'Closer than brothers': Robin Williams' extraordinary friendship with Christopher Reeve

One of the most treasured relationships of Robin Williams' life was his enduring friendship with fellow actor Christopher Reeve

The pair met in 1973 as roommates at the Julliard School in New York City

Their careers later took off at the same time in the late 1970s - Williams in Mork And Mindy and Reeve in Superman

After his paralyzing horse-riding accident in 1995, Reeve revealed that his spirits were lifted after his old friend paid him a surprise visit



Williams showed up at his hospital pretending to be an eccentric Russian proctologist who was going to perform a rectal exam on him

'My old friend had helped me know that somehow I was going to be okay,' wrote Reeve in his autobiography

After Reeve's death in 2004, Williams dedicated his Cecil B. Demille Award at the Golden Globes to him



One of the finest eulogies for Robin Williams was written years before his untimely death by one of his closest friends, fellow actor Christopher Reeve.



In 1995, Superman star Reeve was facing a life or death situation as he prepared to undergo an operation at the University of Virginia Medical Center to reattach his skull to his spine following a devastating horse-riding accident.



With his chances of survival rated just 50/50, Reeve later told Barbara Walters that he ‘wanted to die’ until his despair was lifted by an unexpected visit from his old friend Williams.

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Closer than brothers: Robin Williams and Christopher Reeve attempt to hail a taxicab in New York City in 1981. The pair shared a enduring friendship until Reeve's death in 2004

After Reeve's horse-riding accident in 1995, he revealed it was his good friend Williams paid him a surprise visit that raised his spirits in his darkest hour

In his 1996 autobiography Still Me, Reeve recalls how Williams showed up at the hospital pretending to be an eccentric Russian proctologist who was going to perform a rectal exam on him.



‘I lay on my back, frozen, unable to avoid thinking the darkest thoughts,’ wrote Reeve.

‘Then, at an especially bleak moment, the door flew open and in hurried a squat fellow with a blue scrub hat and a yellow surgical gown and glasses, speaking in a Russian accent. He announced that he was my proctologist and that he had to examine me immediately.



‘My first reaction was that either I was on way too many drugs or I was in fact brain damaged,’ wrote Reeve.

Reeve and Williams pose backstage at the People's Choice Awards in March 1979 as they both started to enjoy success with Superman and Mork and Mindy respectively

‘For the first time since the accident, I laughed. My old friend had helped me know that somehow I was going to be okay.’



By then the pair were indeed old friends, having first met more than 20 years before as roommates at the prestigious Julliard School in New York City.



In 1973 the budding actors were the only two students accepted to the advanced program at the school. In several classes they were the only students.

Williams was also the first student that Reeve met at university and he recalls watching Williams 'in awe as he virtually caromed off the walls of the classrooms and hallways.'

Their strong bond lasted way beyond college as their respective careers took off in the late 70s, with Williams enjoying massive television success in Mork and Mindy and Reeve staring in the 1978 blockbuster Superman.

During a Reddit AMA last year, Williams recalled his favorite memories of Reeve.



‘Him being such a great friend to me at Juillard, literally feeding me because I don't think I literally had money for food or my student loan hadn't come in yet, and he would share his food with me,' he wrote.



'And then later after the accident, just seeing him beaming and just, seeing what he meant to so many people.’

Reeve’s widow Dana once described the pair as being ‘closer than brothers’ and it was rumored that Williams had helped pay for Reeves’ treatment following his accident.



He also became actively involved in Reeve's foundation, The Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation.



Reeve died in 2004 after a cardiac arrest.



‘The world has lost a tremendous activist and artist, and an inspiration for people worldwide. I have lost a great friend,’ said Williams after his friend passed away.

Reeve's widow Dana once described the pair as being 'closer than brothers' and it was rumored that Williams had helped pay for Reeves' treatment following his accident

The next year Williams dedicated his Cecil B. Demille Award at the Golden Globes to his old friend.



'Miss you. May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest,' he said.

For his dedication and support as an advocate for the Reeve Foundation, the charity honored him in 2007 at a gala in Los Angeles.



After the announcement of Williams’ suicide on Monday, the charity posted a tribute to him on its website.



‘While the world knew Robin Williams as an Oscar-winning actor, we knew a different side to the man whose smile was as big as his heart.



'While our hearts ache with the loss of our friend, it is unlikely Robin would want us to mourn his passing with silence, but to celebrate his life through laughter.

