Robin Williams' Wife: He Had Parkinson's Disease

Robin Williams was in the early stages of Parkinson's disease at the time of his death, his wife said Thursday.

In a statement, Susan Schneider said that Williams, 63, was struggling with depression, anxiety and the Parkinson's diagnosis when he died Monday in his Northern California home. Authorities said he committed suicide.

"Robin's sobriety was intact and he was brave as he struggled with his own battles of depression, anxiety as well as early stages of Parkinson's disease, which he was not yet ready to share publicly," Schneider said.

Schneider did not offer details on when the actor comedian had been diagnosed or his symptoms.

The Marin County Sheriff's Department, which said Williams hanged himself, is conducting toxicology tests and interviews before issuing a final ruling. Lt. Keith Boyd of the Marin County Sheriff's Department did not return phone calls and email messages from The Associated Press seeking comment on Schneider's statement.

Williams' death shocked fans and friends alike, despite his candor about decades of struggle with substance abuse and mental health. With Parkinson's, Williams faced shouldering yet another challenge.

Parkinson's disease is an incurable nervous system disorder that involves a loss of brain cells controlling movement. Tremors, sometimes starting out in just one hand, are among the early symptoms.

It can also cause rigid, halting walking, slowed speech and sometimes dementia. Symptoms worsen over time and can often be treated with drugs.

Actor Michael J. Fox, who has long had the disease and is known for his efforts to fund research into it, tweeted that he was stunned to learn Williams had early symptoms.

"Stunned to learn Robin had PD. Pretty sure his support for our Fdn predated his diagnosis. A true friend; I wish him peace," Fox tweeted.

Pop star Linda Ronstadt revealed in 2013 that she had Parkinson's and said the disease had robbed her of her ability to sing. Boxer Muhammad Ali, the late radio personality Casey Kasem and the late Pope John Paul II are among other well-known figures diagnosed with the disease.

Parkinson's affects about 1 million people nationwide, 6 million globally. The cause isn't known but genes are thought to play a role.

There is no standard test for Parkinson's; doctors rely on symptoms, medical history and neurological exams to make the diagnosis.

Dr. Tanya Simuni, director of the Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center at Northwestern University's medical school in Chicago, said patients often react to the diagnosis with surprise and despair.

Depression is often present even in early stages and can sometimes precede tremors that help doctors make the diagnosis, Simuni said.

It's important to emphasize that not everyone who is depressed has Parkinson's or is likely to develop it, she said, especially given "this tragic case" involving Williams in which the two diseases occurred.

She noted that many can live for years without severely debilitating symptoms, but also that 20 years after diagnosis, as many as 80 percent develop dementia. Antidepressants are among drugs commonly prescribed for the disease, along with medication to help control jerky movements.

Rip Robin Williams

Comedian Robin Williams Found Dead at 63

Comedian Robin Williams died suddenly on Monday morning inside his residence in Tiburon, California, according to his wife and publicist.

MARIN COUNTY, Calif. --

The actor-comedian Robin Williams was found dead in an apparent suicide by asphyxiation, Marin County Sheriff's officials said Monday.

The Marin County Sheriff's Department received a 911 report of a male not breathing in a residence in unincorporated Tiburon, California at 11:55 a.m. Monday. Emergency personnel arrived and pronounced the subject deceased at 12:02 p.m. He was identified as Robin McLaurin Williams, 63. A preliminary investigation identified the cause of death suicide due to asphyxiation.

Preliminary information indicated Williams was last seen alive at the residence at approximately 10 p.m. Sunday. He was located Monday morning shortly before 11:55 a.m. His wife also lives at the residence.

"A comprehensive investigation must be completed before a final determination is made. A forensic examination is currently scheduled for August 12, 2014 with subsequent toxicology testing to be conducted," the sheriff's department said.

Mara Buxbaum, a representative for Williams, released a statement Monday afternoon: "Robin Williams passed away this morning. He has been battling severe depression of late. This is a tragic and sudden loss. The family respectfully asks for their privacy as they grieve during this very difficult time."

George Zimmerman's parents sue Roseanne Barr

The parents of Trayvon Martin's shooter, George Zimmerman, are suing Roseanne Barr for tweeting their home address in what they say was an attempt to send vigilantes after them. Robert Zimmerman and Gladys Zimmerman's lawsuit says the actress and comedian also said she herself might go to their home herself. They said she posted their private information in violation of Twitter's privacy policies. Also from TheWrap: Spike Lee Apologizes for Tweeting Wrong Address for Trayvon Martin Shooter "Roseanne Barr knew at the time of her tweets and her threat to personally come to the Zimmerman's home that it was an open and obvious call for vigilante justice& intended by Roseanne Barr to cause a lynch mob to descend on Robert Zimmerman and Gladys Zimmerman's home," according to the lawsuit, filed in Seminole County, Fla. A spokesman for Barr did not immediately respond to a request for comment from TheWrap. The Zimmermans say Barr tweeted their address on March 29, 2012, later adding, "At first I thought it was good to let ppl know that no one can hide anymore." She added, "If Zimmerman isn't arrested I'll rt his address again -- maybe go to his house myself." But she also wrote, "vigilante-ism is what killed Trayvon. I don't support that," according to The Smoking Gun website. She also admitted to "not fully understanding that it was private not public." Zimmerman's parents said their son had not lived at the home for more than six years. The couple said they had no problems related to his case in the month before Barr tweeted their address, but that news media began arriving at their home almost as soon as she did. They said they were forced to flee and have not returned to their home in the nearly two years since. They do not claim that any lynch mob ever materialized — only that they had to leave to avoid potential vigilantes. But the timeline in their lawsuit conflicts with one Robert Zimmerman gave the Orlando Sentinel in an interview, the paper reported. He said on March 15, 2012 -- two weeks before Barr tweeted the address -- that he and his wife had already moved out of their home because of death threats, the Sentinel said. Barr is the second celebrity to be accused of overzealous tweeting involving the Zimmerman case. Another Florida couple has sued Spike Lee for retweeting their address and mistakenly identifying it as Zimmerman's. He later apologized. George Zimmerman, who said he shot Martin in self-defense, was acquitted in July 2013.