Speaking with GMA host Robin Roberts, King expressed the immense grief she has experienced since her son’s death and how it has profoundly changed her as a person:

“I’m a different person, you know, now than I was Jan. 19,” she shared. “Grief is a journey. I understand that grief is love that has no place to go.”

She continued:

“It’s important to me to honor Ian in the totality of who he is, speak about him in the present because he is always with me, the joy and happiness that he gave all of us.”

“I understand that grief is love that has no place to go. I know that it's important to me to honor Ian and the totality of who he is.”@ReginaKing speaks out to @robinroberts for the first time about her son’s death over two years ago. https://t.co/yIiTGItzCY pic.twitter.com/D2fXGdcauc

— Good Morning America (@GMA) March 14, 2024

The acclaimed actress also highlighted the importance of understanding mental health and respecting an individual’s choice in battling depressive thoughts. King stated:

“When it comes to depression, people expect it to look a certain way and they expect it to look heavy,” Regina said. “And people expect that … to have to experience this and not be able to have the time to just sit with Ian’s choice, which I respect and understand, you know, that he didn’t wanna be here anymore.”

“That’s a hard thing for other people to receive because they did not live our experience, did not live Ian’s journey.”

Regina discussed her ongoing struggle with guilt, an emotion that often consumes parents who have lost a child. She reflected on the questions that plague her mind, wondering if there was anything more she could have done to prevent her son’s tragic decision::

“Sometimes it’s a lot of guilt comes over me. When a parent loses a child you still wonder, what could I have done so that wouldn’t have happened?” confessed Regina.

Shortly after her son’s passing, Regina said, “I was so angry with God, why would that weight be given to Ian?”

“Of all of the things that we had gone through with the therapy, psychiatrists, programs. Ian was just like ‘I’m tired of talking Mom,’” she continued.

Regina says her favorite thing about her life is “is being Ian’s mom,” but she also admits this:

“And I can’t say that with a smile, with tears, with all of the emotions that come with that, I can’t do that if I did not respect the journey,” she said.

“I know that I share this grief with everyone, but no one else is Ian’s mom. Only me. And so, it’s mine and the sadness will never go away. It’ll always be with me,” she added.

Ian Alexander Jr.’s passing has left an indelible mark on Regina King’s life. She confessed that moments of laughter and smiles are intertwined with the sadness of his absence:

“Sometimes it’ll trigger just laughter. Most times, as of recent, it triggers a smile. But sometimes the absence, his absence, is really loud,” she shared.

In honor of her beloved son, King dedicated her latest film, “Shirley,” to his memory. She also wore orange, Ian’s favorite color, at the recent Academy Awards ceremony. Through her work and personal journey, King aims to keep her son’s spirit alive and raise awareness about mental health struggles.

Regina King’s candid interview provided a glimpse into the unimaginable pain that parents face after losing a child to suicide. It serves as a reminder to us all to prioritize understanding, empathy, and destigmatization of mental health issues in our society.

We humbly salute Regina for having the strength to publicly discuss the most painful tragedy of her life. Sending love and uplifting energy to this queen, as she continues to journey on. Ian Alexander Jr. may be gone, but will never be forgotten. Rest in power, king.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please reach out to the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, chat live at 988lifeline.org, or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.

The post Regina King Painfully Speaks Out For First Time About Her Son’s Death appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Iconic actress, Angela Bassett, was recently honored with an Oscar at the Governors Awards on Tuesday, January 9, 2024. However, it wasn’t her well-deserved recognition that got people talking the most. It was a sweet and heartfelt moment between Bassett and her close friend, fellow actress Regina King, that stirred up controversy online.

Pure Joy! Angela Bassett & Regina King Share Friendly Kiss as Angela Receives Honorary Oscar! 🏆♥️ pic.twitter.com/yHF6x85RUL

— Gaye Magazine (@GayeMagazine) January 10, 2024

During the award ceremony, King had the honor of presenting Bassett with the prestigious award. In her heartfelt speech, King reflected on their sisterhood and the time they have spent working together in the industry. As Bassett took the stage to accept her award, she embraced King and gave her a brief kiss on the lips before they went their separate ways.

