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Robin Williams' children issue heart-rending statements after losing their 'father and best friend'

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Robin Williams' three children have issued moving statements following the tragic death of their beloved dad on Monday.The Oscar-winning actor's eldest son Zak, 31, said: "I lost my father and a best friend and the world got a little grayer. "Zak, whose mother Valerie Velardi was the comedy genius' first wife, continued: "I would ask those that loved him to remember him by being as gentle, kind, and generous as he would be".

robin zak © Photo: Getty Images
Robin Williams pictured with his eldest son Zak

Robin's youngest son, 23-year-old Cody, from his second marriage to Marsha Garces, also shared a touching message following the departure of the Hollywood legend, who took his own life after battling depression. "There are no words strong enough to describe the love and respect I have for my father," he said. "The world will never be the same without him. I will miss him and take him everywhere I go for the rest of my life, and will look forward, forever, to the moment when I get to see him again."

robin cody © Photo: Getty Images
"There are no words strong enough to describe the love and respect I have for my father," said Cody

The Good Will Hunting star's daughter Zelda, who was the first to pay tribute to her father on Twitter with a quote from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's classic tale The Little Prince, added more of her own heartfelt words. "Dad was, is and always will be one of the kindest, most generous, gentlest souls I've ever known, and while there are few things I know for certain right now, one of them is that not just my world, but the entire world is forever a little darker, less colorful and less full of laughter in his absence. We'll just have to work twice as hard to fill it back up again. "My family has always been private about our time spent together. It was our way of keeping one thing that was ours, with a man we shared with an entire world. But now that's gone, and I feel stripped bare." 

robin zelda © Photo: Getty Images
Robin with his daughter Zelda: the pair were last together to celebrate her birthday less than two weeks ago

She remembered her 25th birthday less than two weeks ago, which she spent with her dad and will treasure forever. "My last day with him was his birthday and I will be forever grateful that my brothers and I got to spend that time alone with him, sharing gifts and laughter. He was always warm, even in his darkest moments," she said.

robin instagram © Photo: Instagram
Robin Williams posted a throwback snap of himself with daughter Zelda on her 25th birthday

"While I'll never, ever understand how he could be loved so deeply and not find it in his heart to stay, there's minor comfort in knowing our grief and loss, in some small way, is shared with millions. It doesn't help the pain, but at least it's a burden countless others now know we carry, and so many have offered to help lighten the load. Thank you for that."