or
Sign in with lockrMail
BREAKING NEWS
OK LogoNEWS

Wayne Brady Explains How 'Hero' Robin Williams' Suicide Inspired Him to Come Out as Pansexual and Help Others With Mental Health

wayne brady robin williams suicide inspired mental help
Source: mega

June 20 2024, Published 3:06 p.m. ET

Link to FacebookShare to XShare to FlipboardShare to Email

A big part of Wayne Brady's upcoming reality show, Wayne Brady: The Family Remix, focuses on bettering one's mental health — something he made a priority after his "hero" Robin Williams committed suicide in 2014.

In a new interview for his series — which debuts on Freeform on Wednesday, July 24 — the comedian touched on his admiration for the late actor and how Williams changed his life.

Article continues below advertisement
wayne brady robin williams suicide inspired mental help
Source: mega

Wayne Brady called Robin Williams his 'hero.'

Article continues below advertisement

"I've been a fan of his since I was a child — of his imagination, of his love of life, of the spark that came into his eye whenever he created," the Whose Line Is It Anyway? lead shared. "It made me feel like I wanted to know what that feeling was like."

Brady recalled how during his youth, he sometimes had to spend days at a time in the hospital over lung and asthma issues, and on one occasion, his grandmother gifted him an action figure of Williams' alien character from Mork & Mindy. The toy helped him feel comfortable during overnight stays, and he shared that sentiment when he ran into the Mrs. Doubtfire star years later.

Article continues below advertisement
wayne brady robin williams suicide inspired mental help w
Source: mega

The beloved actor was 63 when he took his own life in 2014 after suffering from depression and substance abuse.

Article continues below advertisement

"I got a chance to tell him that story and he started to cry and hug me and I hugged him back," the actor spilled. "That's the cool thing about show business; sometimes you get a chance to meet your heroes."

Added Brady, "I'm glad that I got a chance in those handful of times to really explain to him what he meant to me as a young actor and as a child."

Article continues below advertisement
wayne brady robin williams suicide inspired mental help
Source: mega

Brady came out as pansexual last year.

MORE ON:
Wayne Brady

Want OK! each day? Sign up here!

Article continues below advertisement

The TV host, 52, explained that Williams' suicide left him stunned, but it was also what sparked him to come out as pansexual.

"If someone who brought so much light and love could leave us and suffer in silence, then I didn't want to suffer in silence anymore," he explained.

Article continues below advertisement
wayne brady robin williams suicide inspired mental help
Source: mega

The actor's death inspired Brady to help others with their mental health.

Article continues below advertisement

"I can use my platform and my family can use our platform to help others who may be in the same place," Brady continued. "A huge mental component comes from the unhappiness and a searching. In sharing my truths, that helps me. By sharing this stuff, I was making myself feel better, and if that can make you feel better [too], then it's a win all the way around."

Article continues below advertisement

Never miss a story — sign up for the OK! newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what OK! has to offer. It’s gossip too good to wait for!

Article continues below advertisement

Entertainment Weekly spoke with Brady.

More From OK! Magazine

    Opt-out of personalized ads

    © Copyright 2024 OK!™️. A DIVISION OF MYSTIFY ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK INC. OK! is a registered trademark. All rights reserved. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Cookies Policy. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services. Offers may be subject to change without notice.