
Robin Williams' son Zak Williams honors late actor on 74th birthday: 'Love you forever'
The mental health advocate and entrepreneur, son of actor-comedian Robin Williams, paid tribute to the iconic performer on social media in honor of his birthday on Monday, July 21. Robin, who died in August 2014 at the age of 63, would have turned 74.
"Every year, this season arrives with gravity," Williams, 42, wrote on Instagram alongside a throwback photo of Robin. "In just 60 days, we pass through Father's Day, his birthday, and the anniversary of his death. It's a tender and complicated stretch of time. One that asks a lot of the heart."
He added: "For me, grief isn't linear. It loops and echoes. It softens, then crescendos. But alongside it lives a legacy, the kind built not from fame or recognition, but from generosity and relentless kindness."
Robin Williams died by suicide following a battle with Lewy body dementia. The Oscar-winning actor also struggled with substance abuse for decades. His 2006 relapse, which he tried unsuccessfully to hide from his wife Marsha Garces, led to the unraveling of his second marriage. He later took up a stint at the Hazelden Foundation center, a rehab facility in Oregon.
"My father lived to make people feel seen," Williams continued. "He gave permission to feel deeply and to laugh through the pain. In his absence, that mission continues. So today, I hold close the idea that the best way to honor those we love is to live the values they stood for. To lead with service and compassion. To lift others when they're down. And to find paths of light, even in the dark corners."
He concluded: "Happy birthday, Dad. Love you forever."
Matthew Lawrence reveals Robin Williams warned him against substance abuse as child
Zak Williams opens up about childhood with dad Robin Williams
In an August 2024 interview for USA TODAY's "The Excerpt" podcast, Williams reflected on his father's legacy in the entertainment industry, as well as his childhood memories with the eccentric actor-comedian.
"He was very funny. But he also was very introspective," said Williams of Robin's off-screen demeanor. "He loved playing video games and collecting toys and comic books. I mean, he was a big kid at heart.
"And the memories I'm most fond of, in terms of our private family life, relate to my siblings and spending time with him basically being a big kid."
'He was a big kid at heart': Zak Williams reflects on dad Robin Williams
Williams, who appeared on the podcast ahead of the 10th anniversary of Robin's death, said he preserves his father's memory by focusing on his positive contributions as a public figure.
"I think of my father fondly all year, but around this time of year, I think about his good works, his philanthropic focus," Williams said. "I tend to spend time with my family. ... It comes down to remembering him fondly for his incredible heart and love for humanity."
If you or someone you know needs mental health resources and support, please call, text or chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or visit 988lifeline.org for 24/7 access to free and confidential services.
If you or someone you know needs help battling a substance abuse addiction, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Contributing: Taylor Wilson and Marco della Cava, USA TODAY
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Newsweek
11 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Gwyneth Paltrow Takes On Surprise Role For Astronomer After Viral Video
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Astronomer, the New York data tech firm caught up in the Coldplay concert "kiss‑cam scandal," has hired actress Gwyneth Paltrow for a lighthearted marketing video which capitalizes on the attention driven by two executives caught canoodling at the gig. The company enlisted the Oscar-winning ex-wife of Coldplay frontman Chris Martin as a "very temporary spokesperson" in the tongue-in-cheek video. Why It Matters The clip follows the resignation of Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and HR chief Kristin Cabot—both pictured in an embrace caught live on a jumbotron during the July 16 concert at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The CEO is still married, and Cabot was reportedly previously married to Kenneth Thornby, their divorce being finalized in 2022. The footage of Byron and Cabot ducking away from the camera, when they realized they were being filmed, quickly went viral. The original video amassed more than 45 million views on TikTok and millions more in reposts across other platforms. In this Nov. 7, 2015 file photo, Gwyneth Paltrow attends LACMA 2015 Art+Film Gala at LACMA in Los Angeles, Calif. In this Nov. 7, 2015 file photo, Gwyneth Paltrow attends LACMA 2015 Art+Film Gala at LACMA in Los Angeles, Calif. Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP What To Know In the video, posted to X, Paltrow is sitting at a desk and thanks the public for their interest in Astronomer. She says: "I've been hired on a very temporary basis to speak on behalf of the 300-plus employees at Astronomer." She continues: "Astronomer has gotten a lot of questions over the last few days, and they wanted me to answer the most common ones." Thank you for your interest in Astronomer. — Astronomer (@astronomerio) July 25, 2025 A question then appears on screen reading: "OMG, what the actual …" Before the final word appears, the video cuts back to Paltrow, who shifts to promoting some of Astronomer's services. In a subtle nod to the widespread attention the company has received, Paltrow adds, "We've been thrilled so many people have a newfound interest in data workflow automation." Another question starts to appear on screen, typing out: "How is your social media team holding up?" But before it's finished, Paltrow interrupts abruptly, announcing that Astronomer has spaces available at an upcoming conference in September. She closes the video with: "We'll now be returning to what we do best: delivering game-changing results for our customers." Astronomer, a New York-based company, helps companies develop, grow, and analyze products using artificial intelligence. After Byron resigned, the company said in a statement: "Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met." Pete DeJoy, who has taken over as interim CEO, admitted on Monday that the company has faced an "unusual and surreal" amount of attention in recent days. On LinkedIn, he wrote: "While I would never have wished for it to happen like this, Astronomer is now a household name." What Happens Next Astronomer's board of directors has announced the start of a formal search for a new chief executive.


