Peter Ford: Parkinson's Likely Exacerbated Robin Williams Struggles

Entertainers like actor and comedian Robin Williams often "have a tragic past" and use their humor to "cloak their tragedy," says actor Peter Ford, and the pain Williams suffered was likely exacerbated by his Parkinson's diagnosis.

"It's been in my experience that sometimes when you look at a funny person, somebody who is really over the top like Robin was, there could be some dark things lurking within them," Ford told J.D. Hayworth on "America's Forum" on Newsmax TV on Friday.

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"And certainly having Parkinson's and all of the different things that we're learning about, I'm sure has exasperated his feeling of not being able to be the person that he had become," he added.

James Hirsen, Los Angeles attorney and entertainment industry expert, says that the revelation of William's Parkinson's diagnosis definitely "gives us some explanation that we can hang on to."

"It's a factor and it gives comfort to me and to others who see this as consistent with the generous nature of Robin Williams," Hirsen explained.

"He had these three beautiful children, and . . . having the side effect of exaggerated depression from using recreational drugs, he felt that he didn't want to be a burden to his family," he added.

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