Regina King and Valerie Bertinelli on Grief: ‘Sadness Isn’t a Bad Thing, It’s Love’

Actresses and sat down for a powerful and candid conversation about navigating life after loss. On Monday's episode of , the pair shared their personal experiences with grief, reframing it not as a state to overcome, but as an enduring expression of love.

According to Entertainment Weekly, the conversation was deeply personal. King's son, Ian Alexander Jr., died by suicide in 2022, and Bertinelli’s ex-husband, , died in 2020 after a long battle with cancer.

“It's Important That Ian’s Name Is Continued to Be Said”

King discussed her new wine label, MianU, which she named after her late son. “Ian’s an artist — and I always speak about him in the present, because he’s still here,” she explained. For King, the brand is a way to celebrate his brilliance and ensure his memory lives on.

“Every time a cork opens, or every time I'm pouring a glass, I'm thinking of Ian,” King said. “For me, it is very important that Ian’s name is always continued to be said.”

“Grief Is Love With No Place to Go”

Bertinelli acknowledged their shared experience, noting that while she gets to celebrate her son, Wolfgang, on stage, “there’s a big hole there” where his father should be. This led to a profound discussion about the nature of grief itself.

King shared a realization that has helped her: “I think I’ve come to realize and accept that so many things that we say have to be black or white, we’re usually always in the gray. Happiness and sadness are happening for me all the time, at the same time.” She concluded, “Sadness is not a bad thing, but a thing that exists. It’s love.”

The two bonded over a quote King received on a card: “Grief is love with no place to go.” Bertinelli praised King for her openness, saying, “I want you to know you’re giving a beautiful gift to people, as hard as it is for you.” King also reflected on her evolving understanding of her son's depression, stating that as time has gone by, she realizes he didn’t have a choice.”