By Heidi Parker for MailOnline
Published: 10:57 EST, 14 August 2014 | Updated: 18:51 EST, 14 August 2014
They met 22 years ago on the set of Mrs Doubtfire and became lifelong friends.
So when Pierce Brosnan heard Robin Williams had died at the age of 63 by suicide at his Tiburon, California home on Monday, the former James Bond star felt tremendous heartbreak.
'It really has cut deep into all our hearts that he is gone and that he suffered in such pain, and said, "Enough, enough,"' the 61-year-old Irish star told UsWeekly at the Hollywood premiere of The November Man on Wednesday. 'He will be loved forever and missed forever.'
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He lost a friend: Pierce Brosnan talked about the passing of his Mrs Doubture co-star Robin Williams on Wednesday while on the carpet for the Hollywood premiere of his film The November Man
The GoldenEye actor added, 'It is a deeply sad time for us all on the loss of Robin.'
The Malibu resident then went on to recount his first meeting with the icon.
'My first day on set, they said, "Do you want to meet Robin?" I had never met the man, I was so excited. I was so thrilled to have this job in the company of this great star comedian,' he offered.
They created comedy together: Robin as Mrs Doubtfire (right) taking a look at his ex-wife's new love interest played by Pierce (left)
Magic moments: The stars doing physical comedy in the film about an unusual family
'I walked into the trailer and there was Robin in a pair of UGG boots, hairy legs, shorts, Hawaiian shirt and hairy chest. That's how I met Robin Williams, and that's how I met Mrs. Doubtfire. And I had the time of my life.'
As far as what it was like to work Robin, who has been called a 'comedic genius,' Brosnan said, 'Every day was just sheer magic with the man. His hilarity, his grace, his brilliance of mind and soul. His reverence, sincerity. [It's a] deep loss.'
On Wednesday Lisa Jakub, who played Robin's teenaged daughter in Mrs Doubtfire, wrote an essay on her blog about the late star.
They made millions laugh: (from left) Brosnan with Matthew Lawrence, Sally Field, Lisa Jakub, Williams and, bottom, Mara Wilson in the 1993 blockbuster
Very close: Field, pictured with Williams in 2008, said she was 'stunned and so sad' that her Mrs Doubtfire co-star passed away on Monday at his Tiburon, California house
In San Francisco: Fans left flowers on the steps of the house where Mrs Doubtfire was set
One of their biggest hits: Sally with Robin in the 1993 blockbuster Mrs Doubtfire
Tragic: Mara Wilson led tributes that poured in after the death of Robin on Monday
Close: Mara (center) played Robin's on-screen daughter in the film; here she is pictured with Lisa (left) and Matthew (right)
Heartbroken: The Matilda actress, 27, said she'd need some time away from the social network
'When I was 14 years old, I went on location to film Mrs Doubtfire for five months,' Jakub started. 'My high school was not happy. My job meant an increased workload for teachers, and they were not equipped to handle a "non-traditional" student. So, during filming, they kicked me out.
'When I arrived at work the next day, Robin noticed that I was upset and asked me what was wrong. I explained what had happened, and the next day, he handed me a letter that he wrote to my school. He explained that I was just trying to continue my education while pursuing my career. He wrote embarrassingly kind things about my character and my work, and requested that they reconsider and allow me to return to my classes.'
Lisa revealed the school framed the letter, hanging it in the principal's office.
'But they didn't invite me to return to school,' she said, adding. 'But here's what matters from that story. Robin stood up for me. He was in my corner. I was only 14, but I had already seen that I was in an industry that was full of back-stabbing. And it was entirely clear that Robin had my back.'
They filmed on location: The cast of Mrs Doubtfire in San Francisco; Williams died about 15 miles away, across the bay in Tiburon
Mara Wilson, who played his younger on-screen daughter in Mrs. Doubtfire, was amongst the first to pay their respects to the late actor. The 27-year-old tweeted: 'Very sad, very upset, very glad I did not have to hear about this though Twitter. Probably going to be taking some time off it for a while.'
Sally Field, who played the ex-wife of Robin's character in Mrs Doubtfire, said, 'I'm sad for the world of comedy. And so very sad for his family. And I'm sad for Robin. He always lit up when he was able to make people laugh, and he made them laugh his whole life long.... tirelessly...'
