Ben and Casey Affleck's mom Chris dies at 83 of cancer
Ben and Casey Affleck's mom, Chris Anne Affleck, has died at 83 following a pancreatic cancer battle. The former teacher passed away peacefully on June 2, after a December 2025 diagnosis that left her with about six months to live, according to her obituary.
Key Takeaways
- Chris Anne Affleck died at 83 on June 2 after pancreatic cancer.
- She was diagnosed in December 2025 and given about six months to live.
- The Harvard-educated former teacher taught public school for 35 years.
- She is survived by sons Ben and Casey Affleck and five grandchildren.
- She attended grandson Atticus's high school graduation on May 31.
News of her death, first reported by The Hollywood Reporter and detailed by Page Six, has drawn fresh attention across celebrity breaking news coverage.
Who was Chris Anne Affleck, and how did she die?
Chris Anne Affleck, born Christopher Anne Boldt in New York City in December 1942, was the mother of Oscar-winning actors Ben Affleck and Casey Affleck.
She died peacefully in her sleep on June 2 at age 83. Her obituary said she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in December 2025 and was given six months to live at that time.
A Harvard University graduate, Chris taught public school students for 35 years before retiring in 2008. She welcomed Ben, now 53, in 1972 and Casey, now 50, in 1975 while married to Timothy Affleck. The couple later divorced when Ben was a preteen.
What final wish did she fulfill before her death?
According to her obituary, Chris's greatest wish after her diagnosis was to watch her grandson Atticus graduate from high school. She was present for the May 31 ceremony.
Two days later, she died peacefully in her sleep. Beyond her sons, she is survived by five grandchildren: Ben's children Violet, 20, Seraphina, 17, and Sam, 12, and Casey's children Indiana, 22, and Atticus, 18.
"Chris was suitably proud of her descendants' achievements," her obituary read. "But she was delighted when they questioned, defied, or cleverly engaged authority."
How did Ben and Casey Affleck describe their mother's support?
Both award-winning actors have previously praised their mom's backing of their careers. Casey told Boston Magazine in 2006 that his mother "was really supportive."
Ben credited her with helping launch his acting path, telling Parade that "a friend of [hers] was a casting director," so he "got into acting … as kind of a lark."
Representatives for Ben and Casey did not immediately respond to Page Six's requests for comment. As of publication, the brothers had yet to issue a public statement on losing their mother.