cover more coming up next. from nbc news world headquarters in new york, this is nbc "nightly news" with brian williams. good evening. his death is in the headlines tonight from russia to israel. all around the globe, but especially here at home where we knew him and loved him first. people are reacting to the sudden news of the death of robin williams at the age of 63. at his star on the walk of fame on hollywood boulevard tonight an impromptu memorial gathering that's going on 24 hours now. earlier today the coroner confirmed in excruciating detail the preliminary cause of death was suicide. people the world over are remembering the brilliant work of a talented and ultimately troubled man, an entertainer for

the ages, and one of the funniest of all time. we begin tonight with nbc's joe fryar in los angeles. >> reporter: inside the northern california home of comic genius robin williams, tragedy. investigators say he hanged himself in a belt and was discovered in his bedroom by his personal assistant. >> toxicology testing will be conducted to see what was in his system at the time of death. >> reporter: williams had superficial cuts on his wrists. they would not say if he left a suicide note. neighboring mill valley, just north of san francisco, williams was known not as a celebrity, but as a kind neighbor. >> i used to run into him at the coffee kiosk. he would be getting off his bike i would look at him and go hi. and he would go hi, as if we were old friends. >> reporter: this boston bench featured in "good will hunting."

a san francisco home depicted in "mrs. doubtfire," and a boulder colorado house shown in "mork & mindy." >> it really just shows that somebody can make everybody else happy, but really not be happy inside. it's really sad. >> reporter: many are now re-creating this powerful scene from dead poet's society. >> o captain, my captain. >> reporter: social media is flooded with photos of people standing on their desks. from comedy clubs to hollywood's walk of fame, williams's death has left a huge void. >> it's hard to imagine unstoppable energy stopped. >> reporter: robert de niro says i'm stunned, beyond saddened. billy crystal tweeted, no words. sentiments echoed by whoopie goldberg who wrote, billy crystal is right, there are no words. sesame street honored williams for making us laugh and smile with a motion picture academy posted an image from the movie "aladdin" with three poignant

words, genie you're free. tonight comedy clubs everywhere are remembering robin williams. here at the laugh factory in hollywood, the marquis reads, rest in peace, make god laugh. robin williams leaves behind a wife and three children. brian? >> joe fryer starting us off in hollywood tonight. joe, thanks. robin williams, of course, was so many things. it's why so many people are so oh sad today. as a serious actor, he was a powerful presence on screen and was richly rewarded with an oscar for "good will hunting." mostly he was so funny and so fast and so smart. if you handed robin williams an orange he could do 30 minutes on it, 15 different characters. he could go on forever, performing at the speed of the ideas flying into his head. it's who he was, it's what he did. and it's why we watched. >> i am mork from ork. nanu, nanu. >> reporter: most people trace their first glimpse of him back

to "mork & mindy." it was 1978 and we had never seen anyone quite like him. 60 million americans watched each week. if he reminded us of anyone it was jonathan winters who turned out to be his real life comedy mentor. >> we had a marvelous time. >> those were good days. >> you had access to more medication in those days. >> robin williams grew up welsh-irish, in the engine of american industry. his dad was a detroit auto executive. williams was a creative loner who once said he shared his childhood bedroom with 2,000 toy soldiers. once he got out of there, there was no stopping him, he was off to a career of improv and standup, and he went off on whatever occurred to him. you like the plane, mr. lincoln? duck. >> reporter: he was a genius in an industry where that word gets tossed around too freely. his personal life was always a struggle, always a work in progress. he was a father of three, married three times.

his acting got our attention. and started to rack up oscar nominations. starting with "good morning vietnam." >> good morning vietnam! >> two years later there was "dead poet's society." and then "aladdin" where his voice brought the character to life. >> 10,000 years will give you such a crick in the neck. >> "mrs. doubtfire" soon took its place among modern screen favorites. then came "good will hunting" and robin williams as therapist. >> you don't know about real loss, because it only occurs when you love something more than you love yourself. >> there was a veer into maudlin with "patch adams" and then something for the kids in "night at the museum." and then a challenge to his life and health, open heart surgery five years ago to replace his aortic valve. and the surgery staggered him and slowed him down. the actor we saw on his latest sitcom on cbs a year ago, was

older now. but still the man everyone hoped would be around forever. >> if heaven exists, what would you like to hear god say when you arrive at the pearly gates? >> there's seating near the front. the concert begins at 5:00, it will be mozart, elvis and anyone of your choosing. it's nice to know there's laughter. that would be great. god goes, two jews walk into a bar. >> at the time of his death at the age of 63, robin williams had finished production of three films yet to be released. his previous films grossed over $5 billion. later tonight here in our broadcast, what his death has brought to light about depression and suicide in this country, and his charitable work for others, both great and small. we have just received word tonight of the death of another hollywood great, the legendary actress lauren bacall has died,

