wayne brady wife
Wayne Brady has no current wife, but the woman fans usually mean when they search for Wayne Brady’s wife is Mandie Taketa, a dancer, writer and actor. She was married to him from 1999 to 2008, and she is still his close friend and business partner. Brady was married to Diana Lasso from 1993 to 1995, and to Taketa from 1999 to 2008.
Brady is the Emmy-winning comedian, singer and actor known for improv on Whose Line Is It Anyway?, for hosting Let’s Make a Deal, and for his own talk show. Taketa keeps a lower profile, but her story is one of Hollywood’s most unusual: an ex-couple who became a close, loving family. This article covers who she is, her work, how she and Brady met, their marriage and divorce, their daughter, and the blended family they share today.
Who Is Mandie Taketa? Wayne Brady’s Ex-Wife Explained
Mandie Taketa is best known as Wayne Brady’s second wife. She is described as a writer, dancer and actor. Her exact date of birth and birthplace have not been confirmed by reliable sources, so we won’t guess. For a sense of timing, she was reported to be 47 in 2023.
Little has been published about her childhood or education. Taketa has never made her schooling part of her public story, and this article sticks to what is on the record. What is clear is that she built her life in performance and the entertainment business, and that she has been a steady presence in Brady’s life for more than 25 years.
Mandie Taketa’s Career and Professional Life
Taketa works in the same world as her ex-husband. She is a performer who dances, acts and writes. Reports describe her as Brady’s business partner and former spouse. That means she is a working collaborator, not just a name from his past.
Her best-known recent project is the family series Wayne Brady: The Family Remix. It follows what the show calls the “Core Four”: Brady, Taketa, their daughter Maile Masako Brady, and Taketa’s life partner, Jason Fordham. The show was built around their unconventional household. Taketa also appeared with Maile in the music video for Brady’s song “You and Me,” which reflects on the emotional side of their divorce. The video features both of them.
Taketa’s net worth has not been reliably reported, and we won’t repeat unverified figures from gossip sites.
How Did Wayne Brady and Mandie Taketa Meet?
The couple met through work. Wayne and Mandie met while working together. Exact details of their first meeting, such as the venue and the year, are not well documented in reliable reporting.
Here is the timeline that is on record:
- 1993–1995: Brady’s first marriage, to Diana Lasso, ends. He was in his early twenties, and he has said people shouldn’t marry that young because they don’t yet know themselves.
- 1999: Brady and Taketa marry.
- 2003: Their daughter is born.
- 2008: The marriage ends.
Brady has also been open about what Taketa meant to him personally. He has said he is grateful that she stood by him when he hit rock bottom at age 42. That kind of loyalty helps explain why they stayed so close after the divorce.
Marriage and Wedding Details: Wayne Brady’s Wife for Nine Years
Mandie Taketa was married to Wayne Brady from 1999 to 2008. One lower-quality source reports that they wed in a low-key ceremony in April 1999. We treat that as unconfirmed, since no major outlet has published full wedding details such as a venue, guest list or photos.
The marriage lasted about nine years, and the divorce was completed in 2008. Neither has presented the split as a dramatic falling-out. Brady has described his bond with Taketa as more like best friends than ex-spouses, and the two never stopped being a team, in work or in raising their child.
Children and Family Life: A Blended Family
Wayne Brady and Mandie Taketa have one child, a daughter named Maile Masako Brady. Maile was born on February 3, 2003. She was 20 when her father made headlines in 2023, and she has appeared alongside both parents on camera.
After the divorce, the family stayed unusually close. Taketa remains Brady’s best friend, and the two have built a blended family. That family includes Taketa’s partner, Jason Fordham, and Brady has called Fordham part of the family. It’s a setup many viewers found refreshing, especially when it was shown on The Family Remix.
Their approach to co-parenting shows how a public couple can handle a divorce without hostility. They share work, holidays and a daughter, while Taketa’s own relationship continues alongside it.
A Family Moment: Supporting Wayne Brady’s 2023 Announcement
In August 2023, Brady told People that he identifies as pansexual. Taketa was the first person he told, and she publicly voiced her support. Maile reacted warmly too. Brady said at the time that he was single and wanted to focus on himself before dating again.
That moment captured the family’s dynamic: honesty first, support second, and no drama.
Mandie Taketa on Social Media
Taketa keeps a more private online presence than most celebrity spouses. She is not known for a huge public following or for posting about Brady’s career. Follower counts change often, so check her verified accounts for current numbers. Most of her public visibility comes from the family series and interviews, where she talks about work, motherhood and the unusual household she shares with Brady, Maile and Fordham.
Quick Facts: Wayne Brady’s Wife
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Mandie Taketa |
| Date of Birth | Not publicly confirmed (reported as age 47 in 2023) |
| Nationality | Not confirmed in reliable sources |
| Profession | Dancer, writer and actor; business partner of Wayne Brady |
| Married to | Wayne Brady, 1999–2008 (now divorced) |
| Marriage Years | 1999 to 2008 |
| Children | One daughter, Maile Masako Brady (born February 3, 2003) |
| Net Worth | Not publicly reported |
FAQ: Wayne Brady’s Wife
Q: What is Wayne Brady’s wife’s name?
A: Wayne Brady is not currently married. His most recent ex-wife is Mandie Taketa, and his first ex-wife is Diana Lasso.
Q: How old is Mandie Taketa?
A: Her exact birth date is not public. She was reported to be 47 in 2023, which puts her in her late 40s today.
Q: What does Mandie Taketa do for a living?
A: She is a dancer, writer and actor. She also works with Brady as a business partner.
Q: When did Wayne Brady and Mandie Taketa get married?
A: They married in 1999 and divorced in 2008. Brady’s first marriage, to Diana Lasso, ran from 1993 to 1995.
Q: How many kids do Wayne Brady and Mandie Taketa have?
A: They have one daughter, Maile Masako Brady, born in February 2003.
Conclusion
The answer to “who is Wayne Brady’s wife” is more interesting than a single name. Brady has no current wife, but Mandie Taketa is the woman behind most of his adult story: his wife for nine years, the mother of his daughter, his business partner and his best friend. Their journey from marriage to co-parenting to a shared TV project shows that a relationship can change form and still be strong. Whatever comes next for Brady, the family he and Taketa built looks solid.
