Watch CBS News

Lenny Clarke On Robin Williams: 'We Were Lucky To Have Him As Long As We Did'

BOSTON (CBS) - As Robin Williams is being remembered around the world and here in Boston, many people famous and not-so-famous are sharing their personal stories of meeting him or working with him over the years.

Related: Robin Williams Remebered Fondly In Boston

Boston comedian Lenny Clarke took the stage with Williams several times and remembered him Tuesday as a "generous, wonderful, intelligent, brilliant guy."

"We were pals back in the day when we were both a little crazy," remembers Clarke.

"He's going to be so sorely missed by everyone," he told WBZ NewsRadio 1030. "He was great to me and my family."

Lenny Clarke
Lenny Clarke. (Photo by Paul Marotta/Getty Images)

Clarke said Williams once did a comedy show in Lowell and helped get his brother Mike some great seats.

"He gave him 18 front row tickets and took the entire 18 people out to dinner after the show," Clarke said.

"He was the most generous, kind, loving guy."

Related: L Street Tavern Remembers Robin Williams

Clarke also recalled the time Williams met his girlfriend, who would later become his wife.

"Robin grabbed her and dragged her into the dressing room and said, 'You cannot marry him. I'm doing this for you and your family. You cannot marry Lenny Clarke. If you do anything in your life, run, run away as fast as you can,'" Clarke recalled.

"It's sick that we have to lose someone who gave so much love and happiness to the world. I can't get over it. I keep thinking I'm going to wake up and say it's a bad dream."

"We were lucky to have him as long as we did," Clarke told WBZ. "I wish we had him for twice as long. Just a great man."

Through a long, hilarious and extremely successful career, Williams always kept a soft spot for Boston.

"He so much loved the Boston comedy scene," says comedian Johnny Pizzi.  Pizzi met Williams more than 20 years ago, after a show in Lowell.

Johnny-Pizzi
Boston comedian Johnny Pizzi talks about Robin Williams. (WBZ-TV)

They reunited in 2009.  "He went in the kitchen with the cooks, he jumped over the bar, he was with the bartenders, he was with the waitresses.  It was amazing. He was there for everybody, and that's what I loved the most about him," says Pizzi.

Though Williams made no secret about his struggles with drugs, alcohol and depression, Clarke hopes his passing will bring more focus to those problems.  "As you can see, it's life or death," he says.

"When he's in front of the camera we all see the wonderful part and we think everything is rosy. But we don't know what goes on after the cameras stop," says Pizzi.

MORE LOCAL NEWS FROM CBS BOSTON

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.