apparently following a stroke here in new york. she was 89 years old. we have a late look back tonight from nbc's kristen dahlgren. >> you know how to whistle, don't you, steve? you just put your lips together and blow. >> reporter: with that legendary line lauren bacall burst onto the silver screen at the age of 19, launching a career that spanned eight decades. born in 1924 her father left home when she was 5, prompting betty to take her mother's last name, bacall. she grew up in a working class neighborhood of the bronx and dreamed of being in the movies. in "to have and have not" she traded verbal jabs with bogart and delivered her lines with a signature sexy look that was actually the result of anxiety. >> it came because i was so nervous when i started to work

in pictures. >> reporter: the on screen chemistry between bogey and bacall was genuine. >> who wouldn't fall madly in love with him at the age of 19? i was knocked out by him. >> reporter: they married in 1945 and became hollywood's hottest couple. on screen they co-starred in three more movies together. off screen they started a family with son steven and daughter leslie. in the 1950s, bacall showed off her comedic timing in movies like "how to marry a millionaire" and landed one of her all-time favorite roles in "designing woman." four years after bogart's death, bacall moved to new york, married actor jason robards, gave birth to her third child sam and returned to the stage. ♪ >> reporter: she conquered broadway the way she dazzled hollywood, winning two tony

awards. >> i love the stage. i love almost everything about it. >> reporter: in 2009 the motion picture academy awarded bacall an honorary oscar giving her the chance to deliver one more classic line. >> a man, at last. >> what are you trying to do, guess her weight? >> reporter: tough talking broad -- ♪ >> reporter: sultry singer. loving wife and mother. lauren bacall never met a role she couldn't master and make her own. kristen dahlgren, nbc news, los angeles. last night again in suburban st. louis the scene photographers captured looked like a police state. using the same tactical get-up and the same weaponry we have come to expect in urban warfare in iraq and afghanistan, police in ferguson, missouri, once again had to put down and head off violence many the streets following the shooting days ago of a young, unarmed black man

who was supposed to head off to college this week. nbc's john yang is there. >> reporter: at ground zero for this week's chaos, police painted over threatening graffiti. down the street, looted stores reopened and residents worked to get back to normal. last night in a show of force, police in riot gear used tear gas and bean bag rounds to disburse crowds. the crackdown even extends to the skies. the faa has banned aircraft below 3,000 feet over ferguson until next week. president obama issued a statement from his martha's vineyard vacation saying, we should comfort and talk with each other and protect each other in a way that heals, not in a way that wounds. at the prosecutors office, about 150 people called for justice for michael brown. the unarmed 18-year-old killed by police. investigators said he had assaulted an officer. protesters marched with their hands up. witnesses say the stance brown

took. and chanted. local officials had planned to release the name of the officer who is on paid leave. but the police chief decided not to citing online death threats. >> the situation, the social media situation is so volatile. it's probably going to be delayed for a while. >> reporter: the lawyer for brown's family says that calls the investigation into question. >> they want the name of the police officer who shot their son in broad daylight to be released. >> reporter: a second autopsy is planned before brown's body is turned over to his parents. the fbi is looking into the case, the main investigation is being conducted by the local county police department. and they say that report may not be ready for weeks. john yang, nbc news, ferguson, missouri. overseas to iraq, where the u.s. has sent 120 more military advisers to assess the humanitarian crisis that amounts to a modern day exodus. thousands of civilians, religious minorities fleeing an

onslaught of violence by these isis militants. nbc's keir simmons reports from iraq tonight. and a warning, this report contains some images that are tough to watch. >> reporter: they have crossed a mountain on foot in the desert heat, forced to flee their homes. driven by their fear of isis. this woman says militants beheaded several men in her village and mounted their heads on the hoods of cars. isis is well armed but sheer terror may be their most powerful weapon. crucifixions, men tied together and marched to their deaths, shot in the head. others buried alive according to one iraqi minister. atrocities documented by the militants themselves, and shared with the world on social media. sending a chilling message. we take no prisoners. and these are the men confronting isis. today we met kurdish commanders who have known war for decades.

are there men here who fought saddam hussein? >> yes. >> reporter: and now you're fighting isis. fighting fear and brutality, outgunned, using weapons from the past. the kurds share this space with the iraqi army, two historic adversaries now united against the common enemy. a foe that has made it clear, it will stop at nothing. keir simmons, nbc news, erbil, iraq. in this country it appears a bigamistry has been solved. those bleached white american flags that were hoisted in the dark of night on top of the brooklyn bridge. tonight two german artists have come forward to the new york times, they say they were the ones who replaced the flags. they say they did it to honor the german born engineer of the bridge john robling. the flag incident took place on july 22nd, which happens to be the anniversary of his death back in 1869. an nypd source tells nbc news they're looking into these claims. still ahead for us this

evening, more of our coverage on the death of robin williams. how his current suicide is bringing a dark secret out of the shadows, something that affects so many american families. later, a mother's dramatic moment of crisis on the tracks that was caught on video.

we are back now on our coverage of the death of robin williams. his battle with depression and apparent suicide. there is a suicide once every 13 minutes in this country. over 39,000 people a year. that's more than the number killed inner car accidents. we get more on this tonight from our chief medical editor dr. nancy snyderman. >> they have long waiting lists. you can always call us back. >> the sudden death of robin williams has ignited a national conversation about depression, substance abuse and suicide. are calls up today? >> they are up today for a variety of reasons.

