Ben Affleck's mother dies at 83

Chris Anne Affleck, the mother of acclaimed actors Ben and Casey Affleck, has passed away at the age of 83. She died on June 2, following a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in December 2025, according to a report by People magazine.

Affleck dedicated 34 years of her life to teaching in public schools and was also a notable activist for civil rights. Her influence extended significantly into her sons' early careers. Ben Affleck secured some of his initial roles through his mother's connection with casting director Patty Collins.

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We were sitting next to our mothers and we won, and we hugged them. I remember how much importance everyone gave it, as if it were something unusual.

She was a visible presence at major career milestones for Ben, including the 1995 Academy Awards ceremony where he won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for "Good Will Hunting" alongside Matt Damon. Ben Affleck recalled the significance of having their mothers present during their Oscar win, describing it as an "innocent and authentic" moment in a 2023 interview with Vanity Fair.

"We were sitting next to our mothers and we won, and we hugged them. I remember how much importance everyone gave it, as if it were something unusual," Ben Affleck, then 25, told the magazine. He emphasized that bringing their mothers to the awards ceremony was a natural and heartfelt decision.

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By course our mothers were going to go. It was something really innocent and authentic.