It’s a sad and heartbreaking time for family and fans of the late comedian and genius Robin Williams.

As news broke out yesterday, August 11th, that everyone’s favorite and beloved entertainer left the world, we were all in utter shock.

I’m sitting here watching the ABC 20/20 episode on his life and death and I am in limbo between laughter and tears. It’s so difficult to take it all in, that someone who brought so much joy and laughter to the world couldn’t make himself happy.

As I watch his interviews with Barbara Walters and Diane Sawyer you notice things that you’ve never noticed before. He was always “on,” he would put on an act and even told Walters that it was more fun to play than to just be regular. Not many people noticed his inner demons because he was just such a great performer. But who ever just stopped him to ask how he was? To be honest after watching this it seemed that they did, but he would shy away from it and just turn to humor.

In dark times he hid and thought he could do it on his own, according to the special he thought no one would notice…but they did.

“It’s a small voice, but it’s always the same one…just one, just jump,” confessed to Sawyer.

I’ve never been so saddened and devastated by a famous person’s death. Must be that I wasn’t as attached to them, but with Robin Williams it was different. I can honestly say that “Aladdin” is my favorite Disney movie, but not only did I adore his character Genie, I knew that it was Williams. His presence in any film was outstanding and you just smiled when he would come on screen. “Jumanji,” “Flubber,”Hook” are all part of my generation as a child and I can most definitely say that I will miss him.

It’s so hard to understand how you can miss and be so sad about losing someone you didn’t even know, but clearly I’m not the only one.

I can’t even begin to imagine how his actual friends and family feel at this moment. The shock, the grieving, the devastation would be too much. I just hope people don’t over do it with the reporting of how he died. I won’t even mention it here, I know you all probably know. It’s not about the details, it’s not about what he was doing and why he did it. It’s about realizing that sometimes people get so caught up in their own personal problems and issues, whether they are rich and famous, poor and lonely, sometimes having it all doesn’t bring you what you truly need.

As this story continues to unfold I hope that we can just reflect on his career and appreciate the man who made so many of us laugh. Whether he himself was truly happy, I think he was. But I also think that he probably got to a point where he was so blurred and disoriented that maybe no one could help him and I truly believe he tried to change before he just couldn’t.

So tonight I pray for him…and for his family and friends. May you rest in peace and know that millions of people loved and adored you.

“Genie…you’re free…”

You’ll always be a prince to us.