Robin Williams Enters Rehab

By: Shannon Gossage

Mara Buxbaum, Williams’ rep, said in a statement, "After 20 years of sobriety, Robin Williams found himself drinking again and has decided to take proactive measures to deal with this for his own well-being and the well-being of his family." The statement also read, "He asks that you respect his and his family’s privacy during this time. He looks forward to returning to work this fall to support his upcoming film releases." He reportedly checked into a facility in Oregon that is run by the Hazeldon clinic.

This is not Williams’ first battle with alcohol. He has admitted to a cocaine and alcohol addiction in the late 70’s and early 80’s. He said in an interview in 1988 that for him cocaine was "a place to hide." He said, "Most people get hyper on coke. It slowed me down. Sometimes it made me paranoid and impotent, but mostly it just made me withdrawn. And I was so crazy back then – working all day, partying most of the night – I needed an excuse not to talk. I needed quiet times and I used coke to get them."

Williams, 55, claims that he quit drugs and alcohol in 1983 because he was about to become a father for the first time and his friend John Belushi overdosed and died mere hours after he snorted coke with him. He called Belushi’s death a "tragedy" and "frightening." Williams’ latest film The Night Listener opened last week to lackluster ratings. He is also reportedly has three films in the work due to hit the big screen later this year. He is set to star in the drama August Rush, the comedy Man of the Year, and an animated feature titled Happy Feet.