Los Angeles, CA – Chris Anne Affleck, the mother of acclaimed actors Ben and Casey Affleck, has passed away at the age of 83. According to an obituary shared by The Hollywood Reporter, she died on June 2 following a battle with pancreatic cancer, which she was diagnosed with in December. She was given six months to live after her diagnosis, but her final wish—to see her grandson, Atticus, graduate from high school—was fulfilled just two days before her death.
Born Christopher Anne Boldt in New York City in December 1942, Chris was a Harvard graduate who dedicated 35 years to teaching as a public school educator before retiring in 2008. Beyond her career in education, she was a committed civil rights activist, influenced by her stepfather, Sam. She taught literacy classes in Mississippi as part of the historic Freedom Summer campaign in 1964, reflecting her lifelong dedication to social justice.
Chris shared two sons with her former husband, Timothy Affleck: Ben, now 53, and Casey, 50. The couple separated when Ben was approximately 12 years old. She was deeply invested in her sons’ artistic paths from the very beginning. In fact, she gave Ben his first real break in acting by connecting him with casting director Patty Collins, a former college roommate from her Harvard days. Reflecting on his start in 2007, Ben recalled, “a friend of his mother happened to be a casting director,” which gave him enough momentum to pursue acting seriously. Casey similarly highlighted their mother’s instrumental support in helping them find their footing in the industry.
Chris attended the 1998 Oscars alongside Ben and Matt Damon, who also brought his mother, after their film Good Will Hunting earned nominations and eventual wins. Ben recalled the moment in a 2023 interview with Vanity Fair, saying, “We were sitting next to our moms and we won, and we kind of hugged our moms.” He added that having their mothers there was entirely natural for them, a genuine moment rather than a calculated move. Chris Anne Affleck is survived by her sons and her extended family, remembered for her dedication to education, activism, and her unwavering support for her children’s careers.
