Brenda Strong is a talented actress well-known for her roles on Dallas and Desperate Housewives, and she has passed her talents down to her only son.
The 66-year-old, who celebrated her birthday on March 25, is the proud mom of actor Zak Henri, whom she shares with her first husband, Tom Henri, with whom she was married from 1989 to 2013.
Brenda has starred opposite some big names, including Eva Longoria and Felicity Huffman, but Zak’s acting credits have seen him share the big screen with Hollywood royalty.
Career
Zak began his career in 2012 on the TV series Bunheads, starring in six episodes. He followed that up with a move to the big screen, landing the role of Jake in the 2014 romantic comedy film Blended, opposite Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore.
Discussing his character, he said in a red carpet interview: “Well, at first he’s a brooding kid who just doesn’t want anything to do with his stepmother, and kind of his father, I suppose. After a little bit, he warms up, and you start to see more of who he actually is, and how fun he is, and all that stuff.”
© Getty ImagesHe has had several film and television roles since, including Teacher of the Year (2014), Awkward (2014-2015), Bones (2015), The Sphere and the Labyrinth (2016), Days of Our Lives (2016), Suspicion (2017), and the 2023 short, The Doorstep.
He loves his mom
© InstagramZak and his mom have a very close relationship, and he has expressed his love for her several times on social media.
On Mother’s Day in 2023, Zak shared three smiling photos of the pair and wrote: “I love you forever and always Mom. Happy Mother’s Day.”
© InstagramIn 2020, he penned on Mother’s Day: “Happy Mother’s Day to the most incredible, strong, and loving woman who I’ve had the honor of calling Mom. Love you forever and always.”
On May 9, 2022, he posted a carousel of photos of himself and Brenda from his childhood for seemingly no reason other than to say: “Love you forever.”
Mother and son bond
© InstagramBrenda is just as vocal about her love and admiration for her son on social media.
On his 30th birthday in 2024, she penned on Instagram: “The love I have for this beautiful young man is immense. @zaknotwack thank you for being such an amazing son. A curious adventurer, a blossoming artist and a kind soul, I know you will continue to make yourself proud as you embark on this next decade.
© Instagram“Light it up! Be the leader I know you are and continue to carve your path with love and purpose. I love you!!! We love you! Thank you @alexander__berg for capturing magic. The world is indeed wonderful. How??? It’s crazy. It seems that just yesterday we were reading Harry Potter and collecting Pokemon cards. Happy Birthday Zak!”
On his 29th birthday, she shared a cute photo of him as a child sticking his tongue out, alongside recent images of him doing the same thing.
© Instagram“Happy Birthday to my son @zaknotwack! (The tongue has been a long standing form of self expression as evidenced here),” she wrote.
“But what is not as obvious is his kind, empathic heart, that as a Mom, makes me incredibly proud. Your continuous commitment to growth, New life experiences and adventures marks the beginning of a new and exciting decade ahead. Stay curious and kind sweetheart. I love you more. Happy Birthday!!!”
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