It’s been over a decade since we lost the man who could make an entire room explode with laughter just by changing his posture. Robin Williams wasn’t just a comedian; he was a cultural fixture. But for Zak Williams, the eldest son, that legacy isn’t about movie marathons or stand-up specials. It’s about a mission that started in the wreckage of a very public tragedy.
Honestly, people often expect celebrity kids to either vanish into a cloud of inheritance or desperately try to recreate their parents' fame. Zak didn’t do either. Instead, he took the most painful chapter of his life—the 2014 passing of his father—and turned it into a blueprint for survival.
Zak Williams is now a leading face in the mental health space, and his journey isn't just "inspirational" in that vague, Hallmark-card way. It's actually quite gritty.
The Mental Health Mission of Zak Williams
When you’re Robin Williams' son, you grow up seeing the world through a lens of extreme empathy. Zak has frequently shared stories of walking through San Francisco as a kid and watching his dad stop to talk to homeless individuals, calling them "boss" and making sure they were fed. That kind of DNA doesn't just disappear.
But after 2014, Zak hit a wall. He struggled with heavy depression and anxiety, the kind that makes getting out of bed feel like climbing Everest. He was eventually diagnosed with PTSD.
"I've learned I'm not broken," he told People in a recent reflection. It’s a simple sentence, but for someone who lived through the trauma of his father’s battle with Lewy Body Dementia, it’s a hard-won truth.
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Instead of just talking about it, he got into the science of it. He founded PYM (Prepare Your Mind), a company that focuses on "mental hygiene." Basically, they make amino-acid-based chews designed to help people manage stress without the heavy fog of traditional pharmaceuticals. It’s a "bottom-up" approach to mental health, focusing on the body's chemistry to support the mind.
Why the Legacy Matters in 2026
We’re living in a time where everyone is "doing" mental health, but Zak's approach is different because it's rooted in a specific type of grief. He’s not just a spokesperson; he’s a board member for Bring Change to Mind, the non-profit founded by Glenn Close.
His work there focuses on ending the stigma. You’ve probably seen the headlines. He’s been vocal about how his father was misdiagnosed for years, which added layers of frustration to the grief. By sharing the raw details of his father's struggle with Lewy Body Dementia, Zak has helped millions of families realize they aren't alone in the confusion of neurodegenerative diseases.
Zelda and Cody: A Family United by Privacy
While Zak is the one often in the spotlight for advocacy, his siblings are carving their own paths.
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- Zelda Williams has become a powerhouse behind the camera. She recently directed Lisa Frankenstein, proving she has her father’s eccentric creative spark but with a decidedly gothic twist.
- Cody Williams is the most private of the bunch. He’s worked in film production but mostly stays out of the paparazzi's way. Fun fact: he got married on what would have been his father’s 68th birthday, at his childhood home. It was a quiet, beautiful way to bring the family's history full circle.
The siblings are remarkably close. They don't do the "Hollywood feud" thing. They show up for each other at charity galas and keep the focus on their dad’s philanthropic work with organizations like the Challenged Athletes Foundation.
Breaking the Stigma (For Real This Time)
What most people get wrong about Zak Williams is the idea that he’s just "the son of a celebrity."
He’s a Columbia Business School grad who worked in tech and media (think Condé Nast and gaming platforms) before he ever touched the wellness space. He had a whole career before he decided to become a professional advocate.
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His transition wasn't a PR move. It was a necessity. He realized that if he didn't find a way to manage his own mental health, he was going to spiral. That authenticity is why people listen to him. He’s not lecturing; he’s sharing what worked for him so he could be a present father to his own kids, Mickey and Zola.
Actionable Takeaways from Zak's Advocacy
If you’re looking at Zak's life and wondering how to apply his "mental hygiene" philosophy to your own world, here’s how he basically breaks it down:
- Prioritize "Mental Hygiene": Treat your mind like your teeth. You don't wait for a cavity to brush your teeth; don't wait for a breakdown to check your stress levels.
- Support Systems Matter: Zak is a huge proponent of amino acid therapy and nutrition, but he also stresses that community is the biggest "people extender" we have.
- Acknowledge the Trauma: You can't heal what you don't name. Zak naming his PTSD was the first step toward his recovery.
- Service as Healing: Just like his dad, Zak finds that helping others—whether through his products or his board work—is a form of self-therapy.
The most important thing to remember is that being Robin Williams' son isn't a job title for Zak. It's a foundation of kindness that he’s built a very modern, very necessary career on. He’s living proof that you can inherit a tragedy and still build a legacy of light.
To really follow Zak’s lead, start by looking at your own "mental hygiene" routine. If you're feeling overwhelmed, look into the intersection of nutrition and mood, or find a local chapter of an organization like Bring Change to Mind to see how community support can change your perspective on stress.