Robin Williams Allegedly Helped Ill Christopher Reeve with Money & Made Him Laugh — Actors Became 'Closer than Brothers'

In spite of their stark differences, Christopher Reeve and Robin Williams shared a bond that went beyond friendship as they considered each other "more than brothers". When one of them, trapped in his darkest hours, even contemplating death, the other did not hesitate. He rushed to his aid immediately.

Christopher Reeve and Robin Williams shared a bond that extended beyond friendship — they were closer than brothers. Their connection originated during their time as students in the 1970s. Throughout the years, they engaged in heartfelt conversations, shared laughter, and provided unwavering support to one another. This camaraderie proved especially crucial when Reeve tragically suffered an accident that left him paralyzed in 1995.

From Roommates to Lifelong Friends

Reeve and Williams forged a deep friendship long before their rise to fame. The seeds of their bond were planted when they found themselves sharing a dorm room at Juilliard in 1973, both being the only students accepted into the renowned Advanced Program that year.

Christopher Reeve and Robin Williams were opposites yet "more than brothers."

In his autobiography, "Still Me," Reeve fondly recounted his initial encounter with Williams. "I'd never seen so much energy contained in one person. He was like an untied balloon that had been inflated and immediately released," Reeve wrote. "To say that he was 'on' would be a major understatement. There was never a moment when he wasn't doing voices, imitating teachers, and making our faces ache from laughing at his antics. His name, of course, was Robin Williams."

According to Williams, he and Reeve were complete opposites in terms of their personalities and approaches to life. "We were totally opposite - me coming from the West Coast and a junior college, and him from the hard-core Ivy League. He used to be the studly studly of all studlies, and I was the little fool ferret boy," the actor admitted.

However, their contrasting personalities did not hinder the development of a strong and enduring friendship. In fact, their differences served to enrich their bond, making it even more meaningful. Whenever one of them faced difficulties or challenges, the other provided unwavering support.

For instance, in various interviews and notably during a session on Reddit, Williams recounted a touching anecdote about the depths of their friendship. He revealed that during a period when he was struggling financially, waiting for his next loan to come through, Reeve selflessly provided him with sustenance, literally feeding him and ensuring he had enough to get by. "Him being such a great friend to me at Juilliard, literally feeding... He would share his food with me," Williams admitted.

According to Christopher Reeve, Robin Williams was the life of the party, and he was grateful that "fate" had thrown them together.

Throughout their friendship, Christopher Reeve remained a loyal and supportive companion, always there to encourage and celebrate Williams. While was widely recognized for his ability to bring laughter to the stage and captivate audiences with his comedic monologues and humorous antics, he was also driven to showcase his range and depth as an actor beyond comedy. In a remarkable display of his talent, Williams delivered a stunning performance in a production of Tennessee Williams' "The Night of the Iguana" during his third year of study.

Reeve generously praised his friend's talent, recognizing the multifaceted nature of Williams' artistic capabilities. "His portrayal of an old man confined to a wheelchair was thoroughly convincing," Reeve gushed. "He simply was the old man. I was astonished by his work."

It is noteworthy that Reeve and Williams' friendship was not just based on humor. "Many of our classmates related to Robin by doing bits with him, trying to keep up with his antics. I didn't even try. Occasionally, Robin would need to switch off and have a serious conversation with someone, and I was always ready to listen," the "Superman" star revealed.

According to Christopher Reeve, Robin Williams was the life of the party, and he was grateful that "fate" had thrown them together. He even became the godfather of Williams' oldest son, Zachary. He revealed that he was the one person Robin could share his true feelings with, and, in turn, Reeve could also always count on his friend's support. "This has remained true for twenty-five years," "Superman" actor shared.

Laughter as the Best Medicine for Despair

In a tragic turn of events, in May 1995, Reeve experienced a life-altering accident during a horseback riding competition. As a result of the fall, he suffered a severe spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the neck down.

Williams made Reeve embrace life again after the "Superman" star was near death.

This profound injury marked a significant turning point in Reeve's life, as he became reliant on a wheelchair for mobility for the remainder of his days. Paralyzed and in complete despair, Reeve begged for his own death. His wife told him:

"'If you want us to pull the plug, we'll find a way to do that. But you're still you. And we love you."

Williams, who had already endured the devastating loss of his friend John Belushi, received news of Reeve's despair and swiftly rushed to his side. In a compassionate and spontaneous gesture, Williams put on the scrubs and arrived at Reeve's hospital ward.

Reeve’s friendship with Williams aroused his desire to live.

Reeve, lying motionless as he awaited surgery, was taken aback by the unexpected entrance of the "doctor" who commanded him to turn over. "I lay on my back, frozen, unable to avoid thinking the darkest thoughts," Reeve recalled in his autobiography.

"What?" asked the paralyzed Reeve, not understanding what was happening.

"I said turn over!" the man dressed as a doctor repeated.

As Reeve was on the verge of calling for a nurse, he suddenly realized the person addressing him was his old friend in surgical garb. A surge of laughter erupted from Reeve, marking the first time he experienced a light moment since the tragic riding accident. "He came here one afternoon and just— thank God I wear a seatbelt in this chair because I would have fallen out laughing," Reeve recalled.

Reeve’s friendship with Williams aroused his desire to live. It would later serve as a catalyst for Reeve's tireless advocacy for spinal cord injury research and his unwavering determination to improve the lives of those living with paralysis. Legendary journalist Barbara Walters retold the crucial life lesson that Reeve learned from Williams:

"Reeve said, 'I knew then if I could laugh, I could live.'"

Reeve was honest about Williams' impact on his life and often praised him, saying, "My friendship with Robin Williams is one of the real joys of my life. Robin is a person who gives to people 24 hours a day. The gift of joy, the gift of laughter. Just to be in a room with Robin Williams is a privilege."

Reeve and Williams maintained a close friendship until the end of Reeve's life. Williams even allegedly provided financial support to help cover Reeve's medical expenses during his final years, but made it secretly. The news of Christopher Reeve's passing in 2004 due to cardiac arrest deeply affected Williams, leaving him feeling adrift and searching for his place in the world, as he recalled in his autobiography.

Williams continued to honor his late friend Christopher Reeve even after his death by contributing to the Christopher Reeve Foundation, an organization supporting spinal cord injury research, and he dedicated his Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award to Reeve. To Reeve's children, Williams was "one of Dad's dearest friends."

Ten years after Reeve's passing, Williams took his own life while in the throes of battling Lewy body dementia, which had initially been misdiagnosed as Parkinson's disease. Both Christopher Reeve and Robin Williams left indelible legacies in the film industry and in real life as extraordinary individuals who have profoundly impacted the world.