Robin Williams remembered in Vancouver - Action News
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British ColumbiaSTORIFY

Robin Williams remembered in Vancouver

For comedy legend Robin Williams, Vancouver was a home away from home, where he shot a number of blockbuster movies including Jumanji and Night at the Museum

Academy Award-winning actor and comedian has died aged 63

Robin Williams remembered in Vancouver

10 years ago
Duration 2:23
B.C. comedians gather to pay tribute to the comedy legend

As the world learned of Williams' passing, many B.C.-based fans took to Twitter andInstagramto remember the time he spent filming in Vancouver.

Robin Williams was found dead at his homein an apparentsuicide, aged 63, on Monday. The Academy Award-winning actor and comedian had reportedly been battling severe depression.

Actor and comedian Robin Williams, whose free-form comedy and adept impressions dazzled audiences for decades, died Monday, Aug. 11, 2014, in an apparent suicide. Williams was 63. (Reed Saxon, File/The Associated Press)

For Williams, Vancouver was a home away from home, where he shot a number of blockbuster movies including Jumanji and Night at the Museum.Following his death, it's clear his greatest influence was on fellow actors and comedians.

Patrick Gallagher, a Los Angeles-based actor from Vancouver, worked with Williams on the latest instalment in the Night at the Museum series, which will be in theatres later this year.

"We just finished shooting two months ago and I was lucky to spend a lot of time of his," Gallagher told CBC News. "We lost not just a great comedian, but also an incredibly talented and gracious actor, so it's very sad."

Simon King, a Vancouver-based comedian, said he ran into Williams many times in the city and was pleasantly surprised when he decided to approach himone day.

"I thought, well, I'm going to go talk to this guy. He's one of my heroes," he said. "So I went over and we had this genuine, sweet interaction. He really was a very kind and, like, he was a very open person."

Rich Elwood, founder of Punchlines Comedy Club, told CBC News that while Williams was in town, he often joined in with their improv troupe.

"Robin, of course, was a great guy and just wanted to be one of the people inthe improv group. That's kind ofhow he was," Elwood said. "Just a real ball of fire on stage, but just wanted to be one of the participants."


You can see a Storify of more memories and messages below or if you're on mobile, click here: Storify: Robin Williams remembered in Vancouver.

Did youmeetRobin Williams while he was staying in B.C.? Tell us your story in the comments below, or tweet us@cbcnewsbc.

With files from the CBC's Richard Zussman