Robin Williams, the beloved actor and comedian, had a complex personal life marked by three marriages and relationships that drew public attention. Below is an overview of his family life, focusing on his marriages, children, and notable controversies, based on available information.
Three Marriages
- Valerie Velardi (1978–1988)
- Williams met Valerie Velardi, a comedian and actress, in 1976 while working as a bartender in San Francisco. They married in 1978 after his relationship with comedian Elayne Boosler ended.
- The couple had one son, Zachary Pym “Zak” Williams, born in 1983.
- Their marriage faced challenges due to Williams’ infidelity. In the 2018 documentary Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind, Velardi admitted she tolerated his affairs, saying, “He loved women. Absolutely loved women. And I got it… I understood and I wanted him to have that, but I also wanted him to come home.”
- The marriage ended in 1988, partly due to Williams’ affair with Marsha Garces, who was employed as Zak’s nanny. Velardi later clarified that her relationship with Williams ended for other reasons as well, including their diverging lifestyles as his career skyrocketed.
- Marsha Garces (1989–2010)
- Williams began a relationship with Marsha Garces in 1986, while she was working as a nanny for Zak. This relationship was controversial, initially reported as an extramarital affair, though Velardi stated in Come Inside My Mind that it began after their separation.
- Williams and Garces married in April 1989, when she was six months pregnant with their daughter, Zelda Rae Williams, born in 1989. They later welcomed a son, Cody Alan Williams, in 1991.
- Garces worked closely with Williams, serving as a production assistant on films like Good Morning, Vietnam and Dead Poets Society, and co-founding Blue Wolf Productions, producing films such as Mrs. Doubtfire.
- The couple separated in 2008, and Garces filed for divorce in 2010, citing “irreconcilable differences.” The divorce was reportedly costly, with estimates suggesting Williams paid $20–30 million across his divorces.
- Susan Schneider Williams (2011–2014)
- Williams met graphic designer Susan Schneider in 2007 at an Apple Store, where a playful exchange about his camouflage clothing sparked their connection. They married in October 2011, her second marriage and his third.
- They lived together in Marin County, California, with Schneider’s two children from a previous relationship. Their marriage lasted until Williams’ death by suicide in August 2014.
- Schneider has since advocated for awareness of Lewy body dementia, which Williams was diagnosed with posthumously (initially misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s disease). She released a documentary, Robin’s Wish, detailing his final days and health struggles.
Children
Williams had three children, all of whom have pursued careers in entertainment or advocacy:
- Zak Williams (b. 1983): Son from his first marriage to Velardi. Zak is a mental health advocate and chairman of Bring Change to Mind, a nonprofit focused on ending mental illness stigma. He married Olivia June in 2020 and has a son.
- Zelda Rae Williams (b. 1989): Daughter from his second marriage to Garces. Zelda is an actress, director, and producer, with credits in films like Nine Months and Detention. She has honored her father’s legacy through social media tributes.
- Cody Alan Williams (b. 1991): Son from his second marriage to Garces. Cody maintains a private life but married Maria Flores in 2019, on what would have been Williams’ 68th birthday.
Controversies and Estate Dispute
- Affair with Marsha Garces: The relationship with Garces, who was Zak’s nanny, was initially reported as a scandalous affair that contributed to the end of his first marriage. This narrative was later nuanced by Velardi’s claim that their relationship began post-separation.
- Estate Battle (2014–2015): After Williams’ death, a legal dispute arose between Susan Schneider and his three children over his $50–100 million estate.
- Williams’ 2012 trust allowed Schneider to live in their Tiburon, California, home for her lifetime, with funds to maintain it, while his children inherited most of his estate, including memorabilia, awards, and personal items from his Napa Valley property.
- Schneider contested the will, arguing it left her financially vulnerable and that some personal items (e.g., wedding gifts, graphic novels, and Williams’ tuxedo) should remain with her. The children argued these items were rightfully theirs, per their father’s wishes.
- The dispute was settled out of court in 2015. Schneider retained the Tiburon home, living expenses, a watch, a bicycle, and wedding gifts, while the children received the majority of the estate, including memorabilia. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the resolution, pending court approval.
Health and Legacy
Williams struggled with depression, anxiety, and substance abuse throughout his life, compounded by a misdiagnosis of Parkinson’s disease in May 2014. An autopsy revealed he had Lewy body dementia, which contributed to his mental health decline and suicide at age 63.
His family, including his three wives and children, have kept his memory alive through advocacy, tributes, and creative work. Schneider’s efforts focus on brain disease awareness, while his children honor his legacy in entertainment and mental health advocacy.
Conclusion
Robin Williams’ family life was marked by love, complexity, and public scrutiny. His three marriages—to Valerie Velardi, Marsha Garces, and Susan Schneider—produced three children and faced challenges like infidelity and divorce. The estate dispute following his death highlighted tensions in his blended family, but his legacy endures through his family’s efforts and his unforgettable contributions to comedy and film.
If you’d like more details on a specific aspect, such as his children’s careers or the estate dispute, let me know!