Remembering Robin Williams And His “Unforgettable” Bond With Koko The Gorilla

12 August 2014

 - Today, folks around the world are mourning the passing of Robin Williams, a renowned actor and comedian who lent his voice and used the power of his celebrity to further the cause of conservation. Among those saddened by the news of Williams’ death is one of his biggest fans, a gorilla named Koko.

In 2001, Williams visited with Koko at the Gorilla Foundation in northern California. Over the course of their meeting, which was captured on film, the pair seemed to share a remarkable kinship — and a similar sense of humor. During the visit, Koko, who had been depressed since the death of the cat that lived with her, smiled for the first time in six months that day.