Matthew Lawrence, who played Robin Williams’ on-screen son in “Mrs. Doubtfire,” spoke up about staying away from drugs because of advice the late actor gave him while they were filming.
Lawrence was a guest at the inaugural 90s Con event in Hartford, Connecticut, held March 11-13. According to People, the actor, now 42, spent some time reflecting on his experiences on-set for the 1993 film. He was only 13 years old when the film first premiered. He told the audience that he would regularly visit Williams at his trailer on breaks from filming, and the older actor was always open with him about his struggles with addiction.
"He was the first adult who really let me in on his condition. Like, full-on let me in," Lawrence said. "I mean, as bright as he was on camera — I would go visit him in his trailer to talk to him — it was painful for him. It's really painful for him. He didn't hide it. He talked to me about it."
Robin Williams died in 2014 at 63 years old from suicide. Lawrence reflected on Williams warning him from personal experience about the dangers of using drugs, and in particular cocaine. Lawrence said that Williams had given him “a gift” in that advice.
"He was very serious,” the 42-year-old shared. “He was like, 'You know when you come to my trailer and you see me like that?' He's like, 'That's the reason why. And now I'm fighting for the rest of my life because I spent 10 years doing something very stupid every day. Do not do it.' I stayed away from it because of him."
Lawrence wasn’t the only young actor Robin Williams helped on the set of “Mrs. Doubtfire.”
Mara Wilson, who was only six years old when she played Lawrence’s younger sister in the film, was also a guest at 90s Con and shared her own experiences with Robin Williams. Wilson told the audience that she has always struggled with anxiety and depression, and discussions about the topics would help her immensely.
"Robin had a massive influence on me," said Wilson. "He, during filming, would talk to me a lot about his issues with mental health and addiction. And I have had a lifelong struggle with anxiety and depression. So [we] had those conversations."
Wilson went on to add, "I think it was so good for me to realize that it's okay to talk about this. It's okay to be vulnerable. And it was really the first time that I had someone sit down with me and go, 'I understand that you have anxiety and you are not alone. You're not just some weirdo freak who has something going on that nobody's going to understand, that everybody's going to reject you for.' Like, this is okay and there are things you can do, and you will be alright."
If you are a teen dealing with depression or other mental health issues, see PBS.org for a list of resources and organizations that can help you. If you are an adult, see Mental Health Resources.
For more information about suicide prevention or to speak with someone confidentially, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (U.S.) or Samaritans (U.K.).
The post Matthew Lawrence Says Robin Williams’ Advice Kept Him From Drugs appeared first on The Mother of All Nerds.
Matthew Lawrence Says Robin Williams’ Advice Kept Him From Drugs
Source: Pinoy Inquirer News
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