The UK’s Channel 5 plans to dramatize the last days of actor and comic Robin Williams in an episode of its documentary series, “Autopsy”.
The series has also examined the last hours of celebrities such as Michael Jackson, Karen Carpenter, Whitney Houston and Brittany Murphy.
The man who has apparently been hired to portray Williams in the episode is a professional Robin Williams lookalike from France called Alain Poudensan, who has also starred in adult films under the name Alain L’Yle.
Poudensan posted a photo of himself and Robin Williams on his website.
PHOTO: Alan Robin
Williams’ family is dismayed that the television documentary is proceeding.
The 63-year-old award-winning actor was found dead by asphyxia due to hanging in his California home on August 11, in what authorities soon ruled a suicide.
The Daily Mirror reports that a source with the program said, “The way he killed himself was pretty gruesome. Producers have had to tone it down for TV.”
A friend of the Williams’ family reportedly told the Mirror, “Why anyone would want to make such a programme is beyond comprehension. His wife and family will be utterly dismayed that someone is seeking to profit from Robin’s death in such a grotesque way.” The friend added, “With each passing day the pain for Robin’s family eases just a fraction but something as disturbing as this just takes them backwards.”
The family hopes that public outrage will make Channel 5 reconsider the production.
