Obama comments on death of Robin Williams, calls him 'one of a kind'

WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama sent his condolences to the family of Robin Williams, who died Monday at the age of 63 from apparent suicide.

Obama issued a statement from his vacation spot in Martha's Vineyard, Mass., hailing Williams as a "one of a kind" who "ended up touching every element of the human spirit."

"Robin Williams was an airman, a doctor, a genie, a nanny, a president, a professor, a bangarang Peter Pan, and everything in between. But he was one of a kind. He arrived in our lives as an alien -- but he ended up touching every element of the human spirit. He made us laugh. He made us cry. He gave his immeasurable talent freely and generously to those who needed it most -- from our troops stationed abroad to the marginalized on our own streets. The Obama family offers our condolences to Robin's family, his friends, and everyone who found their voice and their verse thanks to Robin Williams."

Williams was discovered at his home in Tiburon around 11:55 a.m. PST Monday and pronounced dead at the scene. Although an official cause of death has not yet been released, the Marin County Coroner's office confirmed there is suspicion Williams died of "suicide due to asphyxia."