It’s safe to say that Regina King gave Angela Bassett her flowers and MORE 💐

This is how you honor someone. What a beautiful speech. pic.twitter.com/OJYVCFliEL

— Okayplayer (@okayplayer) January 10, 2024

Instead of celebrating the achievement and the bond between these two talented actresses, some people focused on the kiss and criticized them. Across social media, users expressed their disappointment, in online comments, about the actresses.

2024 is fr crazy asl we only in the first month and got damn Angela Bassett and Regina King kissing lmao mannnn what tf going on ??? 😅 pic.twitter.com/LAH0SZjr78

— Tee🦋 (@teeelatricee) January 10, 2024

Who else thinks it's a coincidence that the night Angela Bassett finally won an Oscar she also had to kiss Regina King?

That Oscar wasn't worth your soul auntie 😞 https://t.co/QdcMP4BP5B

— Afro Elite (@TheAfroElite) January 10, 2024

“This what she did on camera. Imagine what she had to do off camera. We all remember what Halle had to do to win her one and only Oscar,” commented another.

“The millions she had wasn’t enough. She still wanted that Oscar and was willing to tongue kiss on camera for it. Remember Regina King ‘lost’ her son to an apparent suicide. Now you’re on stage making out with a woman. Nice,” wrote another.

Another fan commented, ““And you find this surprising?? They made Halle Berry cancel her nudity clause in her contract so she can do “Monsters ball.” They made Denzel Washington lowered his integrity by having him play a crooked cop. Don’t get me started with the rest of the black actors who won Oscars (all of the other female black Oscars winners are mostly for for best supporting actress, implying that Halle Berry, will be the first and last black woman who win the best actress). The rest are either pity Oscars or best male actor Oscar. Hollywood will always be corrupt and they get great pleasure in humiliating strong, prideful, Black actors and actresses.”

It’s disheartening to see such negativity overshadow a moment of recognition and sisterly love. The kiss between Bassett and King was an expression of love and admiration between two Black women who have fought side by side in Hollywood, challenging the stereotypes and barriers they face.

Love comes in many forms, and it’s a beautiful thing to witness, whether it’s romantic, platonic, or something in between.

Simply put, Angela Bassett’s long-overdue Oscar win is a moment to be celebrated, showcasing her incredible talent and contributions to the entertainment industry. Angela and Regina have are strong women though. So even if their fans choose to not focus on the positive aspects of their bond, pretty sure these two queens will continue to inspire millions and pave the way for future generations.

The post Angela Bassett Finally Wins 1st Oscar, But People Pissed Over Her Kiss With Regina King appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Our hearts are aching for actress, Regina King, and her loved ones at this time. News has spread that her only only child, son Ian Alexander Jr., took his own life Wednesday, January 19, 2022 — the day he turned 26 years old.

Ian’s father is Regina’s ex-husband, Ian Alexander Sr., whom she was married to for 10 years.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by desduné (@desdunemjv)

Regina has been receiving a huge of outpouring of support from celebrities and fans alike in wake of this tragic news.

Ian Jr. was his mother’s world. The two would oftentimes be seen together at red carpet events and such, just as they were when Ian referred to his mom as “super mom” before the 2019 Golden Globe Awards. See the video below…

For her 50th birthday in 2021, Ian shared this touching message about his mom on Instagram:

“Happy birthday to my co, so extremely proud of you and inspired by your love, artistry and gangsta. To be able to watch you take this lifetime by its neck and make it yours is something i will forever be grateful for. But to have you as my mother is the greatest gift I could ask for. To be all that you are while always having the time to be there, love and support me unconditionally is truly remarkable. The whole marvel universe ain’t got s*** on you, your the real superhero!”