Cosmopolitan
2 hours ago
- Cosmopolitan
Gwyneth Paltrow is Astronomer's "spokesperson" after Coldplay Kiss Cam
For those keeping up with the Astronomer x Coldplay kiss-cam saga, a new (read: unexpected) update has broken the internet overnight. Gwyneth Paltrow — who, as we all know, is frontman Chris Martin's ex — has become Astronomer's "temporary spokesperson," appearing in a new corporate-style video for the DataOps company. Last night, the surprise parody video was shared on their website and social media, explaining that Gwyneth had been hired on a "very temporary basis to speak on behalf of the 300-plus employees at Astronomer." Sitting behind a desk in a bare office and wearing a pale blue shirt, the 52-year-old began her monologue by thanking the world for its "interest in Astronomer." Code for: the viral clip of Andy Byron, former CEO of Astronomer, and HR specialist, Kristin Cabot, whose affair was exposed at the Boston Coldplay concert. Gwyneth continued: "Astronomer has gotten a lot of questions over the last few days, and they wanted me to answer the most common ones." In an iconic PR move, on-screen text then started to type out: "OMG! What the actual f—." This was followed by the actor answering a completely different question, namely calling Astronomer the "best place to run Apache Airflow." More sarcastically, Gywneth then told the camera that she and the company have been "thrilled by how many people have a newfound interest in data workflow automation." Other questions included, "How is your social media team holding up?" To which the Oscar winner responded by sharing that there is "still room available" at the company's Beyond Analytics event in September. Of course, after posting the video, the comment section went wild. From people calling it a "10/10 idea" to approach Gywneth for the role, to the classic, "the devil works hard, but Astronomer's PR team works harder," others simply called it a work of "genius." Sophie Williams is a Freelance Journalist and Copywriter, covering everything from Fashion to Entertainment to music, Lifestyle and Features. She has interviewed a range of musical artists and authors including Alyssa Edwards, Courtney Barnett, Confidence Man, The Vaccines, Loyle Carner, Gabrielle, and John Niven, and has written for publications like Metro, Reader's Digest, ITV's Woo! and Vice's NBGA. She is also working on a book for HarperCollins about Taylor Swift, due to be published in 2024.

