Robin Williams' children Zak and Zelda honor Dad on 8th anniversary of death: 'I deeply miss you'

Robin Williams' children paid tribute to their dad eight years after his death. The late actor's children, Zak and Zelda, took to Twitter to honor his memory on the anniversary of his death. Zak Williams, 39, shared a picture of his father and wrote, "Dad, on the eighth anniversary of your passing, I'm remembering how incredibly kind and joyful you were. I deeply miss you you wonderful, hairy man, and will be celebrating your life today. Love you so so much!" Similarly, the comedian's daughter Zelda Williams, 33, shared a quote from Japanese writer Haruki Murakami, reported PEOPLE. "And once the storm is over, you won't remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won't even be sure, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won't be the same person who walked in."

Zelda Williams also shared suicide resources, before adding, "I don't ask for much, but if I may, be gentle to your hearts today. I know I'm trying. X." It was on August 11, 2014, that Robin Williams died by suicide at the age of 63. It later came to light that the actor had Lewy body dementia, the second-most common type of progressive dementia after Alzheimer's disease. Zak Williams is a mental health advocate and spoke about how much his father's death had affected him at the time. "I was heavily drinking to manage my mental health where it created very harmful issues. For me, personally, I was having health issues. I was experiencing some psychosis and when I spoke with a psychiatrist I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder," he shared. "I was self-medicating through the trauma using alcohol."

Zak spoke about seeking therapy to help himself fight depression. "I was just sick and tired of trying to treat myself using harmful means," said Zak. He also recalled his father being frustrated after being misdiagnosed with Parkinson's disease. "What he was going through didn't match one to one [with what] many Parkinson's patients experience," said Zak to "The Genius Life" podcast host Max Lugavere. "So, I think that was hard for him. I couldn't help but feel beyond empathy. I couldn't help but feel frustrated for him," Zak continued in part. "It can be really isolating even when you're with family and loved ones."

The Academy Award-winning actor was incredibly versatile, ranging from stand-up comedy and voice acting to dramatic acting and comedic roles. One of Robin Williams' greatest traits was his ability to connect with people through his work, interviews or in person. Some of his incredible work includes films like "Mrs. Doubtfire," "Dead Poets Society," "Aladdin," "Good Will Hunting," "Hook" and "Jumanji." His work in Television includes "Mork and Mindy," "Saturday Night Live" and "The Crazy Ones." Williams started performing at The Other Cafe, a comedy club in San Francisco, where he did standup in the mid-70s. When he passed away, fans dropped flowers outside the cafe, where his career had begun.

After his passing, Sarah Michelle Gellar, his co-star from "The Crazy Ones," posted a passage by Ralph Waldo Emerson to pay tribute to the actor. "To laugh often and much; to win the respect of the intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the beauty in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that one life has breathed easier because you lived here. This is to have succeeded." "You succeeded Robin Williams," she wrote. 
 
If you or someone you know are having thoughts of suicide or require mental health support, call or text 988 to talk to a trained counselor at the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or visit 988lifeline.org to connect with a counselor and chat in real time. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress as well as prevention and crisis resources for healthcare professionals.