Robin Williams’ son has named his newborn baby boy after his dad.
The eldest child of the late actor, Zak Williams, welcomed a son with fiancée Olivia June on May 22, a representative for the family has confirmed.
Paying tribute to Zak’s dad, the couple named their firstborn McLaurin Clement Williams. McLaurin was Robin’s middle name.
Baby McLaurin, whom the couple will call Mickey for short, arrived weighing 8 lbs and measuring 20.5 inches, People reports.
The first pictures of the little bundle of joy were first shared with People, and then posted to Zak’s sister Zelda Williams’ Instagram page.
Reportedly taken by Zelda herself, the adorable snaps show little McLaurin fast asleep in his parents’ arms, while they smile lovingly beside him.
The new addition to the family comes nearly five years after Robin Williams’ death on August 11, 2014, which left the world in mourning for a man who was loved by all.
Robin died at the age of 63 after committing suicide at his home in California. The actor had recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s, with an autopsy later revealing Williams had actually been suffering with diffuse Lewy body dementia.
Since his tragic death, Zak – who is an entrepreneur – has become a mental health advocate, while June is the CEO of the women’s-empowerment and community app Hey! VINA and a tech-startup founder.
Zak last year opened up about his loss in Dave Itzkoff’s biography, Robin, an excerpt of which was shared in Vanity Fair.
In it, Zak said he feels regret for not spending more time with his dad:
I’m kicking myself for not visiting him during that time. Because I think that was a very lonely period for him.
In retrospect, I feel like I should have been there, spending time with him. Because someone who needs support was not getting the support he need.
The biography details the actor’s heartbreaking decline in his final months, gaining insight from some of Robin’s closest friends and family members.
Detailing how the star’s mind and body faded as he battled with diffuse Lewy body dementia, with friends noticing how he was losing weight, stooping, and had developed a tremor in his voice and left hand.
Robin’s close friend Billy Crystal said the diagnosis of Parkinson’s ‘scared’ the actor, but it wouldn’t be until after his death the proper diagnosis would be given.
Rest in peace, Robin.
To find out more about Lewy body dementia, you can visit Alzheimer’s Society’s website.
If you’re experiencing distressing thoughts and feelings, the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is there to support you. They’re open from 5pm–midnight, 365 days a year. Their national number is 0800 58 58 58, and they also have a webchat service if you’re not comfortable talking on the phone.
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A Broadcast Journalism Masters graduate who went on to achieve an NCTJ level 3 Diploma in Journalism, Lucy has done stints at ITV, BBC Inside Out and Key 103. While working as a journalist for UNILAD, Lucy has reported on breaking news stories while also writing features about mental health, cervical screening awareness, and Little Mix (who she is unapologetically obsessed with).