Robin Williams was ‘disintegrating’ before his death

Comedian Robin Williams had been planning to undergo neurological testing the week before he took his own life last year, and likely only had three years to live, his widow said.

In her first interview since Williams took his own life at their California home, Susan Williams described how the Good Morning, Vietnam Oscar winner was “just disintegrating” physically and mentally.

Williams died in August 2014 at age 63 and had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease three months prior. He was showing symptoms including stiffness, slumping gait, and confusion, she told Good Morning America.

An autopsy found he also had Lewy body dementia, which causes a progressive decline in mental abilities.

“If Robin was lucky, he would’ve had maybe three years left. And they would’ve been hard years. And it’s a good chance he would’ve been locked up,” Williams said, referring to a doctor’s prognosis for the comedian.

The actor was aware he was losing his mind and although he was keeping it together “in the last month he could not. It was like the dam broke,” his widow told ABC.

In the last week of his life, doctors were planning to check him into a facility for neurocognitive testing, she said. Yet he never talked about taking his own life.

In the tearful interview, Williams recalled their last affectionate conversation the night before the actor took his own life, and how she raced home from work after he was discovered by an assistant the next morning.

“I just wanted to see my husband. And I got to see him... and I got to pray with him. And I got to tell him: ‘I forgive you 50bn percent, with all my heart. You’re the bravest man I’ve ever known.’ You know, we were living a nightmare,” she said.

The actor’s third wife was speaking out after reaching a settlement with his three children from previous relationships that ended a bitter row over his estate and personal belongings.