By India McCarty
Robin Williams’ son Zak recently shared a heartfelt message about his late father, as well as support for anyone else grieving the loss of a loved one.
“Today would have been my dad’s 74th birthday,” he posted on X. “This season carries gravity. Father’s Day, his birthday, and the anniversary of his passing all fall within 60 days.”
Zak continued, “For me, grief has no straight path. It revisits, reshapes, and rises when I least expect it. But alongside it lives a legacy built on generosity and kindness. He made people feel seen. Gave permission to feel deeply and to laugh through pain. That mission continues. To those carrying loss right now: you’re not alone. Happy birthday, Dad. Love you forever.”
Today would have been my dad’s 74th birthday.
This season carries gravity. Father’s Day, his birthday, and the anniversary of his passing all fall within 60 days.
For me, grief has no straight path. It revisits, reshapes, and rises when I least expect it.
But alongside it… pic.twitter.com/b0EGpwfZjF
— Zak Williams (@zakwilliams) July 21, 2025
Williams died by suicide in 2014 at 63, but his children — Zak, Zelda and Cody — have made it their mission to keep his memory alive, as well as his long history of philanthropic work.
Related: Robin Williams’ Son Strives to Honor His Father’s Legacy by Helping Victims of Suicide
“When I was a little kid and we’d be walking in San Francisco where I grew up, he would stop, talk to someone on the street — a homeless person — say, ‘Hey boss, what can I do for you?’” Zak told PEOPLE at the 12th Annual Bring Change to Mind Revels & Revelations gala. “And we’d see him get meals, food, money.”
He continued, “He cared deeply about people in need, and I think for me, he opened my eyes to really what kindness was all about. It was deeply important to him to help improve the human condition, and that extends beyond helping people laugh and learn about themselves.”
Today, Zak works as chairman of Bring Change To Mind, a mental health nonprofit that works to “end the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental illness [and] make a real difference in the lives of teens and adults across the country,” per the group’s website.
“My becoming a mental health advocate stemmed from the trauma and loss I experienced after my Dad died by suicide,” Zak said in a 2020 interview with ABC. “I experienced a serious low point in my life. I felt completely emotionally dis-regulated and was experiencing PTSD. I was self-medicating to the point where I wanted to not feel anything. I found that the most healing experience for me was committing to service around causes.”
“As a dad, I hope my son can grow up in a stigma free world,” the father of two continued. “When it comes to sharing and being vulnerable, I think we need to shift our mindset from thinking about it as a weakness, to thinking about it as a strength.”
Zak’s openness about his own mental health struggles, as well as his continued grief for his father, is an inspiration to others who are going through the same things.
Read Next: Actress Recalls How Robin Williams Helped Veterans
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