Describing his mother, Ian once said, “She’s just a super mom. She doesn’t really let bad workdays or anything come back and ruin the time that we have. It’s really awesome to have a mother who I can enjoy spending time with.”

Law enforcement sources confirmed Ian Jr.’s passing, but have not released any further details.

We are sending loving, uplifting energy to Regina King, Ian Alexander Sr., and their loved ones. Words cannot describe how heartbreaking this is.

Ian Alexander Jr. will be forever missed. Rest in peace and power young king.

The post Heartbreaking: Regina King’s Only Child Takes His Life On 26th Birthday…R.I.P. appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

This kid grew up to be a household name back in the day and she became a star in films in the years following. She does a great job at playing ’round-the-way-girl types of roles and here’s another hint: She dated a fellow childhood actor for a few years.

Scroll Down To See Who She Is…

She is Regina King, best known for her roles on the 80’s sitcom, 227, and in many films such as Poetic Justice, Boyz N’ The Hood, This Christmas and the animated TV show, Boondocks.

Regina’s & Malcolm Jamal Warner’s Past Relationship

For those who didn’t catch the hint about the famous child actor she dated for years, it’s none other than “Theo” from the Cosby Show a.k.a. Malcolm Jamal-Warner.

They were like the perfect couple, but things went sour with their relationship in 2013 and they decided to split. Regina appeared on The Wendy Williams show soon after the split and made it clear that she was very single and knows exactly what she’s looking for in her next man. Not sure if Regina has entered into a serious relationship since Malcolm no though. By the way, Malcolm had something to say about their relationship too…

THE ONE THING MALCOM JAMAL WARNER SAID HE DID NOT LIKE WHILE DATING REGINA KING

When Malcolm was asked about he and Regina’s breakup by Sister Sister Magazine, he said this:

“Well, I mean, you try not to date in the spotlight. I think what Regina and I—you know, we had been together for several years before people realized we were together. So unfortunately, our breakup got more coverage than our being together, and that kind of sucked ’cause we spent so much time trying to keep it out of the public eye, and then the breakup was so much in the public eye. So all relationships have their share of obstacles, and you just try not to have yours plastered.”

Regina Discussed Her Dating Struggles After Breakup With Malcolm

Soon after their breakup a few years ago, Wendy Williams asked Regina if she has started dated again, here’s what Regina had to say (she starts at the 0:31 mark in the video below):

“You know, I need to do a better job at it [dating]. I’ve been so busy with work, and my girlfriends are like, ‘Do you think a man is just gonna go knock on the door, like, ‘I’m here!’?’ And I think I wish he would, but I have to make that more of a priority.”

Wendy kept digging trying to comprehend why a beautiful woman like Regina King, was still single:

“I don’t understand,” Williams replied. “You’re still in the juicy years.”

“I know and that’s what one of my friends that’s just a couple of years older than me [said], she was like, ‘You’d better not waste these years!'” King said.

“What are you, picky?” Williams asked. “Can he be the plumber or does he have to own the plumbing company?”

“Own the plumbing company, own the plumbing company,” Regina replied. “I mean, look, look, this is the thing. I think you can find love anywhere and my heart is open to it, but I would like to have…if I can pay for us to go on a vacation, all expenses paid out of my own pocket, then he should be able to do that as well.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6uAOB748Fg&feature=youtu.be&t=4m31s

Does Regina King have a point? What say you ILOSM fam’ – should it matter if your mate is compatible to you financially?

The post This Cutie Pie Grew Up To Become A Very Talented Award-Winning Actress appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Remember the lil’ girl who played “Raj” and “Nadine’s” adopted daughter on “What’s Happening Now?” If not, let us refresh your memory real quick: She played “Carolyn,” an orphan who was left behind at the bar by a woman as payment for the lunch they’d ate. “Shirley” and “Raj” didn’t know what to do until “Nadine” convinced “Raj” to take let her stay with them for the weekend, which then led to their decision to adopt her. Now that we took that trip down memory lane, we wanna show y’all what lil’ “Carolyn” looks like all grown up….

