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Asian Americans React to Death of Robin Williams (Basco Video interview added)

Robin WilliamsSeveral well known Asian Americans including some who worked with him reacted with both sadness and admiration to the death of Robin Williams.

Filipino American actor Dante Basco worked with Williams on the movie Hook. Basco played Rufio and Williams played a grown up Peter Pan. Basco wrote on his own blog site:

 “I was lucky to work with him as an actor and witness first hand the magic of what made him a legend, the wit and other worldly improv skills. As well as see him single-handedly put the morale of a movie set, easily hundreds of people, on his shoulders and kept everyone laughing as they worked long hours for what seemed like months on end. And at the same time, I was fortunate to spend private times, many mornings in the makeup chair, (which with my tri-hawk hair took hours), just talking about poetry… And soft spoken and introspectively we would discuss Walt Whitman and Charles Bukowski.Dante Basco

“With “Hook” and so many other films, I, like millions of others became a fan and was always delightfully surprised by the performances he managed to produce, but with his passing, I can’t help to feel, along with my generation… I can’t help feeling like it’s the death of my childhood. I guess we can’t stay in Neverland forever, we must all grown up.”

Basco also shared his memories of Williams with KNBC:

Actress Lea Salonga provided the singing voice to Princess Jasmine in the movie animation classic, Aladdin. Williams played the voice of the Genie and stole the show.

Salonga simply wrote on her Facebook page, “RIP, Robin Williams… still wishing it wasn’t true…

She also sent a personal message to the  cast of Aladdin writing, “to my friends at @aladdin, you better be singing “EXTRA HARD TONIGHT.”

 Rock journalist Ben Fong Torres interviewed Williams twice during his career. “There was no off switch,” said Fong Torres to ABC7 News in San Francisco. “During the interview he would go into bits and voices and accents and this and that.”

Williams got his start in the comedy circuit in San Francisco. He had a long time residence in the city, but recently moved across the Golden Gate to Tiburon.

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee issued the following statement.

“San Francisco mourns the profound loss of Robin Williams who inspired us with his comedy and art. His legacy has had a deep and inspiring impact on our City and on our residents.

“His ties to San Francisco were deep, having found early success in our City’s comedy clubs with his popular stand-up routines and where he was destined to launch a successful career that included starring roles in classic television shows and big screen success including an Academy Award.

“Despite his success, he has never forgotten San Francisco. He was a philanthropist who gave generously, and he was a friend of the City.

“San Francisco is heartbroken by the tragic loss of Robin Williams who forever changed the world with laughter and joy. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this time of mourning.”

(This is updated from an earlier version which incorrectly identified the movie Basco appeared in with Williams)

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