Robin Williams resented having to work on films such as the second Mrs Doubtfire but felt compelled in order to keep money coming in, a close friend of the actor has told the Telegraph.
Williams, who had been working on four projects when he was believed to have taken his own life this week, was said to have been dreading making more films as they "brought out his demons".
He had committed to starring in sequels to the hugely successful Mrs Doubtfire and Night in the Museum, as well as comedy Merry Friggin’ Christmas, and the drama Boulevard.
But according to his neighbour and friend of over a decade, he no longer wanted to work on films as he felt they were not conducive to his mental well-being.
"Robin had promised himself he would not do any more as he invested so much in his roles that it left him drained and particularly vulnerable to depressive episodes,” the friend told the paper.
"He signed up to do them purely out of necessity. He wasn’t poor, but the money wasn’t rolling in any more and life is expensive when you have to pay off two ex-wives and have a family to support.”
His friend, who declined to be named, said he last saw the actor three weeks ago when the two of them went on one of their regular bike rides around their hometown of Tiburon just north of San Francisco.
Williams was a keen cyclist, a hobby his friend believed distracted him from his problems.
The friend confirmed he had checked himself into rehab last month after falling back into his old habits.
He said the Mork & Mindy star was a big family man, a “homebody” who did not go out much and liked to focus on life with his wife and her sons.
He said he preferred living in the small community in Tiburon, rather than in LA, as he was naturally a quiet and introspective person.
“He didn’t like being away from the family for too long, which was a big issue for him when he was shooting films,” the friend said. “That’s why he agreed to do the TV show (The Crazy Ones). It was filmed nearby in San Francisco and they were very flexible with him.
“He was hit hard when they cancelled it - it was helping him pay the bills.”
He reportedly made $165,000 (£100,000) per episode for the first season, which was aired on CBS.
He said that despite Williams’ problems, he was shocked to hear the news of his death: “I have been very moved by it, it was not something I expected. I fear his family, while shocked and saddened, may have had more of an idea it was coming.
“His wife was very worried by the end, but she knew what she was getting into with him. Their marriage was great, very strong. It was all about what was going on inside of him.”
The friend, whose son goes to the same school as Williams’ stepson, said rather than purely being about money, or work, it was a perfect storm, or “confluence”, of several factors that may have led him to take his own life.
“He told me his heart surgery in 2009 had left him feeling like a mortal for the first time in his life, and he didn’t like how that felt.”
• Readers who wish to seek information and/or support on suicide prevention can call 08457 90 90 90, or visit the Samaritans website.
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