Robin Williams

Comedian Wayne Brady Reveals Battle With Depression: “I Had a Complete Breakdown”

Wayne Brady, one of television’s funniest entertainers, recently opened up about a battle against depression.

“Folks think, 'Wayne Brady's always happy.’ No I'm not always happy. Because I'm human," he said in an interview with "ET."

The Emmy-award winning star from “Let’s Make a Deal” and “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” told "ET" that he has secretly suffered from depression for years.

"You don't wan't someone to think that you're crazy, because that word has such a stigma," he said.

Brady described building up a cycle of lies in his head so that some days "you don't want to move" because you feel like a "horrible person."

He said he hit rock bottom on his 42nd birthday this past June.

"I was there by myself, in my bedroom and I had a complete breakdown,” Brady said.

The birthday "was the beginning of, 'OK, I've got to make a change,'" he said. 

Robin Williams' suicide this past August motivated Brady to take action on his depression, he said. He is now on the road to recovery and thanks his ex-wife Mandie Taket for all the support she has given him. The couple divorced in 2007 after eight years of marriage, but remain close friends and are dedicated to co-parenting their 11-year-old daughter.

He also gave some advice to others who are struggling with depression.

"It took me a while to get my stuff together to go, 'You know what? If you're not happy, you have to do something about it,'" he said, according to ET.com. "Just to admit that you are feeling this way is a huge step. To claim that, to say, 'Why do I feel dark? Why do I feel unhappy?' Let me do something about this.'"

Since his revelation, fans and people who have struggled with depression reached out to Brady to send their support.

“Much love to all of you who reached out. We’re not alone, people!” he tweeted.
 

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