• February 24, 2003
• Vol. 59
• No. 7

A Brady Bunch

Talk Show Host Wayne Brady Celebrates His Most Important New Role: Father of Daughter Maile

Gazing at his newborn daughter, comedian and talk show host Wayne Brady inspects her tiny features for any physical resemblance. "She looks like Mandie," he says, referring to baby Maile's mom. "It's sad that my one real DNA contribution is that she has my feet—long, narrow feet." Mandie, his wife of four years, offers another similarity: "She's also gassy, just like you."

Maile—pronounced MY-lee, the Hawaiian name of the leaf found in leis—weighed in at 6 lbs. 1 oz. when she was born at a Los Angeles hospital on Feb. 3 at 6:19 a.m. Apart from morning sickness and a sore back, it had been a problem-free pregnancy for Mandie, 26, a former dancer who for now plans to be a stay-at-home mom in the couple's six-bedroom Hollywood home. In fact, it was Brady, 30, who encountered health setbacks resulting in knee surgery and a sinus operation as he launched the syndicated Wayne Brady Show last September. "Here I was with bandages on my face and knees, on painkillers, and Mandie was taking care of me."

But he made sure to give his daughter loving attention after a day of doting on guests like Tyne Daly (who knitted Maile a hat) and Fastlane's Peter Facinelli (who gave Brady a baby-emergency backpack). "At night when we were lying down, he'd sing to her and listen for her," says Mandie. "He would say, 'It's like an alien life-form trying to get out.' " From the moment Maile emerged, "Wayne has taken care of her, changed her diaper, held her as if he's always held her," says Mandie, laughing. "He's not supposed to be so good at this!"

"I jumped in there fast," admits Dad, who looks forward to adding to the family. "But we need to get past Maile first! The rule is that we can't have the next kid until Maile is old enough to help change its diapers."