Robin Williams’ wife: He had Parkinson’s disease

This Nov. 23, 2009 photo released by Starpix shows actor-comedian Robin Williams performing his stand-up show, “Weapons of Self Destruction,” at Town Hall in New York. Williams' wife Susan Schneider released a statement Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014 announcing that Williams had early stages of Parkinson's disease. He died Monday of an apparent suicide at the age of 63. (AP Photo/Starpix, Dave Allocca) This Nov. 23, 2009 photo released by Starpix shows actor-comedian Robin Williams performing his stand-up show, “Weapons of Self Destruction,” at Town Hall in New York. Williams' wife Susan Schneider released a statement Thursday, Aug. 14, 2014 announcing that Williams had early stages of Parkinson's disease. He died Monday of an apparent suicide at the age of 63. (AP Photo/Starpix, Dave Allocca)

By Associated Press August 14, 2014 4 min read

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Robin Williams was in the early stages of Parkinson’s disease and was sober at the time of his suicide, his wife said Thursday.

In a statement, Susan Schneider said that Williams, 63, was struggling with depression, anxiety and the Parkinson’s diagnosis when he was found dead Monday in his Northern California home.

Schneider did not offer details on when the actor comedian had been diagnosed or his symptoms.

Williams’ death shocked fans and friends alike, despite his candor about decades of struggle with substance abuse and mental health. With Parkinson’s, Williams faced shouldering yet another challenge.

Parkinson’s disease is an incurable nervous system disorder that involves a loss of brain cells controlling movement. Tremors, sometimes starting out in just one hand, are among the early symptoms.