Recently, in September 2022, Wayne Brady was announced as a contestant for season 31. Dancing with the starscollaborated with Witney Carson. Prior to that, the American television personality/comedian/actress/singer was known to fans primarily as a regular on the American version of the improv comedy television series So whose line is this?. With that said, let’s take a look at who Wayne Brady’s parents are in the rest of the article.
Who are Wayne Brady’s parents?
Wayne Brady is the son of Linda Marie Newton (mother) and Wayne Brady (father). He was born to teenage West Indian parents on June 2, 1972.
Here’s what we know about each.
Who is Wayne Brady’s father, Wayne Brady Sr.?
Speaking about his namesake father, Wayne told PLAYBILL in 2015 that he spent most of his life as an Army drill sergeant. He went on to say that he was a really great guy and that he loved him very much.
But because he grew up in a family where a performing arts career was unrealistic, they also had their differences.
Following in his father’s footsteps, everyone else, including his sister and all his cousins, pursued “real jobs” and became “professional and very responsible people.” So for Wayne, everyone, including his father, realized that he would be bankrupt for most of his life and possibly without insurance while working on stage.
So when he graduated from high school, he and his father had a huge argument about what career he chose. But fortunately, over time, he changed.
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Is Wayne Brady Sr. still alive?
Wayne Brady Sr. passed away on March 7, 1995. He was one of more than 20 children of Terrance Brady Sr.
In May 2015, Wayne Brady Jr. posted a snapshot of himself at his father’s funeral exactly 24 years ago, from that moment, with his sister. With great sadness, he wrote in the caption that because his father passed away at the age of 45, all these years he had feared that he would die at this age.
So every year as he grew older, he was happy to live another year and be with his “little sister”, that is, his younger sister.
Wayne Brady’s father, Wayne Brady Sr., was a military man. He was a soldier deployed overseas.
Who is Wayne Brady’s mother, Linda Maire Newton?
Wayne Brady’s mother couldn’t support him. So she didn’t talk much about her. He said that since he didn’t know her well, the subject of her was something he didn’t bring up. (http://rxreviewz.com/)
So when it comes to his grandmother, Valerie Petersen, who has been a huge pillar in his life, Wayne can’t help but sing her praises. In addition to calling her his “mom,” he’s even publicly explained that she’s kept him grounded in Orlando, and for that, he’s forever grateful.
Indeed, Valerie made sure Wayne grew up seeking an education. She had him graduate from Dr. Philips High School in Orlando before completing his studies at the University of Miami.
A native of the Virgin Islands, Valerie was born to Cyril “Parky” Dorsett, a former park gardener for the Virgin Islands government.
But, as of now, the beloved fierce warrior grandmother/mother is no more. She reportedly took her last breath in early 2018. In tribute to the wonderful life she left behind, Wayne wrote on IG @mrbradybaby that he was glad he was able to fulfill his father’s wish to “take care of my old lady!” during the years he had with Valerie.
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Is Linda Maire Newton still alive?
Yes. Linda Maire Newton is still alive.
Wayne himself revealed in an interview that she is still alive and well, but in the press, he calls his grandmother his mother.
Since Linda Maire Newton was only 17 when her son, Wayne, was born, she will be around 67 years old in 2022.
Wayne Brady’s mother, Linda Maire Newton, was an employee at Northeast Baptist Hospital in San Antonio, Texas in 1993.
Related FAQs
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What island are Wayne Brady’s parents from?
Wayne Brady’s parents are from Columbus, Georgia. So Wayne was also born in Columbus.
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What happened to Wayne Brady’s parents?
Wayne Brady’s parents eventually split up. But the reason why is not revealed.
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Why didn’t Wayne Brady’s parents raise him?
When Brady was born, his mother was only 17 years old and could not raise him. Additionally, Wayne’s father did not want his son to be raised by a military child (which he was). So Wayne was raised by his grandparents from a young age.
Since Wayne Sr.’s military career meant that young Wayne would have to move around a lot if he remained in his father’s care, Valerie’s replacement made the most sense at the time.
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How many children do Wayne Brady’s parents have?
Wayne Brady’s parents had one more child after Wayne. She is Wayne’s only sister, Kimberly.
In case you must know, Wayne himself has a child with his ex-wife/dancer Mandie Taketa. They have a daughter named Maile Masako Brady. She was born on February 3, 2003, long before the couple decided to separate on April 5, 2006.
Anyway, when Mandie adopted a baby boy with her new partner in 2021, Wayne stepped up and offered to co-parent their adopted child. Wayne mentioned that the baby would call him dad/uncle when he grew up.
Wayne was also previously married to Diana Lasso (December 1993 – September 1995).