If you think Robin Williams is dead or committed suicide by asphyxiation at age 63 on Aug 11, you don’t know him. He is one cheeky artist, a genius at that. Perhaps he is hiding under the table on which more than a dozen water bottles are placed that he quenches his thirst with during his standup acts, unlike the Fisher King given a glass of water by a fool. Perhaps he has gone into that cave where dead poets converge to read out each other’s poems to teach budding versifiers a lesson or two in the art of recitation. Perhaps he is running away from the Red Knight who wants to punish him for showing too much confidence in himself. Perhaps he has found a new way to attract the attention of those suffering from catatonia and is now working in a hospital in the Bronx. He is not dead. He is one cheeky artist, a genius at that.

Robin Williams, the actor and comedian par excellence with iconic films like Dead Poets Society, The Awakening and The King Fisher and a best supporting actor Oscar award for the film Good Will Hunting to his credit, leaves behind his third wife Susan Schneider and three children (one boy from the first wife and a boy and a girl from the second).

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, August 17th, 2014