CHECK OUT WHAT “CAROLYN” LOOKS LIKE NOW

“Little Carolyn” is now 46 years old and living life outside of the spotlight. She stepped away from  being in front of the Hollywood’s cameras around 1998, after starring in a few other projects such as “Maid To Order” (1988), “Scrooged” (1988), but she has put on her producer hat in more recent years for a documentary titled “Side by Side: The Story of the 50/50 Group of Sierra Leone” (2007) and for a comedy called “Busted (2009). Her VERY FAMOUS SISTER is still in the acting game and wait until you see who her big sister is below…

ACTRESS, REGINA KING WITH HER SISTER, REINA KING

Yep, you’re seeing this right, legendary actress Regina King (50) is the big sister to Reina King. They’re four years apart and both started in the acting game young. Reina even starred in one episode of her sister’s show, “227,” back in the day. Reina and Regina are very close to this day and can sometimes be seen out and about at events. Regina refers to her as the “bestess” sister.

All these years have passed and we never realized they were sisters. But they clearly look alike. The things we learn around here.

More pics of Reina and Regina

Pictured above, Reina King (far right) with her sister, Regina; and “Orange Is The New Black” actress, Uzo Aduba (second from left) and her sister (far left).

Pictured below, A throwback pic of Regina and Reina King…

The post Remember The “What’s Happening Now” Kid? Her Sister Is A Legendary Actress appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Even though acting legend, Regina King, has won an Emmy Award and starred in many classic TV shows and films, just like us regular folks, being a celebrity does not exempt one from personal heartbreak and tragedy.

Pain Anguish, And Anger

Regina King penned an essay for the book, “He Never Came Home: Interviews, Stories, and Essays from Daughters on Life Without Their Fathers.” In it she revealed the pain, anguish, and anger she endured with her father, her ex-husband, Ian Alexander Sr., and how she overcame it for the sake of their son, Ian Jr.. Check out what she said below….

Regina King On The Tension Between Her Parents

“I was only eight when my parents got divorced, but I don’t remember their split being such a surprise. I never knew what went wrong, but after seven years, their relationship had reached a level where they were constantly arguing. Like, every day. There was a lot of door-slamming going on, too, and it was hard not to notice my dad sleeping in the living room. I remember him lying on the floor every night, for months, because the couch was too soft for his back.”

Embed from Getty Images

“The tension was thick, and I was so embarrassed by the thought of everybody in the neighborhood knowing, or at least hearing, what was going on in our house. …

I was more disappointed and even more hurt when my father seemed to just drift out of our lives. I only realized much later that the divorce really had little to do with that. It had more to do with who he was as a man.”

How Her “227” ‘Dad’ Helped Her

I credit my former co-star Hal Williams (pictured below) with being a wonderful influence. He played my father on 227… and also became a father figure for me when the cameras stopped rolling. He’d let me sit up under him and talk about teenage stuff and just be, which was something I no longer did with my dad. Hal is a warm, loving person and I really appreciate him for being there for me. Around that time, I also had to deal with the fact that my dad married a woman who was barely five years older than me. At seventeen, that was a lot for me to process because, more than anything, I just wanted to be closer to him.

Regina King On Why She Was Outraged With Her Dying Father

I was completely in the dark about Parkinson’s disease. I didn’t know what it was or how it would affect his life, but just the thought of him facing a serious health issue was heartbreaking to me. And things only got worse. He deteriorated more and more, year after year. By the time the disease really began to take over his mind and body, he was living in Panola County, Texas, with his fourth wife. I was pregnant when my husband and I went to visit him, and I was devastated by what I saw. The house was so unkempt and seeing my dad living in those conditions made me even more emotional than I already was. My husband didn’t want me to be in that environment, nor did he like seeing me so upset, so he made up an excuse for us to cut the trip short. I couldn’t get that whole scene out of my head, though, and once I learned that my dad’s son-in-law had stolen a lot of his money, I knew something had to change. That’s when Pat and I started planning to bring him back home to Los Angeles.

