Marlon Wayans Opens Up About Coping w/ Depression After Losing 57 Loved Ones, Including Both Parents: ‘Biggest Heartbreak Of My Life’

Marlon Wayans Opens Up About Coping w/ Depression After Losing 57 Loved Ones, Including Both Parents: ‘Biggest Heartbreak Of My Life’

Marlon Wayans is opening up about the heartbreaking toll of loss and depression.

The comedian and actor recently appeared on the School of Greatness podcast with Lewis Howes, where he shared the emotional impact of losing 57 loved ones, including both of his parents.

Marlon Wayans

Reflecting on the toll these losses have taken on him, Marlon Wayans revealed,

“I had a great life… and then my parents died and 57 people I loved died. That’s the sad part about getting to be my age.”

Marlon Wayans further opened up about how his mother’s death in particular shattered him:

“I started having this different vision of myself… because I was rescuing myself with my comedy. The expression became different. The expression became therapeutic. I’m bleeding inside, but I’m literally pulling myself from depression… because my mother’s death shattered me into a million pieces. Biggest heartbreak of my life.”

In a previous interview with Good Morning America in 2023, Wayans spoke about how performing on stage has helped him cope with the overwhelming grief:

“In my life right now, I have so much stuff that can be depressing. I lost my mom recently, I lost my dad three days ago. I realize that the only thing that saves me is the stage.”

He added,

“When I’m hurting, those laughs that I hear from other people healing from my pain, I realize my purpose. And I think it’s important for all of us to do what comedians do, which is look at this world, look at this life, and always try to spend your life trying to find smiles. And that’s what I do on the stage.”

Marlon Wayans’ mother, Elvira Wayans, passed away in 2020 at 81.

When his father, Howell Wayans, passed away in April 2023 at the age of 86, Marlon shared a heartfelt lesson he learned from him:

“When I was a child, I asked my Dad what did you want to be when you grew up? He simply said, ‘I wanted to be a man.’ I said, ‘Not a lawyer? A doctor? An actor?’ He said, ‘Just a man.’ I said, ‘But every boy becomes a man.’ Dad said, ‘Not true.’ I asked, ‘Then what’s a man?’ My Dad said, ‘A man takes care of himself and his responsibilities. His family is always FIRST.’”

Marlon concluded his tribute with,

“Thank you, Pop, for being an example of a man to all your boys. I pray all young black boys can grow up to be a man like you.”

What are your thoughts on Marlon Wayans’ approach to dealing with depression? Let us know below.