3 hours ago
As Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter tour draws to a close, Blue Ivy emerges as a star
'Who they came to see?' Beyoncé asks as she performs her 2023 single 'My House' during the Cowboy Carter tour. For many, the answer has been Blue Ivy. Blue Ivy Carter, the Grammy-winning artist's 13-year-old daughter, is more present than ever on stage, and fans are impressed by the growth from her first performance years ago to now. Isabella Kerr, 15, has admired Beyoncé for years, but said she attended the Cowboy Carter tour specifically to experience Blue Ivy's moves in person. 'People are saying, 'Oh, she's a mini Beyoncé,' but no, I think she's the first Blue. Everything about her when she's on stage is electrifying,' said Kerr. The Cowboy Carter tour concludes Saturday in Las Vegas. The tour's 30 previously stops have fans buzzing that Blue Ivy is well on her way to being a next generation powerhouse. Blue first graced the stage at 11 years old during her mother's 2023 Renaissance tour, appearing during the legacy-celebrating anthems 'My Power' and 'Black Parade.' Supporters anticipated her performance at each stop. She performed again during 'Beyoncé Bowl,' the NFL Christmas Day Halftime Show that was just nominated for four Emmy Awards. She danced alongside the icon as she performed songs from the 'Cowboy Carter' album for the first time. 'Even the difference between the Renaissance Tour and now, you can tell she's really grown in her confidence,' said fan and artist Olivia Ellis. 'You can tell she has a different vibe about her.' On the Cowboy Carter tour, she can almost be mistaken for one of Beyoncé's professional dancers. She is on stage for nearly every song and has a solo recreating her mother's choreography from her 2006 'Déjà-vu' music video, a nod to the undeniable similarities between the two. Online videos of Blue display professionalism comparable to her mother's during the Cowboy Carter tour. During a rainy New Jersey stop, she brought out towels to dry her area of the stage before nailing her 'America Has a Problem' choreography. In another unexpected moment during a Chicago show, her earring got caught on Beyoncé's hair. Blue remained calm, removed the jewelry and motioned to the singer that it was safe in her hand as they both seamlessly continued. 'It's the family business,' said Kinitra D. Brooks, an academic and author of 'The Lemonade Reader,' a collection that explores the nuances of Beyoncé's 2016 visual album, 'Lemonade.' 'She is literally studying under the best person doing it out there today. Why wouldn't she take advantage of that opportunity?' In 'Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé,' fans were given a behind-the-scenes look at the decision-making process the first time Blue was allowed to perform. Beyoncé expressed how nervous she was about her child being in front of thousands of people made her, revealing she initially said no. 'I did not think it was an appropriate place for an 11-year-old on a stadium stage,' she said in the documentary. 'I made a deal with her, and I said, 'If you practice and you show your commitment, I'll let you do one show.'' Blue Ivy fulfilled her end of the deal, and a fan base was formed: the 'Ivy League.' Kerr says Blue's accomplishments inspire her to work harder to achieve her own dreams. 'She worked to be on stage, and look at her now. If I work to what I want to be, I can be killing it like her.' At last month's Cowboy Carter Paris stop, members of the Beyhive and Ivy League finally got what they had been asking for — Blue Ivy merchandise. Shirts with the teen's face and the phrase 'Déjà Blue' plastered on the front were available for purchase. Prior to that, fans were creating their own custom pieces that highlighted Blue and Beyoncé's connection. At the MetLife Stadium show, Ellis wore a custom corset top she painted, showcasing Blue Ivy and her 8-year-old sister, Rumi Carter, on stage with Beyoncé during 'Protector,' a track from the 'Cowboy Carter' album that Rumi is featured on. 'I thought that would just be a really fun moment to highlight on a corset,' she said. 'It's just really cool to see her as a mom because we've all grown up with Beyoncé, and now it's like her show is kind of like a family affair.' Blue Ivy's confidence and professionalism are not only a testament to her hard work, but Beyoncé's motherhood. Mother-daughter duos around the globe filled stadium seats, excited to watch Beyoncé and her daughter display their strong bond for the world to see. In many cases, the mothers have been Beyoncé fans for years and are excited for their daughters to grow up with Blue Ivy, a high-flyer for their generation. Tanazha Baylis took her now 11-year-old daughter, Aria Brown, to the Renaissance tour, where she did not miss a beat dancing along to Blue Ivy's 'My Power' choreography. Brown was so determined to attend the Cowboy Carter Tour that she started selling popular toys, such as slime and Squishmallows, and saving her money. 'She literally was like, 'Mom, I don't know what you're going to do, but I have to go to this concert,'' said Baylis. 'I just had to make it happen after that.' Brown became a Beyoncé fan after participating in a dance recital with a theme centered around the superstar's career throughout the years. Baylis, who says she has always been a big fan, is happy to share these experiences with her daughter. 'It just showed her a cool mom and daughter, and it's just something that she can do as well. Beyoncé is a little older but, with seeing Blue there, it made it tangible for her.' Although there is no solid answer for what the future holds for Blue Ivy, it is widely recognized that the possibilities are limitless. 'We couldn't imagine that Beyoncé would do all of these things that she could do. All we saw were people trying to put limitations on her,' said Brooks. 'I think one of the things that Beyoncé wants us to do and what she wants for Blue is for us to not put those limitations on Blue.'