Oscar-winning actor and inspired comedian Robin Williams, 63, was found dead at his home in Northern California on Monday, the Marin County Sheriff's Office said.
Williams was discovered unconscious and not breathing in his home shortly before noon. Emergency personnel who were summoned to the residence pronounced him dead at the scene.
According to the sheriff's coroner's division, his death appeared to be from suicide, but the cause of death is still under investigation.
The sheriff's office said that Williams had last been seen alive at about 10:00 p.m. on Sunday, at the home he shares with his wife, Susan Schneider.
Williams' representative, Mara Buxbaum, said in a statement that Williams had been battling severe depression. She also said "This is a tragic and sudden loss. The family respectfully asks for their privacy as they grieve during this very difficult time."
Last month, Williams had entered a rehabilitation center in Minnesota. His representatives said that the purpose of his visit was to help maintain his sobriety. Williams had struggled with addiction earlier in his career.
Williams recently completed work on several film projects, which are set to be released in the coming months.
He participated in the filming of the third installment of Night at the Museum, in which he reprised his role as Teddy Roosevelt. The movie will be released in December.
Williams also completed work on the holiday comedy Merry Friggin' Christmas, which Phase 4 Films plans to release in November.
Named 'the funniest man alive' by Entertainment Weekly in 1997, Williams' first major role was as an alien in the 1970s sitcom Mork and Mindy. His films, from Good Morning Vietnam to The Dead Poets Society to Mrs. Doubtfire to Patch Adams, entertained millions and displayed his incredible comedic gifts.
Williams also recorded many comedy albums, including A Night at the Met, which was recorded live at the Metropolitan Opera House. The album won a 1988 Grammy Award for Best Comedy Performance.
On Monday, President Barack Obama responded to the news of Williams' death, in a statement that summed up his remarkable career: "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. He arrived in our lives as an alien--but he ended up touching every element of the human spirit. He made us laugh. He made us cry. He gave his immeasurable talent freely and generously to those who needed it most--from our troops stationed abroad to the marginalized on our own streets."
