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US President Barrack Obama has led the tributes to Robin Williams after the comic was found dead aged 63 from an apparent suicide in his home, police in California said on Monday night.

Praising the Oscar winning actor’s versatility, the president issued a touching statement, speaking volumes for the comedians huge impact on American culture throughout the past 35-years.

‘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.’

Emergency crews were called to the legendary comics house in Marin County, just north of San Francisco at approximately noon and his third wife, Susan Schneider issued a statement confirming the 63-year-old’s death.

Speaking of her ‘profound grief’, Schneider, who Williams married in a Napa Valley ceremony in 2011 said, ‘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. 

Williams, who won an Academy Award for his supporting role as a fatherly therapist in the 1997 drama Good Will Hunting, had been suffering from severe depression recently, his publicist Mara Buxbaum said.

‘As he is remembered, it is our hope the focus will not be on Robin’s death, but on the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions.’

A statement by the Marin County Sheriff’s Department in California said: ‘On August 11, 2014, at approximately 11:55 am, Marin County Communications received a 9-1-1 telephone call reporting a male adult had been located unconscious and not breathing inside his residence in unincorporated Tiburon, California. The male subject, pronounced deceased at 12:02 pm has been identified as Robin McLaurin Williams.’

‘The Sheriff’s Office, as well as the Tiburon Fire Department and Southern Marin Fire Protection District were dispatched to the incident with emergency personnel arriving on scene at 12pm.

Williams fought drug and alcohol problems from the time he was still appearing in Mork & Mindy–right at the start of his fame.

As recently as this past July, Williams would reconnect with the 12-step program he’s so often championed, this time during a brief stay at a Minnesota facility.

He was pictured meeting a worker at a local Diary Queen near the facility

Publicist Mara Buxbaum said at the time that Williams had not fallen off the wagon, but was ‘taking the opportunity to fine-tune and focus on his continued commitment, of which he remains extremely proud.’

Indeed, behind the laughter on and off stage and camera, Williams endured a struggle with personal demons that manifested themselves in well publicized drug and alcohol problems.

Williams was a close friend of Blues Brothers and Saturday Night Live star John Belushi and was one of the last people to see the actor alive before his death by drugs overdose at the Chateau Marmont Hotel in Los Angeles in 1982.

The star of Good Morning Vietnam said that experience forced him to evaluate his own wild lifestyle and led to him seeking help for his addictions to alcohol and cocaine.

Williams managed to maintain his sobriety for two decades but in 2006, relapsed and sought treatment.

In a revealing interview with ABC News‘ Diane Sawyer in 2006, the legendary comic opened up about drinking again and said that his descent back into alcoholism was ‘very gradual’.

‘It’s the same voice thought that … you’re standing at a precipice and you look down, there’s a voice and it’s a little quiet voice that goes, ‘Jump,’ Williams told Sawyer. 

With trademark humor, Williams attempted to make some light of his battle with the bottle during his interview with Sawyer, calling addiction a predator that lies in wait and is always present.

‘It’s fine now, I’m OK. Then, the next thing you know, it’s not OK. Then you realize, ‘Where am I? I didn’t realize I was in Cleveland’.

While he recently sought help in Minnesota, in 2006, Williams spent two months in Orgeon’s Hazelden Springbrook treatment center.

In 2006, he said that he was only drinking, having kicked his well-documented problems with cocaine.

Today in California, the sheriff said, ‘An investigation into the cause, manner, and circumstances of the death is currently underway by the Investigations and Coroner Divisions of the Sheriff’s Office.

‘Preliminary information developed during the investigation indicates Mr Williams was last seen alive at his residence, where he resides with his wife, at approximately 10pm on August 10, 2014.

‘Mr Williams was located this morning shortly before the 911 call was placed to Marin County Communications.

‘At this time, the Sheriff’s Office Coroner Division suspects the death to be a suicide due to asphyxia, but a comprehensive investigation must be completed before a final determination is made.

‘A forensic examination is currently scheduled for August 12, 2014 with subsequent toxicology testing to be conducted.’

His wife Susan Schneider, issued a statement after the tragic news.

His family also issued this statement on the tragic passing of the Oscar winner.

‘Robin Williams passed away this morning. He has been battling severe depression of late,’ Mara Buxbaum, press representative, said in a statement.

‘This is a tragic and sudden loss. The family respectfully asks for their privacy as they grieve during this very difficult time

Loud, fast, manic, he parodied everyone from John Wayne to Keith Richards, impersonating a Russian immigrant as easily as a pack of Nazi attack dogs.

