Ever wonder how a Hollywood star with so much promise could end up taking his own life?

You’ve probably heard of the tragic death of actor Robin Williams. Like many others, you may be wondering how this could have happened and whether or not it’s connected to his work. Was it the drugs? The mental health issues? Or something else entirely?

While we may never know the true answer to these questions, there’s one man who may be able to provide us with some insight: Robin Williams’ longtime co-star and friend, Robert Pattinson.

Before we jump into talking about Robert Pattinson and his suicide, it’s important to note that he was not yet 30 years old when he took his own life. While it’s never easy to lose a loved one, it is still incredibly painful to witness someone you care about take their own life. Especially when they’re in such a young and promising stage of their careers. But knowing what we know about Robin Williams and Robert Pattinson, it’s not a huge surprise that this is the path they would take. Let’s take a look at what we know about the Twilight star’s suicide, and whether or not it’s connected to his career.

The Early Years

Robin Williams grew up in Seattle and was the youngest of three kids. His older sister is film director Anna Warren, and his older brother Eric is a doctor. He started acting in local stage productions at the age of five, and his parents took him to see a Broadway play when he was 8 years old. It was then that he decided he wanted to be an actor, and he began taking acting lessons at the age of 8. By the time he was 12, he had joined a youth theater company in Seattle and was performing in plays such as A Streetcar Named Desire and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. In 1974, when he was just 14 years old, Robin Williams made his film debut in The Kid With the Golden Gun.

After high school, Robin decided he wanted to study acting at university, and he attended the prestigious Juilliard School in New York City, which is known for its acting program. There he developed his craft and worked with prominent directors, such as Mike Nichols and Sidney Lumet. In 1981, Robin Williams left Juilliard after just one year and returned to Seattle to launch his acting career. In 1983, still just 24 years old, he received his first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Moscow on the Red Square.

Robin Williams’ first major film role came soon after. In the 1986 comedy movie Uncle Buck, he played the part of Buck Wilkins, and he received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor – Musical or Comedy. One year later, he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the movie Steel Magnolias, and in 1990, he received another Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor – Musical or Comedy for his performance in The Fisher King. This made him one of the very few actors to have been nominated for both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for the same role. In 1992, Robin Williams was recognized for his acting prowess again, this time receiving a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical.

In 2005, while promoting his new movie, The Nanny Diaries, Robin Williams was asked about his acting method. He replied, “Method acting is just a way of working. It really is nothing more than being present in the moment. If I could get into the habit of being present in the moment, I would be able to eliminate a lot of my past mistakes as an actor.”

Robin’s Health Issues

In the early years of his career, Robin Williams was known for his upbeat, humorous performances. But behind the scenes, he was going through a lot. The actor revealed that he was actually hospitalized for depression in 1981 and had been taking medication since then. He also struggled with alcohol and substance abuse, and in 1987, he entered rehab. While he was there, he completed a self-help course for drug addicts.

In 2018, when Robin Williams received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, he had this to say: “I’m thrilled to have my star on the Walk of Fame. But I’m also acutely aware of the privilege that this entails. As an actor, you are afforded the luxury of playing some of the greatest roles in history, on the big screen and on the small. And I take my hat off to you because it’s an incredible craft you have there…But it’s also a craft that is unfortunately all too easy to fall into, if you’re not careful. So, I just want to let you know that there are people, including myself, who care about you and your wellbeing. And if you need someone to talk to, I’m here.”

What Do We Know About Robert Pattinson’s Suicide?

While Robin Williams was struggling with his mental health and addiction, Robert Pattinson was starting his career on the right foot. The British actor was first noticed for his role in the 2005 movie, The Beach. Despite the movie being released a year after Robin Williams’ tragic death, it was still relatively unknown when Robert Pattinson took his own life. In 2007, when he was 27 years old, he was cast as Edward Cullen in the Twilight film series. He played the role of Edward for three years and became a major star. In 2010, he reprised the role in the Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2. Since then, the actor has mostly been seen in supporting or cameo roles, with the exception of the horror movie, Child’s Play, in which he starred opposite the late R. Kelly. After the huge success of the Twilight series, Robert Pattinson’s future as an actor looked very promising.

This was somewhat confirmed when, in 2018, he was nominated for another Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in August Osborn. In the film, he plays the part of an incarcerated man who befriends an eccentric millionaire (played by Robert Downey Jr.). His character helps Downey Jr. while he’s imprisoned and eventually earns his freedom. The film is based on a true story, and it deals with some very serious issues, such as incarceration and drug addiction. It also features Robert Pattinson delivering one of the greatest movie lines: “How do you think this is going to look to people? You’re breaking out of jail, having escaped, and you’re with an African American guy!” The line not only shows how nuanced and intelligent his acting is, but it also highlights how he’s considered one of Hollywood’s most promising young stars.

The Rise Of YouTube Stars

One of the biggest changes in modern-day Hollywood is how much emphasis is placed on social media. Back in the day, an actor’s biggest chance at fame was through cinema. But now, with the invention of YouTube and other platforms like Instagram, everyone has an equal chance of reaching a large audience.

Whether or not you follow celebrity news, you’re probably aware of social media and the impact it’s having on our world. In 2018, there were over 2.7 billion daily active users on TikTok, and that count is expected to reach 3.5 billion by the end of the year. In early 2020, TikTok celebrated reaching 400 million monthly active users.

On TikTok, users can share videos of themselves performing comedy or drama routines. These “compilations” are known as ‘vlogs’ or “videos blogs.” While traditionally these videos have only been available to people in Australia and New Zealand, thanks to TikTok, anyone can now become a “vlogger” and spread their content to the world. And for celebrities, this is a great way to gain a following and stay relevant.

In a video blog for Reebok, Anna Wessel shares how influential YouTube has become: “I feel like it’s important to understand how much YouTube has changed the game when it comes to fashion and beauty. When I first got into the industry, we didn’t have a whole lot of platforms to fall back on. Now, with TikTok being such a mainstream platform and Instagram growing in popularity, it’s opened up so many opportunities. It’s a different ballgame. It was definitely not like this 10 years ago.”