How the tragedy helped Zak Williams find his purpose
Robin Williams’ genius has been immortalized in his many films. The world will forever know him as the teacher who inspired a generation to scream Carpe Diem, the professor who showed brilliance and social status is not mutually exclusive, and the nanny who left no doubt that a parent’s love is one is limitless. As the public remembers the energy and talent that cemented the Oscar winner’s legacy, his eldest son Zak Williams remembers the unconditional love and support of a father who wanted his children to be happy.
On a recent episode of Men’s Journal Everyday Warrior Podcast, we spoke to Zak about his father, his humanitarian work, and more. In this article, we look at what it was like growing up with a famous father, what he learned about happiness, and how he turned unimaginable pain into unrelenting purpose.
Creating normality in the chaos
As children, we believe that everyone’s life mirrors our own, even if our experiences are far from average.
Zak is a great example. “I saw [movie] Sets, the different actors that manifest on screen, and I thought it was… all part of a normal experience,” he says.
Although his father was a movie star, his parents raised him away from the bright lights of Hollywood.
“When I was growing up in San Francisco, there was one [separation] between everything that’s happening with my father’s career and our life at home,” says Zak.
Whether life there was about his parents’ love for the Bay Area or the normality of the family, it was undoubtedly a quieter upbringing. Ultimately, her reason is less important than the outcome, which Zak describes as “a normal childhood.”
Do what makes you happy
The children of celebrities are expected to either follow in their parents’ footsteps or succeed in some other lucrative profession. While some of this pressure comes from outside, especially in today’s social media culture, many of these expectations come from parents who believe that their children’s success has an impact on them. Choosing a career is one of the most momentous decisions in life; When people choose a career based on earning potential or parental approval, they often find themselves in unfulfilling careers.
Some people know what they want early on, others take longer to find their calling. While it took Zak a while to name his passion, he always knew his father wanted him to be happy.
“There’s superficial happiness and then there’s deep, meaningful, fulfilling happiness,” says Zak. “[As] My definition of happiness has evolved… I’ve discovered that service is my path to happiness,” he adds.
Recovery is a journey
On August 11, 2014, Robin died by suicide after secretly suffering from Lewy body dementia, a brain disorder that affects a person’s thinking, memory and mobility. Traumatized by the death of his father and faced with several personal issues, Zak’s private struggles with alcohol came to the fore. He continued self-medicating for years before realizing, “I can’t continue with this and [expect] to have a happy result.”
Zak was not alone on his recovery journey. Longtime friend Olivia June helped him find his way back and taught him the importance of self-care.
“She helped me understand that [I wasn’t] to take care of myself and that I had to watch what I was doing [each] Tag and recalibrate around that,” says Zak. “We were just friends at the time…but soon we realized we were destined to start a life together,” he adds.
After getting married on World Mental Health Day 2020, the couple went into business by founding PYM (Prepare Your Mind). The company’s website states, “PYM’s mission is to provide safe, natural, and effective mental hygiene products to promote self-care and end the stigma surrounding mental health.”
find purpose
Richard Branson once said, “There is nothing greater that you can do with your life and work than pursue your passions in a way that serves the world.” After five years of sobriety, Zak now realizes that it is essential for his healing and Following his passion for service was essential to recovery. As a mental health advocate, Zak works to raise awareness for suicide prevention. He believes our nation needs to change its approach to suicide, saying, “We need to eliminate the blame; People will not ask for help, especially family and friends, if there is stigma attached to it.”
In August, Zak began educating millions of listeners about suicide prevention as the special correspondent of the CALL FOR HELP podcast. The four-part series, which he co-produced with Lemonada Media, explores the newly launched 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and the challenges facing America’s mental health system.
“The purpose [of 988] is designed to help guide people toward a more contextual model of care,” says Zak. Many people avoid mental health services for fear that they will provoke a law enforcement response. Zak explains that calling 988 connects those experiencing emotional crises with trained mental health professionals, not the police.
Though his path has been difficult, Zak has prepared every adversity he has encountered along the way to be an effective advocate and make a lasting difference. While Robert Brault did not write the following passage with Zak in mind, the author’s words seem prophetic of his experience: “Sometimes in tragedy we find the meaning of life. The eye sheds a tear to find its focus.”
If you or someone you love is contemplating suicide or are in emotional distress, please call 988. This nationwide service is free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provide emotional support and work to improve services by empowering individuals, driving professional best practices, and raising awareness.
The Talking Series is a weekly segment that digs deeper into topics discussed by guests on the Men’s Journal Everyday Warrior Podcast.
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