Who is Zak Williams, Robin Williams’ eldest child? He was ‘traumatised’ by his Good Will Hunting actor father’s death and became a mental health advocate

Sep 13 , 2024

On the 10th anniversary of Robin Williams’ passing, his eldest child Zak Williams recalls their close relationship and the ‘deeply thoughtful, curious human being’ his father was. Photos: @zakpym/Instagram

On the 10th anniversary of the Dead Poets’ Society actor’s passing, his eldest child Zak Williams recalled their close relationship and the ‘deeply thoughtful, curious human being’ his father was

He married his girlfriend, Olivia June, on World Mental Health Day in 2020, and the pair have 2 children: McLaurin ‘Mickey’ Clement, named for his grandpa’s middle name McLaurin, and Zola June

August marked 10 years since the tragic passing of Robin Williams – known for his portrayal of sensitive, empathetic characters with an underlying vulnerability that perhaps reflected his own struggles with mental health. For his eldest child, Zachary “Zak” Williams, 41, it was a time to reflect on the “deeply thoughtful, curious human being” his father was.

In an interview with USA Today, published on the anniversary of the actor’s death last month, Zak paid tribute to his father’s “incredible heart and love for humanity”. Zak said his fondest memories with his father included “spending time with him basically being a big kid”. Robin Williams enjoyed playing video games, and was an avid toy and comic book collector.

So what do we know about Robin Williams’ eldest child, Zak Williams?

Zak Williams was “traumatised” by his father’s death

A photograph of Robin Williams posted by his son Zak Williams on what would have been the actor’s 73rd birthday. Photo: @zakpym/Instagram

Zak Williams had a close relationship with his father. So when his dad died by suicide at the age of 63, the loss understandably left a huge void. “I was deeply unhappy and feeling extremely isolated and broken,”, Zak Williams told People in October 2020. “If I continued living that way, it wasn’t a life that was worth living. Something had to give.”

After a lot of work on himself, which included getting professional help via therapy, exercise, meditation and a healthy diet, Zak had an epiphany. “I’ve learned I’m not broken. Despite experiencing traumatic events, I can recover,” he told the same publication. “I am now on a path of healing and being the person I always wanted to be.”

Zak posted a heartfelt tribute to his late father on Instagram for the 10th anniversary, with a picture of the actor from Mork & Mindy, a sitcom that ran from late 70s to early 80s. “Dad, it’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years,” he wrote. “You continue to inspire me every single day to do whatever I can to help create a more connected and loving world for our family. Love you forever.”

He is a mental health advocate

Zak and Olivia June Williams are founders of the mental wellness brand PYM. Photo: @zakpym/Instagram

Zak Williams’ own mental health journey inspired him to help others. In 2020, he co-founded his company, PYM (Prepare Your Mind), with his wife, Olivia June. The company is named after his middle name “Pym”, which was given by his father because “it sounded vaguely Welsh”, per his USA Today interview.

PYM came about following Zak’s struggles with complex post-traumatic stress disorder, generalised anxiety disorder and depression. Per PYM’s official website, he started on “amino acid therapy”, and later created stress relief products and mental wellness supplements that “help you feel like yourself again”.