'The Office' star Rainn Wilson opens up about abuse growing up in 'loveless' home after mom 'took off'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Rainn Wilson, known for his role as Dwight Schrute on ‘The Office’, shared on Steven Bartlett's ‘The Diary of a CEO’ podcast the significant impact his parents, Robert G Wilson and Shay Cooper, had on his life.
Despite making millions laugh with his comedic talents, Wilson disclosed that he had been grappling with mental torment throughout his life, both during his time on the show and beyond.
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How old is Rainn Wilson?
Born January 20, 1966, Rainn Wilson is currently 57 years old. The actor candidly discussed the abuse and trauma he suffered, saying, “I experienced a lot of pain in my life and a lot of suffering with anxiety and depression and addiction.”
Wilson attributed much of his emotional pain and suffering to his early-life experiences. However, he also emphasized, “As I dove into recovery and the therapeutic process, I can pin that squarely on a lot of gross imbalances and trauma that I suffered as a child.”
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Rainn Wilson also shared that he underwent therapy for an extensive period spanning over 22 years.
He said, "It’s important to excavate and honor the pain we went through, the lies that we were told, the gaslighting that we might have undergone, religious trauma as well, all kinds of different traumas that we suffer."
Who is Rainn Wilson's mom?
Rainn Wilson's mom is Shay Cooper, a yoga teacher and actress.
During his appearance on the podcast, Rainn Wilson revealed that his mother had "taken off" from his life when he was less than two years old, leaving him in the care of his father.
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Later on, his father made an impulsive decision to relocate, taking Rainn to "the jungles of Nicaragua" when he was only three years old.
Eventually, he settled in Washington, where he began kindergarten. These early-life experiences and relocations contributed to the challenges and traumas that Rainn Wilson has grappled with throughout his life.
What happened to Rainn Wilson?
According to Deadline, Rainn Wilson departed from ‘The Office’ after seven seasons to shift his focus toward his movie career. Following his exit from the beloved TV show, Wilson has taken on various film roles.
Some of the movies he has appeared in include 'Peep World', 'Cooties', 'The Boy', 'Smurfs: The Lost Village', 'The Meg', 'Blackbird', and 'Weird: The Al Yankovic Story', showcasing his versatility as an actor in both comedy and other genres.
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Rainn Wilson shared that after his father remarried, he was raised in what he described as a "loveless shell of a house." During this period, he faced various forms of abuse, including rage and gaslighting.
Wilson acknowledged that his challenging home life had a significant impact on him and was one of the factors that led him to pursue a career in acting and comedy.
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He pointed out a common thread among comedians: many of them come from painful backgrounds. He claimed comedy was a means for them to shift their perspective away from the pain and trauma they experienced.
Wilson also drew a parallel between comedy and gratitude, suggesting that both can be powerful tools for coping with and overcoming difficult circumstances.