Flashback: Koko The Gorilla Mourned Robin Williams After His Death – ‘She Became Extremely Sad’

It’s hard to believe that it’s been ten years since the legendary comedian Robin Williams tragically passed away at the age of 63.

We wanted to share a touching video in his honor – in which Koko the gorilla mourned the iconic star!

Koko Mourned Williams

Williams visited the Gorilla Foundation in California back in 2001. There, he met with Koko, the famous gorilla who used American Sign Language to communicate. The pair bonded immediately, laughing and tickling each other while hugging as if they were old friends.

Days after Williams’ passing, Koko overheard Dr. Penny Patterson, her mentor and surrogate mother, talking on the phone about the Mrs. Doubtfire star’s death.

“She became extremely sad,” Patterson said of Koko. “Robin’s ability to just ‘hang out’ with Koko, a gorilla, and in minutes become one of her closest friends, was extraordinary and unforgettable.”

Patterson shared a tribute video to Williams showcasing the bond that he had with Koko.

“I recently had a mind-altering experience communicating with a gorilla,” Williams said in the video. “We shared something extraordinary: Laughter. Koko understands spoken English and uses over 1,000 signs to share her feelings and thoughts about daily events, life, love, even death. It was awesome and unforgettable.”

It was clear that Koko was incredibly comfortable with Williams during his visit. She pulled his glasses off his face and tried them on. At one point, she even picked his pocket, grabbing his wallet and rifling through it. The visit ended with Koko kissing Williams’ hand before pulling him in for a big hug.

“Notice that Robin made Koko smile — something she hadn’t done for over six months, ever since her childhood gorilla companion, Michael, passed away at the age of 27,” Patterson wrote. “But not only did Robin cheer up Koko, the effect was mutual, and Robin seemed transformed.”

Check out the visit for yourself in the video below.

Related: Robin Williams’ Daughter Shoots Down Viral Rumor About Her Dad Ten Years After His Death

Williams And Koko Pass Away

Williams sadly died by suicide on August 11, 2014. As for Koko, she died in her sleep on June 19, 2018 at the age of 46.

“The Gorilla Foundation is sad to announce the passing of our beloved Koko,” The Gorilla Foundation told NPR afterwards. “Her impact has been profound and what she has taught us about the emotional capacity of gorillas and their cognitive abilities will continue to shape the world.”

Koko was born at the  San Francisco Zoo on the Fourth of July in 1971, and she lived there all her life. She impressed the entire world with her incredible ability to learn sign language. Her death came as a shock to her caretakers.

Full Story: Koko The Gorilla Passes Away

Koko Died ‘Peacefully In Her Sleep’

“She was showing age-related ailments, slowing down, losing her appetite. Fortunately she passed away peacefully in her sleep,” Gary Stanley, Chief Operating Officer of The Gorilla Foundation, told Fox KTVU at the time.

“My main concern was for Penny. Is she okay? And she was okay,” Stanley added, referring to Patterson, who once said, “People ask me if I have any children and I say, ‘No, I have 3 gorillas.'”

“It’s hit everyone really hard. We were expecting her to live a lot longer,” he concluded. “The world has gained an insight into the mind of another species that shows us how much like us they are.”

Learn more about Koko in the video below.

While it is sad that Williams and Koko are no longer with us, we can find comfort in knowing they are at peace and together. At least we’ll always have the above video to remember their bond!