I loved my dad and did all that I could to make sure he had the best care, but I also felt some resentment about the situation. There were times when I thought, You weren’t there for me for so long and now I’ve got to take care of you? Then, on the flip side, I felt guilty about being resentful toward someone who was suffering so much. …

…By this point he was not able to speak well or express his feelings, I sensed that he felt guilty about how things had turned out. I’m sure he had regrets about the past. I could see it on his face. I had regrets, too. I regretted the number of years that had passed without us having a better relationship. I regretted that he wasn’t able to share in the special moments like my wedding, where my grandfather walked me down the aisle, or the birth of my son or any of my professional achievements. I also wished Ian could have had the opportunity to really know him.

Next Page: Regina King Reveals Tension With Her Ex-Husband

The post Regina King Painfully Admits Why She Was Mad Angry With Ex-Hubby & Her Dying Father appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Malcolm Jamal Warner admits he had a big crush on one of his Cosby Show “sisters” in the worst way. So who was it- “Vanessa,” “Sondra,” “Denise,” or “Rudy?” Well here’s the obvious hint: It wasn’t “Rudy,” she was way too young…and to get right down to it, nah…it wasn’t “Sondra,” nor “Vanessa”…it was “Denise Huxtable” a.k.a. Lisa Bonet.

Malcolm said he desperately wanted to be with Lisa, but he knew he didn’t stand a chance with her. That didn’t stop that teenage crush from clouding his mind every time he had to do a scene with her, or sit next to her at rehearsals.

Here’s what he said about his crush on Lisa Bonet:

Embed from Getty Images

“Early on, it was Lisa,” Malcolm said when “Access Hollywood Live” hosts asked him about his teenage crush. “I never had a shot. At 13, 14, you know when you have a shot or not – even at that age.”

Lisa and Malcolm’s relationship is more similar to the one they had onscreen as siblings. “Lisa and I have been very cool,” he said. “I’m very cool with everybody because we all bonded in this unique experience. That bond, no matter how much time goes by, we’ll always have that bond.”

There’s nothing worse than a guy finding out the girl he’s crushing on has officially placed him in the “friend zone.”

Speaking of “Denise” and “Theo,” I think one of the funniest scenes on the Cosby Show was when “Denise” made that jacked up shirt for “Theo.” It was supposed to be a designer replica, but it turned out to be a designer disaster…LOL. Check out that scene here…

I guess Malcolm really knew his chances were shot after Lisa popped up pregnant by her then-husband, Lenny Kravitz, while they were still filming The Cosby Show.

Lisa Bonet (51) has moved on from Lenny, but they’re still one big happy family- Lisa; Lenny; their daughter, Zoe Kravitz; and Lisa’s current husband -who’s 12 years her junior- Game of Thrones actor, Jason Momoa (39); and their two young children.

Let’s Scroll Down Malcolm’s History Of Celebrity Relationships>>>

The post Malcolm Jamal Warner Admits He “Never Had A Shot” With His Crush, Cosby Show Co-Star Lisa Bonet appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Fans have been riding with Oscar-winning actress, producer and director Regina King since she played lovable around the way girl Brenda Jenkins on the classic black television show 227. And throughout the years we’ve watched her grow from a spunky child star to a well respected actress who has proven to be one of the best talents in Hollywood. But even though she can finally add Academy Award winner to her list of accomplishments she hasn’t let any of the notoriety go to her head.

