Sterling K. Brown is recognized for his remarkable roles, most notably as Randall Pearson in the beloved series.
The This Is Us star, whose complete name is Sterling Kelby Brown, recently revealed the intriguing reason he opted to use his middle name instead of his first name until he reached the age of 16.
“My father’s name is Sterling Brown Jr., and my grandfather is named Sterling Brown Sr.,” the award-winning actor shared during the April 5 episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show. “I wanted to carve out my own identity, and it felt to me that Sterling was a name suited for an older generation.”
However, after going by Kelby throughout his formative years, the Paradise actor—who is a proud father to sons Andrew, 13, and Amaré, 9, with his talented wife Ryan Michelle Bathé—experienced a significant shift in perspective as a teenager. This change was a heartfelt tribute to his late father, who tragically passed away from a heart attack.
“Since he left this world when I was just 10 years old, by the time I hit 16, I realized I hadn’t heard his name in five or six years,” he reflected. “I yearned to reconnect with that part of my heritage, so I started asking people to call me Sterling.”
His choice of name is just one of the many profound ways his father’s untimely passing has shaped his life. Sterling has been candid about the memories he cherishes of his father, sharing both the challenging and uplifting experiences that continue to influence him today.
