Chris Anne Affleck, Mother to Oscar Winners Ben and Casey Affleck, Dies at 83
The retired public school teacher and civil rights advocate passed away on June 2 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, according to a family announcement.
“We were sitting next to our moms and we won, and we kind of hugged our moms. I remember how everyone had made such a big thing out of it as if this was such a novelty,”
Chris Anne Affleck, mother of Oscar-winning actors Ben and Casey Affleck, died on June 2 at the age of 83.
Her family announced her passing after a battle with pancreatic cancer, according to The Hollywood Reporter. She died peacefully in her sleep two days after attending her grandson’s high school graduation.
Who was Chris Anne Affleck?
Born Christine Anne Boldt in New York City in December 1942, she was a graduate of Harvard University. She spent 35 years as a public school teacher, retiring in 2008, and was a lifelong civil rights advocate.
She was one of the original freedom riders who traveled to the Deep South during the 1960s. Her family said her greatest wish after her December diagnosis was to see her grandson graduate.
How did she support her sons' careers?
Chris Anne Affleck played a role in Ben's early steps into acting, connecting him with her former Harvard roommate, a casting director. She was an avid supporter, attending the 1998 Oscars when Ben and Matt Damon won their first Academy Awards.
Ben recalled the moment in an interview. "We were sitting next to our moms and we won, and we kind of hugged our moms," he told Vanity Fair. "I remember thinking, being insecure, like, 'Why? Why is it weird that we’re bringing our moms?'"
In addition to her sons, she is survived by her five grandchildren: Indiana, Violet, Atticus, Fin, and Sam.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the cause of Chris Anne Affleck's death?
Chris Anne Affleck died after a battle with pancreatic cancer, according to the announcement from her family reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
Did Chris Anne Affleck have a career outside of being a mother?
Yes. She was a public school teacher for 35 years, retiring in 2008. She was also a civil rights advocate and was one of the original freedom riders in the 1960s.
When did Chris Anne Affleck pass away?
She died on June 2. Her family shared that she attended her grandson's high school graduation on May 31 and passed away peacefully in her sleep two days later.
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