Robin Williams Cause of Death: Lewy Body Dementia & Autopsy

When news broke that Robin Williams had died, the world paused. The comedian who had brought joy to millions was gone at 63, but the story that followed was far more complicated than anyone expected — a misdiagnosis, a devastating brain disease, and a final act that left friends, fans, and even doctors searching for answers.

Full name: Robin McLaurin Williams ·
Born: July 21, 1951 ·
Died: August 11, 2014 ·
Age at death: 63 ·
Cause of death: Asphyxia due to hanging (suicide) ·
Underlying condition: Lewy body dementia

Eight key details paint the full picture of Robin Williams’ life and death:

What was the cause of Robin Williams’ death?

Official cause of death

• The Marin County Sheriff’s Office coroner ruled the death as asphyxia due to hanging (TMZ coroner report).
• No alcohol or illicit drugs were found in his system (SciELO).
• Prescription medications (antidepressants, levodopa) were present at therapeutic levels (SciELO).

Role of asphyxia

Asphyxia from hanging was the immediate cause, but the coroner’s report and later medical commentary emphasized that this was the endpoint of a far longer disease process (SciELO). The manner of death was classified as suicide. The pattern is clear: the cause was not a snap decision but the tragic conclusion of a neurological illness ravaging his brain for years.

What was Robin Williams diagnosed with?

Lewy body dementia

• Williams had been diagnosed during life with Parkinson’s disease, but the postmortem brain examination revealed diffuse Lewy body disease – the pathological hallmark of Lewy body dementia (Lewy Body Dementia Association).
• His widow Susan Schneider later publicly linked the autopsy results to his unexplained symptoms and decline (ElderLawAnswers).

Misdiagnosis of Parkinson’s disease

Before his death, Robin Williams was being treated for Parkinson’s. But the Lewy Body Resource Center notes that he was not definitively diagnosed with Lewy body dementia during his lifetime (Lewy Body Resource Center). The illness was only fully understood after the autopsy.

Symptoms

According to reports from his wife and doctors, Williams experienced severe anxiety, paranoia, and motor symptoms. The disease process was described as one of the most severe cases of diffuse Lewy body dementia seen by specialists (Lewy Body Dementia Association). The implication: a man famous for his kinetic energy was slowly losing control of his own mind and body, but the cause was hidden inside his brain.

What were Robin Williams’ last words to his wife?

Famous last words

• His last words to his wife Susan Schneider were “Goodnight, my love” (Wikipedia).
• He said this as she left for the night on August 10, 2014 (Wikipedia).

Context of the message

Susan has described that moment as normal and loving — there was no hint of what was to come. He was found dead the next morning. The pattern: even those closest to him did not see the suicide coming, because the disease had masked itself behind anxiety and movement issues.

What did Ben Affleck say when Robin Williams died?

Affleck and Damon tribute

• Ben Affleck and Matt Damon issued a joint statement praising Williams’ talent and generosity (Wikipedia).
• They recalled working with him on Good Will Hunting and described him as “one of a kind” (Wikipedia).

Impact on friends

The loss resonated across Hollywood, with countless actors sharing personal stories. The documentary Robin’s Wish later centered on the argument that undiagnosed Lewy body dementia was a major factor in his death (Lewy Body Dementia Association). The pattern: the public reaction focused on depression, but those who knew him best increasingly point to the neurological disease as the real enemy.

What was the truth revealed by Robin Williams autopsy?

Autopsy findings

• The autopsy confirmed severe diffuse Lewy body dementia (Lewy Body Dementia Association).
• Lewy bodies were found throughout the brain and brainstem (SciELO).
• No drugs or alcohol contributed to his death (SciELO).
• His heart was normal, and there were no other significant findings (SciELO).

Presence of Lewy bodies

Secondary reports summarized that the autopsy found roughly 40% loss of dopamine neurons in relevant brain regions (note: this claim from a Reddit source has low confidence). The pathologist’s findings were interpreted as supporting Lewy body dementia as an underlying factor in his psychiatric decline (Neurology Advisor). The catch: without the autopsy, the true cause of Robin Williams’ suffering would have remained hidden behind a label of depression and Parkinson’s.

Timeline

• 2013–2014: Williams experiences symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and severe anxiety; later diagnosed with Lewy body dementia (Lewy Body Resource Center).
• August 11, 2014: Robin Williams dies by suicide at his home in Paradise Cay, California (Wikipedia).
• August 12, 2014: Autopsy performed; initial cause of death ruled as asphyxia due to hanging (TMZ coroner report).
• November 2014: Widow Susan Schneider publicly reveals that Williams had Lewy body dementia, not depression (ElderLawAnswers).
• 2015: Scientific case study published (SciELO) analyzing the role of Lewy body dementia in his suicide (SciELO).

Quotes

“Goodnight, my love.”

— Susan Schneider, wife of Robin Williams, recalling his last words to her (Wikipedia)

“He was one of a kind. He made us all laugh and cry.”

— Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, joint statement after Williams’ death (Wikipedia)

“The cause of death was asphyxia due to hanging. No drugs or alcohol contributed.”

— Marin County Coroner’s Office, official report (TMZ coroner report)

The real tragedy of Robin Williams’ death is not that he took his own life, but that the disease driving him to it was invisible — and misdiagnosed. For the millions who loved him, the lesson is that mental health symptoms can sometimes hide a neurological storm. For doctors, it’s a call to look deeper when a patient’s symptoms don’t fit neatly into a box. For everyone else, the implication is clear: Lewy body dementia stole one of the world’s brightest lights, and the best way to honor his memory is to learn the signs — before it’s too late. The actor lost his battle to a disease that remained hidden until the very end.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• Jim Henson Cause of Death, Personal Life & Legacy
• Roy Orbison’s Tragedies and Enduring Legacy