Regina Has Always Portrayed Relatable Characters

Since her days as girl next door Brenda on 227 Regina’s popularity has skyrocketed with roles in films such as Poetic Justice, Jerry Maguire, and Friday. As her career continued her roles began to diversify, especially when she provided the voices of both Huey and Riley Freeman on the hit animated show The Boondocks as well as Laz Alonso’s long suffering wife in the holiday classic comedy This Christmas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTif0xVvQB0

In recent years Regina has continued her ride with turns as powerful black women in the acclaimed Netflix series Seven Seconds and, of course, the movie she snagged the Oscar for If Beale Street Could Talk. Her dynamic range keeps audiences captivated, but underneath it all Regina is still the same approachable sistah she’s always been. In a recent interview with media mogul Shonda Rhimes’ on her Shondaland website (via Essence) Regina was very open and honest about how, though she appreciates winning, sometimes she forgets that it even happened.

“I am reminded every time when someone reminds me,” King, who is too consumed with keeping her career on track to focus on congratulating herself, told Shondaland recently.

“For me, it’s all systems go, and always has been. There was never a time during awards season when the momentum had stopped,” she affirmed.

“And that’s important, when you dial it down to the nuts and bolts of it all, you hope that the hardware creates more opportunities for everyone,” she added.

And Regina has been very vocal about creating more opportunities for women in Hollywood so there’s no doubt that whatever she puts her mind to she will accomplish, as evidenced by her Oscar win. But wait, where exactly does she keep it?

Next Page: Regina Keeps It Real About Her Oscar Display >>>

The post Regina King Keeps Her Oscar Where You Would Least Expect It, In A Very Relatable Place appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Actress, Marla Gibbs, is a true legend, who’s also highly underrated and deserves her just due. Her former “227” co-star, Regina King, shares that same sentiment. That’s why she recently let fans know exactly what type of pioneer we’re looking at when we see Ms. Gibbs, who throughout 40+ decades in the game, has accomplished far more than most ever knew.

Regina King Pays Homage To Gibbs & Lets Fans Know Why We Should Too

At 87 years young, Marla Gibbs is still wow’ing us, especially after hearing what Regina King had to say about her. Regina recently paid homage to the legend on two separate occasions.

First, she dedicated an Instagram tribute to Ms. Gibbs for her 87th birthday on June 14, 2018. In doing so, Regina let her fans know just how much of a pioneer Marla is and how much Gibbs taught her.
On what she learned from Gibbs:

Happy Worthday Mama! @marlagibbs4real is truly a national treasure. From her, I learned how to give to another actor even when the camera i’snt on you. From her I learned the importance of hitting your mark. From her I learned how to find my light. She taught me how to be a professional. And I witnessed firsthand why it was so important to do so, wrote Regina.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BkBLnJQFaRO/

On Marla Gibbs’s major, yet largely unknown accomplishments:

“Marla Gibbs was truly one of the first women to sell, produce, and star in her own show, 227. And it ran for 5 seasons on NBC. She did this all while running and owning her own resataurant club, Marla’s Memory Lane. This supperclub was the destination for all the jazz greats. She also owned and ran Crossroads Performing Arts in South Central.Her school provided a space for hundreds of kids to realize their creative gifts. I was one of them.”

In a separate video post, Regina revealed that prior to “227” becoming a televised sitcom, she was already working with Marla for the “227” stage play. She also detailed how much power Marla actually had over her hit NBC show:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BkdOxs-hXo4/

“227,” Marla Gibbs…she was truly a trailblazer and I think we don’t mention it enough… We talk about other actors, creators during that time, and Marla was one of the first.

…I got to see that [“227” sitcom] go from being a stage play, to her bringing it to NBC. And Marla starred in it. I played a little girl that lived around the corner from the building, 227, named Sweetie. We did the play at her performing arts center. This amazing three-story place that she OWNED, actually – owned the property. And I remember when she said, ‘You know, I’m gonna take this [the “227” stage play at that time] out…Christine and I are gonna take it out and sell it.’ And my mom telling me about it and they sold it! She [Marla] was the executive producer and I watched her fire some people.”

