Ben Affleck’s mother, Christopher Anne “Chris” Affleck, died after a battle with pancreatic cancer, according to a family obituary published in The Boston Globe.
A death certificate obtained by Us Weekly listed her immediate cause of death as cardiopulmonary arrest. The document also named pancreatic adenocarcinoma as a condition that contributed to her death.
Chris died at 10:52 a.m. on June 2 while “visiting son’s residence,” according to the certificate. The listed address was reportedly connected to Ben Affleck’s Los Angeles home. No autopsy was performed, and her remains were transported to Earth Funeral Home in Las Vegas.
Her death has reportedly been especially difficult for both Ben and his younger brother, Oscar-winning actor Casey Affleck.
“Losing your mom is an unimaginable loss at any age, and they’re grieving deeply,” a source told People. The insider added that the family has been leaning on one another, with their children providing comfort during the painful time.
Chris, born Christopher Anne Boldt in New York City in 1942, spent 35 years working as a public school teacher in the Boston area before retiring in 2008.
She was previously married to Timothy Affleck, with whom she shared sons Ben, 53, and Casey, 50. The couple divorced when Ben was around 12 years old.
Chris is survived by her two sons and five grandchildren. Casey shares Indiana, 22, and Atticus, 18, with ex-wife Summer Phoenix. Ben shares Violet, 20, Fin, 17, and Samuel, 12, with ex-wife Jennifer Garner.
Long before Ben and Casey became Hollywood stars, Chris played a meaningful role in helping open the door to acting for her sons.
Ben previously told Parade that he first got into acting through a friend of his mother’s who worked as a casting director. He described it as something that began almost by chance, but eventually gave him enough early experience to keep going.
Casey also credited their mother with being supportive when he and Ben were young actors, telling Boston Magazine that she encouraged them even when they mostly saw acting jobs as a way to miss school and earn a little money.
Chris was also part of one of the most memorable moments of Ben’s career. She attended the 1998 Academy Awards with him when he and Matt Damon won Best Original Screenplay for Good Will Hunting. Both actors brought their mothers to the ceremony and thanked them during their emotional acceptance speech.