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After Mara Wilson heard Robin Williams died Monday, she tweeted, "Very sad, very upset, very glad I did not have to hear about this though Twitter. Probably going to be taking some time off it for a while."
Three days later, the 27-year-old writer, who played Williams' daughter in 1993's Mrs. Doubtfire, broke her silence in a touching blog post. "Everybody grieves in their own way. When I heard about Robin's death, I was shocked, confused angry, regretful, and above all, sad," said Wilson, whose last film was 2000's Thomas and the Magic Railroad. "All I wanted was to talk to my family and friends and cry."
For now, she would like to grieve in private. "A few news outlets asked if I would be willing to talk about him on the air, and while I usually like interviews, I knew I wasn't in a good place to do that," Wilson wrote. "I still (a whole three days later) don't want to do any. It's too soon, and I need my own time to process it all. I will, however, be sharing some of my memories about him on this blog sometime soon."
"While Robin and I had not talked in a few years, there is no question he had a great impact on my life," said Wilson, whose other notable films included A Simple Wish, Matilda and Miracle on 34th Street. "He was as warm and talented as everyone says, and a joy to be around. It's as if my favorite teacher died."
The writer isn't the first Mrs. Doubtfire cast member to speak about Williams posthumously. Like Wilson, Lisa Jakub—who played Williams' eldest child in the movie—also wrote a blog post in his honor.
Sally Field, who played his wife, was the first to release a statement Monday. "I feel stunned and so sad about Robin," she said. "I'm sad for the world of comedy. And so very sad for his family. And I'm sad for Robin. He always lit up when he was able to make people laugh, and he made them laugh his whole life long...tirelessly. He was one of a kind. There will not be another. Please God, let him now rest in peace."
Matthew Lawrence, who played Williams' son, released a statement to E! News Wednesday. "I am devastated," he said. "He was the single most important influence in my career and not a day goes by I don't appreciate the time I got to spend with him. My deepest thoughts and prayers are with his family."
That same day, Pierce Brosnan—who played Williams' rival in the movie—updated his Facebook to pay tribute to his 63-year-old co-star, who leaves behind a wife and three kids. "Dear Robin...you made me laugh like no other...You bedazzled the world with your brilliant genius. Mrs Doubtfire and you will forever be in my heart, and the memory of you good man, shall remain constant through out my days. It was a joy to work with you on a film that will be passed on from generation to generation," he wrote. "And to your loving family I extend my deepest heartfelt sympathies and prayers. Peace be with you."
Williams was in the early stages of Parkinson's Disease when he died, according to his wife, Susan Schneider; he also suffered from depression. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced soon.
If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).