‘Hook’ Actor Dante Basco, Who Played Rufio, Pens Robin Williams Tribute

Remember Hook? According to IMDb, the 1991 family adventure film starred comedian Robin Williams as Peter Pan, who as an adult had to “return to Neverland and reclaim his youthful spirit in order to challenge his old enemy,” Captain Hook. Featured alongside Robin Williams was Dante Basco, a then 15-year-old teenager who played the role of Rufio, the leader of the legendary Lost Boys.

Fast forward to yesterday. You should know by now that Robin Williams passed two days ago from a suicide. What you might not know, however, is that his former Hook co-star has both released a YouTube “Vlogathon” tribute to Williams and also penned a letter to him.

The Huffington Post contributor Erin Whitney explains:

“Basco first Tweeted a video from his YouTube page, pausing his monthly Vlogathon to remember the late Peter Pan, played by Williams in ‘Hook.’ [Then] early Tuesday morning Dante posted a farewell tribute letter to Williams on his blog.”

In the poignant piece, Hook actor Dante Basco talks about how Williams’ impact on his life began “years before” he even starred in Hook when Dead Poet’s Society became one of [his] favorite films and really inspired his strong love for poetry. He went on to praise Williams for both his public talent and his private demeanor:

“I was lucky to work with him as an actor and witness first hand the magic of what made him a legend, the wit and other worldly improv skills. As well as see him single handedly put the morale of a movie set, easily hundreds of people, on his shoulders and kept everyone laughing as they worked long hours for what seemed like months on end. And at the same time, I was fortunate to spend private times, many mornings in the makeup chair, (which with my tri-hawk hair took hours), just talking about poetry… And soft spoken and introspectively we would discuss Walt Whitman and Charles Bukowski.”

The kicker came at the end of the piece, when Hook actor Dante Basco connected this tragic loss with the loss of childhood and innocence experienced by those who leave the blissful world of Neverland:

“I can’t help feeling like it’s the death of my childhood. I guess we can’t stay in Neverland forever, we must all grow up.”

Indeed, we must all grow up either today, tomorrow, or sometime very soon. The good news is that William’s many works, including Hook, will remain available for future generations of all races and religions to view.

The “Hook” star ends his piece with the following:

“O’ Captain! My Captain! See you in Neverland…”

Check below to see his ‘Vlogathon’ tribute:

[Image via [Google Images]