own life.
Susan stated that she thought he was getting better, but he was experiencing “an endless parade of symptoms” of Parkinson’s disease. In the interview, it is also revealed that a coroner’s report stated Robin had Lewy body dementia, a brain disorder that causes depression and paranoia. The disease may have contributed to his decision to commit suicide.
“I know we did everything we could … ‘No one could have done anything more for Robin,’” Susan said. “I just want everyone to know that. Nobody – no one – everyone did the very best they could. This disease is like a sea monster with 50 tentacles of symptoms that show when they want. It’s chemical warfare in the brain. And we can’t find it until someone dies definitively. There is no cure.”
A clip of the interview can be watched below:
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