Authorities reveal Robin William’s cause of death

Authorities described Robin Williams' final moments Tuesday, saying the actor and comedian hanged himself with a belt in his San Francisco Bay Area home.

A Marin County sheriff drives by the home of actor and comedian Robin Williams on August 11, 2014 in Tiburon, California. AFP

Authorities described Robin Williams’ final moments on Tuesday, saying the actor and comedian hanged himself with a belt in his San Francisco Bay Area home.

Marin County Sheriff’s Lt Keith Boyd said Williams was last seen alive by his wife on Sunday night when she went to bed. She woke up the next morning and left, thinking he was still asleep.

Shortly after that, Williams’ personal assistant came to the home and became concerned when Williams failed to respond to knocks at a door. The assistant found the 63-year-old actor clothed and dead in a bedroom.

Boyd said all evidence indicates Williams, star of Good Will Hunting, Mrs. Doubtfire, Good Morning, Vietnam and dozens of other films, killed himself. But he said a final ruling will be made once toxicology reports and interviews with witnesses are complete.

The condition of the body indicated Williams had been dead for at least several hours, Boyd said.

Williams had been seeking treatment for depression, Boyd said. He would not say whether the actor left a suicide note.

“We still have people we want to speak with, so there is some information we’re going to withhold,” Boyd said. “We’re not discussing the note, or a note, at this point as the investigation is ongoing.”

It was no secret that the Oscar-winning actor had periodic bouts of substance abuse and depression – he made reference to it himself in his comedy routines. Just last month, Williams announced he was returning to a 12-step treatment program.