>> reporter: at one of the nation's busiest suicide prevention hotlines, calls have been nonstop all morning. >> if you hear someone say the word, is that a sign to take it seriously? >> absolutely. any time someone is mentioning thoughts about suicide or wishing they were dead or wanting to not be here tomorrow or thinking about killing themselves. we want to take that seriously. >> hey, is that the door? >> reporter: the manic brilliance that marked robin williams' distinguished career was countered by a darkness that friends say he struggled with for years. fellow comedian and actor chevy chase wrote, robin and i were friends, suffering from the same little known disease, depression. for someone in crisis, connecting with a human voice at a call center like this, can sometimes make the difference between life and death. these therapists are trained to listen and separate a case of the everyday blues from clinical depression. the difference, the frequency and duration of the feelings. any symptoms lasting more than

two weeks, occupying most of the day, or occurring nearly every day must be considered serious. >> it's very important that we stop seeing these illnesses as faults and blames, and see them as what they are, medical conditions, genetic conditions, brain disorders which require appropriate diagnosis, treatment, care and support. >> reporter: this death puts robin williams squarely in the group most at risk of committing suicide. middle aged men. it has people asking, what could be so wrong? you're rich. you're famous. >> you never know what's going on inside of someone until you ask. having lots of wealth and fame, didn't mean you don't have your own sadness. >> reporter: and that profound sadness can lead to self-medication with drugs and alcohol, something robin williams freely admitted to. everyone should know, there are safe places to turn for help. if you have concerns about suicide, call this national

number, 1-800-273-talk. we'll also have other resources on nbcnews.com. very important for people to know. >> so important to talk about after such an important loss. nancy, thank you. we're back with more of the day's news right after this.

after a long and ugly fight tonight, the sale of the l.a. clippers is officially a done deal. microsoft billionaire steve balmer is the new owner, following a drama as you know of sterling's racist remarks caught on video. and then his unsuccessful court fight with his estranged wife to keep control of the team the. the nba says the sale officially closed today. another huge blow for a one-time gambling and entertainment hub of atlantic city. revel, the gleaming high rise casino hotel has announced it's closing down, laying off all of its 3,000 employees. also closing the show boat and trump plaza.

the city was hard hit by sandy, but trying to make a go of it. revenue reached its peak of $5 billion back in '06. a big scare on the london subway system caught on camera. a gust of wind blows a stroller with a child inside off the platform on to the tracks, just before the train was about to pull into the station. the panicked mother pulls her child and herself back on the platform with only seconds to spare. well, give this man a contract. this is the second inning of yesterday's cubs game. it is high, it is far, it was caught by the guy who was dubbed old cubs fan by one website. he switches it with a dummy ball to throw back on the field instead. when we come back here tonight, the charitable legacy of robin williams.

we have a special making a difference report tonight about the man millions are mourning. if you have a recently returned veteran in your family, there's a very good chance they were entertained by robin williams on deployment or he touched a charity important to you. tonight our own harry smith on the charitable side of a hardworking entertainer who made

a difference during his lifetime. >> reporter: robin williams was well known for his good works like comic relief with billy crystal and whoopi goldberg. >> call us at the number that's dancing above my waist. >> reporter: we watched and opened our wallets. there were many more manifestations of williams' need to help. >> careful where you step. >> never wear sandals on a farm. darcie grew up -- >> reporter: here's williams last year, making a psa for st. jude's children's hospital. his only concern, to make darcie cassidy feel at ease. >> keep darcie cool. keep real cool. >> he really cared, and it wasn't an act. he m ry word. he meant every laugh. he saw her laugh and they shared that moment. >> reporter: williams attended new york's

scholarship has benefited many students, including jessica chastain who said she would not have been able to study there without it. christopher reeve and williams were roommates at juilliard and lifelong friends. after the accident that left him paralyzed reeves said it was williams who first made him laugh again. reeves said williams helped him know he was going to be okay. ♪ with a little fanfare, williams went on six uso tours, including trips to afghanistan and iraq. >> i'm not going to forget that. i've never had an entire audience go, forget you. >> reporter: williams' acts of kindness were not about him, he was a man of enormous empathy. perhaps he could not find his own peace. but he surely knew how to make others happy. harry smith, nbc news. that's our broadcast on a tuesday night. thank you for being here with us. i'm brian williams. we, of course, hope to see you right back here tomorrow evening. right back here tomorrow evening. good night.

-- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com nbc bay area news starts now. he could have reached out to anyone, any one of us would have been there in a heartbeat for him. >> right now at 6:00, the legacy of robin williams. close friends share their memories. thanks for being with us, i'm raj mathai. >> we'll have more on robin williams in a moment. >> but just in to the newsroom, lauren bacall has died. she was part of the golden age

of hollywood. working as a teenage model in new york she was hired to work in the humphrey bogart film "to have and have not." she was famous for her fashion style and sultry voice. she died today in new york at the age of 89. also today, on the day police reveal how he died, fans of robin williams are flocking to the areas where he gave so many joy. right here where ""mrs. doubtfire" was filmed. at at and t park, a tribute is planned. we begin with mark matthews on the latest in