Jonathan Bailey Reveals His Grief Over His 'Inspiring' Teacher Who Died by Suicide: 'I Think About Him a Lot'
- - Jonathan Bailey Reveals His Grief Over His 'Inspiring' Teacher Who Died by Suicide: 'I Think About Him a Lot'
Tommy McArdleNovember 11, 2025 at 2:50 AM
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Jonathan Bailey -
Jonathan Bailey revealed in a new interview that he still mourns a cherished teacher he had as a teenager, who died by suicide in 2007
"He was such a huge part of my life and I was lucky to be taught by him," Bailey said of Dr. David Brunton, who taught Bailey when he was a teenager in England
The Wicked: For Good star said he credits his onstage acting breakthrough in Othello to his schoolwork studying the William Shakespeare play with Brunton
Jonathan Bailey is reflecting on his grief for a significant mentor from his youth.
When PEOPLE's Sexiest Man Alive Bailey, 37, spoke with Esquire U.K. for the magazine's Winter 2025 issue, the actor discussed the impact Dr. David Brunton, a teacher, had on his life when he attended Magdalen College School in Oxford, England, for his "sixth form" (ages 16-18) education.
Bailey, who was asked to discuss his "male role models growing up," said Brunton "saw me for who I was" and described the teacher as "just the most incredible, inspiring person."
Bailey said Brunton offered support when Bailey decided to write a dissertation for school "about the representation of homosexuality in" the 2005 movie Brokeback Mountain, among other fond memories of the teacher. "The reason I’m telling you so much about him is that he tragically took his own life when I was on my gap year," he said of Brunton.
"It was so upsetting and confusing," Bailey added of the teacher's death. "He was such a huge part of my life, and I was lucky to be taught by him. I have to retrofit this person who was clearly struggling with their mental health. It felt like a very sort of formative and bruising time."
courtesy of Esquire UK / Matt Healy
Jonathan Bailey in Esquire UK
Brunton died in March 2007, as the BBC and The London Standard reported. At that time, Magdalen College School's headmaster Andrew Halls told The London Standard that Brunton "was an inspirational teacher and a housemaster of enormous compassion and insight."
"I think about him a lot," Bailey admitted while speaking with Esquire about Brunton's impact on his life. "I think about the fact that we studied Othello at school, and he would always ask me to read with him. Then I ended up acting in Othello at the National [Theatre], which I regard as my sort of breakthrough role. I think in my grief and confusion I created a connection between those two things."
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John Nacion/Variety via Getty
Jonathan Bailey on Nov. 14, 2024
"There’s a security or a calmness to the idea that something continues when someone passes away," Bailey added. "I felt so prepped for the audition because of the extraordinary time I’d had with him. So, to then play Cassio in Othello… That was really amazing."
Bailey will next be seen on the big screen in Wicked: For Good, in theaters Nov. 21.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.
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