Walt W. Braithwaite was born in January 1945 in Kingston, Jamaica. His mother is Ivy Braithwaite, a beautician, seamstress, and embroiderer. His father is Ivanhoe Braithwaite, a laborer and salesman. He has a sister. When Braithwaite was a teenager (around 1960), he and his family moved to England. Walter Braithwaite is now married to Rita Braithwaite. Together they have three daughters.