On The Young and the Restless, Mark Grossman portrays the complex and calculating Adam Newman—a man torn between ambition, love, and personal demons. But behind the scenes, Grossman’s real-life story is just as intense and emotionally layered. In a recent emotional interview on Maurice Benard’s State of Mind podcast, Grossman opened up about a deeply personal and heartbreaking chapter of his life: the loss of his 17-year-old brother to mental illness when he was only 19.

For over six years, fans have watched Grossman embody Adam’s manipulative schemes and complicated love triangles, but few knew the real pain he carried beneath the surface. In the podcast, Grossman detailed how his brother slowly began withdrawing—asking to be homeschooled, losing touch with friends, and exhibiting signs of paranoia. At first, their family believed it was a phase, but the symptoms worsened. His brother began showering in the dark, wore all black, and even roamed the house carrying a baseball bat out of fear. It wasn’t until the final stages that he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia—just three months before his tragic passing in January 2007.

Grossman shared how, at 19, he didn’t fully grasp the seriousness of his brother’s suffering. In hindsight, he recognizes the immense pain his brother was going through—pain that left a lasting scar on his own heart. Though he hasn’t faced mental illness personally, his brother’s struggle left him with a deep understanding of the invisible battles so many fight daily.

The powerful interview gives fans a rare glimpse into the man behind Adam Newman—a reminder that beneath the drama of Genoa City, Mark Grossman is carrying a very real story of grief, love, and resilience.