Robin Williams an airman, genie, nanny, but one of a kind—Obama

Flowers are placed in memory of actor/comedian Robin Williams’ Walk of Fame star in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles Monday. AP

MANILA, Philippines―President Barack Obama described Robin Williams as “one of a kind” as tributes pour in for the Oscar-winning actor and comic supernova  whose explosions of pop culture riffs and impressions dazzled audiences for decades.

“Robin   Williams   was an airman, a doctor, a genie, a nanny, a president, a professor, a bangarang Peter Pan, and everything in between. But he was one of a kind,” Obama said on Twitter after the news broke that Williams was found dead in apparent suicide at his San Francisco Bay area  home Monday (Tuesday in Manila).

Williams  was pronounced dead at his home in California Monday and officials said it appeared to be a suicide. He was 63.

Obama said in a statement issued Monday night that  Williams  “arrived in our lives as an alien — but he ended up touching every element of the human spirit,” referring to  Williams’ late 1970s role in the TV show “Mork and Mindy.” The president was on vacation on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.

The president said the actor was generous with his comic talents for those who needed it, including troops abroad.

The statement said: “The Obama family offers our condolences to  Robin’s  family, his friends, and everyone who found their voice and their verse thanks to  Robin  Williams.”

In Manila, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said goodbye to Williams.

“Farewell, Patch. Move on to the great big blue,” Valte tweeted.

Patch Adams   is a 1998 semi-biographical   comedy-drama film   starring   Williams.   With Associated Press

Originally posted: August 12, 2014 | 1:14 pm

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