Drew Barrymore knows how to make a man cry. On this morning’s episode of The Drew Barrymore Show, the actress had a surprise for Sterling K. Brown that left him in tears, marking the second time he’s cried on the hit daytime talk show.
Brown, who was promoting his new Hulu series Paradise, began the interview by looking back on his time attending St. Louis Country Day — now MICDS — in high school.
“I had some wonderful mentors at that school — an acting teacher that’s still there now,” he said. “Her name is Ms. Carolyn Hood. I go back every five years to visit her.”
When a photo of Brown and his former teacher popped up on the screen, the actor exclaimed, “Oh, god! You guys do research. What the heck?”
That wasn’t all Barrymore had up her sleeve. Just as Brown was settling from the shock of seeing his teacher on national TV, the control room pulled up a video Hood made for her former student.
“Hey, Sterling. It’s Queen Gertrude,” she said in the video. “Remember from your first professional gig here at the Orthwein Theater?
“We are so proud of you, Sterling, for all the beautiful and layered performances you continue to awe us with,” Hood continued. “Every time you come home you come and visit my classes, you inspire and encourage this new group of artists coming up. And for that I am so grateful.”
Hood concluded the video by saying she “can’t wait” to see Paradise.
When the cameras panned back to Brown, he was wiping tears away from his eyes.
“You messed up my makeup!” he joked, noting that he “appreciated” the plug for his new series.
This isn’t the first time Brown has cried on The Drew Barrymore Show. The star became choked up during a February 2024 episode when Barrymore asked about his late father.
“You had a really strong relationship with your father. When you’re having a moment like that and you’re this father who literally just gave birth to your child, do you think about him in that moment?” she asked, to which a glassy-eyed Brown replied, “Don’t you do that, Drew Barrymore.”
The Drew Barrymore Show airs on weekdays on CBS. You can check the website for local airtimes.
