Judi Dench Says Robin Williams Was ‘Gently Supportive’ During Her Late Husband’s Cancer Battle: ‘I’ve Often Thought About’ His ‘Sensitivity and Understanding’
Judi Dench recalls Robin Williams quietly supporting her and her seriously ill husband during a gathering in Scotland, an encounter she says she has often remembered. Her account, included in her forthcoming memoir, highlights Williams’s considerate offer to accompany them as they climbed back from the party.
Dench writes that Michael Williams was battling lung cancer and becoming tired, so the couple left a ceilidh and bonfire early. Robin Williams offered help; when Michael said he could manage, Robin replied that he would “ride shotgun anyway”. Michael died in 2001 aged 65; Robin Williams died in 2014 aged 63. The memoir also includes Dench’s first public reflections on the 2019 film Cats, which she said she had never seen in its final cut.
In short
- Robin Williams offered quiet support to Judi Dench and her ill husband.
- Dench says she has often remembered his sensitivity.
- Her memoir also reflects on the film Cats.
Explained simply
Judi Dench is a British actor known for a long career on stage and screen. Her husband, Michael Williams, was also an actor; they were married for nearly 30 years, until his death from lung cancer in 2001.
Robin Williams was an American actor and comedian, known for films including Good Will Hunting and Mrs Doubtfire. The account describes a brief moment of practical kindness during Michael’s illness, and reflects how small gestures can stay with people. Dench’s forthcoming memoir also looks back on other parts of her life and career.
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