They got the gold: Ben Affleck (far right), pictured with Good Will Hunting co-stars Matt Damon (left) and Robin (center) at the Academy Awards in 1998, shared a touching tribute on Tuesday
Mrs Doubtfire director Chris Columbus added: 'We have lost one of our most inspired and gifted comic minds, as well as one of this generation's greatest actors. To watch Robin work, was a magical and special privilege... 'We were friends for 21 years. Our children grew up together, he inspired us to spend our lives in San Francisco and I loved him like a brother. The world was a better place with Robin in it...'
Robin's Good Will Hunting co-stars also made touching tributes.
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon both posted notes to their social media pages on Tuesday.
Ben, 41, said, 'Thanks chief - for your friendship and for what you gave the world. Robin had a ton of love in him. He personally did so much for so many people. He made Matt and my dreams come true. What do you owe a guy who does that? Everything. May you find peace my friend.'
Sweet comments: While most stars shared their tributes via Twitter, Ben chose Facebook, saying, 'Robin had a ton of love in him'
At work: The 41-year-old actor shooting Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice in Detroit on Monday
Damon, who co-wrote the script with Affleck and shared many poignant scenes on the film, released a statement saying: 'Robin brought so much joy into my life and I will carry that joy with me forever.
'He was such a beautiful man. I was lucky to know him and I will never, ever forget him.'
The female lead of Good Will Hunting, Minnie Driver, added, 'Robin was a beautiful, kind soul. Can't bear that he's gone. So incredibly sorry for his family.'
Such a beautiful man: Matt Damon paid tribute to his Good Will Hunting co-star Robin, who won an Oscar for his role as psychologist Sean Maguire
Staying friends: Williams with Damon on Jimmy Kimmel's show last January, tweeted by Williams after their appearance
Her heart is broken: Minnie Driver, pictured in June, was his first Good Will Hunting co-star to post a moving Twitter tribute to Williams
A teary post: The 44-year-old British star wrote on Tuesday that Robin was a 'kind soul'
A tribute in Boston: On Tuesday fans left flowers and beer bottles on the bench that was used in Good Will Hunting
On Tuesday it was announced Robin hanged himself with a belt Sunday night while his wife slept in a nearby bedroom, it has been revealed. He was last seen alive about 10.30pm on Sunday when his third wife Susan Schneider went to bed. Williams locked himself in a different bedroom, San Mateo County sheriff's department Lieutenant Keith Boyd said this afternoon.
By the time an assistant found the actor's body at 11.55am on Monday, rigor mortis had set in. It normally takes 12 to 18 hours for a body to stiffen after death.
Rest in peace: Robin, whose death is being treated as a suspected suicide, leaves behind wife Susan Schneider. They are pictured in August 2010
After going to bed Sunday night, Susan got up and left the house to run errands about 10.30am - believing her husband of three years was still asleep.
An assistant, worried when he couldn't be roused at 11.45am, broke into the bedroom. Williams was found clothed, in a seated position with a belt around his neck. He had several superficial cuts on the inside of his left wrist. A pocket knife with what appeared to be dried blood was discovered nearby.
Emergency personnel arrived at noon, and at 12:02 he was pronounced dead. Toxicology reports are pending and will take two to six weeks. Police would not comment on whether Williams left a suicide note, though TMZ reports that his family don't believe he left behind anything explaining his actions.
The star's suicide comes after decades of battling depression and alcohol and drug addiction. He was also facing significant financial pressures and admitted he was selling a $35m estate in Napa because he could no longer afford it.
Tribute from a studio: Disney, which made Robin's 1992 film Aladdin, wrote, 'He was a beloved member of our family'
Robin's representative told MailOnline: 'Robin Williams passed away this morning. He has been battling severe depression of late.
'This is a tragic and sudden loss. The family respectfully asks for their privacy as they grieve during this very difficult time.'
He leaves behind wife Susan, who said in a statement: 'This morning, I lost my husband and my best friend, while the world lost one of its most beloved artists and beautiful human beings. I am utterly heartbroken.'
- For confidential help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting
1-800-273-8255 FREE end_of_the_skype_highlighting or visit http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
- For confidential support on suicide matters call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 08457 90 90 90 FREE end_of_the_skype_highlighting or visit a local Samaritans branch or visit http://www.samaritans.org/
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