He was a riot in drag in ‘Mrs. Doubtfire,’ or as a cartoon genie in ‘Aladdin.’ He won his Academy Award in a rare, but equally intense dramatic role, as a teacher in the 1997 film ‘Good Will Hunting.’

He was no less on fire in interviews.

During a 1989 chat with The Associated Press, he could barely stay seated in his hotel room, or even mention the film he was supposed to promote, as he free-associated about comedy and the cosmos.

‘There’s an Ice Age coming,’ he said. ‘But the good news is there’ll be daiquiris for everyone and the Ice Capades will be everywhere. The lobster will keep for at least 100 years, that’s the good news. The Swanson dinners will last a whole millennium. The bad news is the house will basically be in Arkansas.’

Like so many funnymen, he had serious ambitions, winning his Oscar for his portrayal of an empathetic therapist in ‘Good Will Hunting.’

He also played for tears in ‘Awakenings,’ ‘Dead Poets Society’ and ‘What Dreams May Come,’ something that led New York Times critic Stephen Holden to once say he dreaded seeing the actor’s ‘Humpty Dumpty grin and crinkly moist eyes.’

Williams also won three Golden Globes, for ‘Good Morning, Vietnam,’ ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ and ‘The Fisher King.’

Tributes poured in after the shocking news of Robin Williams’ death broke on Monday.

Ellen DeGeneres and Steve Martin were amongst the first to pay their respects to the late actor, whose tragic death aged 63 at his Tiburon, California home is being treated as suspected suicide.

‘I can’t believe the news about Robin Williams. He gave so much to so many people. I’m heartbroken,’ Ellen tweeted after hearing the news.

The actor’s friend and contemporary Steve, who he starred alongside in the play Waiting For Godot, said: ‘I could not be more stunned by the loss of Robin Williams, mensch, great talent, acting partner, genuine soul.’

Miley Cyrus revealed that she was in floods of tears, writing: ‘I can’t take the Robin Williams news. I’ve never cried over someone I’ve never met but I can’t stop.’

Mia Farrow was in shock as she posted: ‘No! Robin Williams you were so loved. Awful news.’

Sharon Osbourne also shared her sadness on Twitter, telling her followers: ‘I’m so sad and devastated to hear of the passing of Robin Williams.  My thoughts are with his family.’

Her son Jack added: ‘RIP @robinwilliams you will be missed. Thank you for making us all laugh for so long.’

Born in Chicago in 1951, the four-time Oscar nominee and one-time winner started as a funnyman and soon proved he could also captivate America with his skills as an improvisor and dramatic actor.

He is survived by his wife of three years Susan Schneider and children Zachary Pym, Zelda Rae and Cody Alan.

Despite his lifetime battle with depression and substance abuse, the four-time Oscar nominee was in the midst of a career Renaissance of sorts.

In December, Williams will reprise his role of Teddy Roosevelt in the third installment of the Night at the Museum franchise.

The Chicago-born funnyman had also recently made headlines after he signed on to once again play the cross-dressing Mrs. Doubtfire in a sequel to the 1993 family comedy.

Williams’ star power and status as one of America’s most adored comedians had never really gone away throughout his 35-plus year career.

He first became a household name in 1978 with his breakout role as zany alien come to earth Mork in the ABC comedy Mork & Mindy.

Partly on the power of his sitcom’s popularity, Williams soon made his big screen debut in Robert Altman’s 1980 comedy Popeye as the spinach-loving muscleman.

Reviews were mixed for the live action film, but Williams easily moved on to such successes as The World According to Garp, The Survivors and Moscow on the Hudson.

Then at 36, Williams took his career another great leap forward thanks to the undeniable magnetism he put on display in 1987’s Good Morning Vietnam.

The role would win him his first Academy Award nomination. He would go on to receive three more nods and one statue, for his role of Sean Maguire in the 1998 hit Good Will Hunting alongside a fresh-faced Matt Damon.

The undeniable success did not always bring Williams the happiness his gifts gave audiences.

Williams’ drug and alcohol problems first arose while he was still appearing in Mork & Mindy–right at the start of his fame.

His struggle would continue for decades. As recently as this past July, Williams would reconnect with the 12-step program he’s so often championed, this time during a brief stay at a Minnesota facility.

Publicist Mara Buxbaum said at the time that Williams was ‘taking the opportunity to fine-tune and focus on his continued commitment, of which he remains extremely proud.’

Williams was very open about the challenges of maintaining sobriety. He sought treatment in 2006 when he relapsed and returned to drinking after 20 years.

Williams stars in the CBS series The Crazy Ones and the film The Angriest Man in Brooklyn, which was released in May.

Buxbaum released a statement as the tragic news broke.-DAILY MAIL