Robin Williams died by suicide on August 11, 2014, at his home in Paradise Cay, California. The cause of death was asphyxia due to hanging, confirmed by autopsy reports which indicated he had hanged himself with a belt tied to a door handle

. In addition to severe depression and anxiety, Williams had recently been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease-like symptoms. However, a post-mortem examination of his brain revealed he was suffering from diffuse Lewy body dementia (DLB), a neurodegenerative disease that causes symptoms such as confusion, paranoia, hallucinations, anxiety, personality changes, and movement difficulties. This disease was believed by his doctors and widow to be a critical factor contributing to his suicide

. Toxicology reports showed no evidence of alcohol or illegal drugs; prescription medications found were at therapeutic levels, indicating he did not overdose intentionally

. His widow described Lewy body dementia as "the terrorist inside my husband's brain," emphasizing that the depression he experienced was rooted in neurological disease rather than just psychological causes

. In summary, Robin Williams' death was a suicide by hanging, influenced by his struggle with severe depression compounded by the effects of Lewy body dementia, a debilitating brain disease that had severely affected his mental and physical health