Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Robin Williams sent struggling terminal cancer patient video message of hope months before he took his own life

New Zealand-born Vivian Waller, 21, was told by doctors that she had lung, colon and liver cancer in January

Jenn Selby
Monday 18 August 2014 11:37 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Robin Williams urged one of his fans, who had been diagnosed with three forms of terminal cancer, not to give up hope by sending her a moving video message months before he took his own life.

New Zealand-born Vivian Waller, 21, was told by doctors that she had lung, colon and liver cancer in January.

After several rounds of chemotherapy, her health continued to deteriorate, and she was moved into care at a hospice.

Knowing that she would likely die from her illness, she drew up a 'bucket list' of things she wanted to do before her time came to an end. As well as marrying her boyfriend Jack and being there for her daughter Sophie’s first birthday, this included meeting her idol, Robin Williams.

Sadly, she became too ill to travel from Auckland to the United States to do so in person. But after one of her friends managed to successfully get in touch with the actor, he agreed to record a short 20-second video clip for Waller and sent it to her family by email (scroll down to watch it below).

"Hi Vivian, it’s Robin Williams here, saying: Hey girl, what’s going on there down in New Zealand?" he said to the camera, putting on a Kiwi accent.

"Sending all my love to you, Jack and Sophie. Mark this off your bucket list."

"I said: Hey, hey, hey. What’s going on?" he continues in his trademark erratic comedic style. "It’s all right, ‘sall right, ‘sall right. I’m just channelling Matthew McConaughey."

"Much love to you baby!" he signed the message off with, blowing a kiss into the camera.

Speaking to the Sunday Star Times, Waller’s husband, Jack, whom she married in February, told of her joy at receiving the message.

"Viv struggles with a lack of energy and it is quite difficult for her to concentrate," he said.

"We are just enjoying the time we have together. We take things a day at a time."

However, he admitted that he was yet to tell his wife that Williams had taken his own life, adding that he made the decision to share the video with the world because the family "love him, we want to show people how awesome a person he was".

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in