Marla Gibbs Thanks Regina King For The Love

Marla shared the video to her Instagram page and wrote a sweet message, thanking Regina as well:

marlagibbs4real: Regina…I appreciate you so much and I’m truly honored by how much Love and Acknowledgement you give me!! You were there to participate as a young actress and witnessed the whole “227” process go from a stage play to a tv show on NBC! Love you ALWAYS!!! ❤️😘❤️😘

Marla really is a TRUE OG and her fearless accomplishments in Hollywood deserve praise, props, and applause!

The post Regina King Tells Amazing Unknown Facts About Marla Gibbs & Gibbs Thanks Her For It appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Even though acting legend, Regina King, has won an Emmy Award and starred in many classic TV shows and films, just like us regular folks, being a celebrity does not exempt one from personal heartbreak and tragedy.

Pain Anguish, And Anger

Regina King penned an essay for the book, “He Never Came Home: Interviews, Stories, and Essays from Daughters on Life Without Their Fathers.” In it she revealed the pain, anguish and anger she endured with her father, her ex-husband, Ian Alexander Sr. pictured below), and how she overcame it for the sake of their son, Ian Jr. Check out what she said below….

Regina King On The Tension Between Her Parents

I was only eight when my parents got divorced, but I don’t remember their split being such a surprise. I never knew what went wrong, but after seven years, their relationship had reached a level where they were constantly arguing. Like, every day. There was a lot of door-slamming going on, too, and it was hard not to notice my dad sleeping in the living room. I remember him lying on the floor every night, for months, because the couch was too soft for his back.

Embed from Getty Images

The tension was thick, and I was so embarrassed by the thought of everybody in the neighborhood knowing, or at least hearing, what was going on in our house. …

I was more disappointed and even more hurt when my father seemed to just drift out of our lives. I only realized much later that the divorce really had little to do with that. It had more to do with who he was as a man.

How Her “227” ‘Dad’ Helped Her

I credit my former co-star Hal Williams (pictured below) with being a wonderful influence. He played my father on 227… and also became a father figure for me when the cameras stopped rolling. He’d let me sit up under him and talk about teenage stuff and just be, which was something I no longer did with my dad. Hal is a warm, loving person and I really appreciate him for being there for me. Around that time, I also had to deal with the fact that my dad married a woman who was barely five years older than me. At seventeen, that was a lot for me to process because, more than anything, I just wanted to be closer to him.

Regina King On Why She Was Outraged With Her Dying Father

I was completely in the dark about Parkinson’s disease. I didn’t know what it was or how it would affect his life, but just the thought of him facing a serious health issue was heartbreaking to me. And things only got worse. He deteriorated more and more, year after year. By the time the disease really began to take over his mind and body, he was living in Panola County, Texas, with his fourth wife. I was pregnant when my husband and I went to visit him, and I was devastated by what I saw. The house was so unkempt and seeing my dad living in those conditions made me even more emotional than I already was. My husband didn’t want me to be in that environment, nor did he like seeing me so upset, so he made up an excuse for us to cut the trip short. I couldn’t get that whole scene out of my head, though, and once I learned that my dad’s son-in-law had stolen a lot of his money, I knew something had to change. That’s when Pat and I started planning to bring him back home to Los Angeles.

I loved my dad and did all that I could to make sure he had the best care, but I also felt some resentment about the situation. There were times when I thought, You weren’t there for me for so long and now I’ve got to take care of you? Then, on the flip side, I felt guilty about being resentful toward someone who was suffering so much. …

…By this point he was not able to speak well or express his feelings, I sensed that he felt guilty about how things had turned out. I’m sure he had regrets about the past. I could see it on his face. I had regrets, too. I regretted the number of years that had passed without us having a better relationship. I regretted that he wasn’t able to share in the special moments like my wedding, where my grandfather walked me down the aisle, or the birth of my son or any of my professional achievements. I also wished Ian could have had the opportunity to really know him.

Next Page: Regina King Reveals Tension With Her Ex-Husband

The post Regina King Painfully Admits Why She Was Pissed With Ex-Hubby & Her Dying Father appeared first on I Love Old School Music.