Sterling K. Brown Remembers Late Father: ‘My Dad Loved Without Limits’

Sterling K. Brown and Renée Elise Goldsberry star as a married couple in the new movie “Waves.” “Extra” Special Correspondent Rachel Lindsay was with the actors Saturday to talk about the movie.

“Waves” is a suburban African-American family's story of love, loss, and forgiveness.

Both Brown and Goldsberry are the parents of young children themselves, and Sterling also plays a dad on “This Is Us.” Losing his own father at a young age, Sterling shared what he learned from him that helped him, saying, “My dad loved without limits. I mean, he was incredibly funny, he allowed us to have a friendship while the hierarchy was still very clear.”

He added, “But we got a chance to, like, have this game where we would pass gas in each other's faces. 'Got you, old man' And then he would gas me right back.”

Hearing this story, Renée said, “See what I mean? You just love him more.” Sterling stated, “He's listening, he's like, 'Yeah, yeah, it's true.'” He went on, “There was never any sort of idea that to be a man meant that you couldn't show emotion… we were watching movies and he'd cry right in front of me, and I was like, 'Are you okay?' and he's like, 'Yeah, man, this kind of got me this last time around,' and I'm that dude.”

Sterling's son is an aspiring rapper, comedian, and football player. “Uh… he's very funny. The comedian, check. He's a very good football player. His flow is aight.” He added, “He's moved away from the rap thing a little bit." He then said to Renée, "You may have to come to the crib and spit a little bit." She said she'd love to!

Renée and Sterling loved working together, Sterling said. “It was a joy. I love Renée. Like, I really, really do. I had a talent crush first and then I just loved her as a human being and we spent a lot of time just talking – you know what I mean?”

Renée commented, “I love that I can say… we've been watching him and he's one of those actors that you love his work but you also just love him. Anytime he gets to talk and win something, you're like, 'I love him more!'”