Chris Anne Affleck, the mother of Academy Award-winning actors Ben Affleck and Casey Affleck, passed away June 2 at the age of 83. She had received a pancreatic cancer diagnosis in December and was given a prognosis of six months to live.
Born in New York City in December 1942, Affleck was a Harvard University graduate who devoted 35 years to teaching in public schools before retiring in 2008. She was deeply committed to civil rights causes and participated as one of the original freedom riders who traveled to the Deep South during the 1960s. She later earned a master’s degree from Harvard.
Affleck had two sons with ex-husband Timothy Affleck: Ben, born in 1972, and Casey, born in 1975. The family relocated to Massachusetts around the time of Casey’s birth, where she continued her teaching career. She played an instrumental role in Ben’s early entertainment industry connections, introducing him to her former Harvard roommate, casting director Patty Collins, who assisted with audition opportunities for commercials and television productions.
Affleck was a steadfast supporter of both sons’ acting careers. She attended the 1998 Academy Awards ceremony with Ben after he and Matt Damon received a best original screenplay nomination for Good Will Hunting, which also featured Casey. Ben and Damon won the award that evening. Ben went on to win a second Oscar in 2012 for best picture as a producer of Argo, while Casey received the best actor award in 2017 for his role in Manchester by the Sea.
Following her diagnosis, Affleck’s primary goal was to witness her grandson Atticus graduate from high school. She attended the graduation ceremony on May 31 and died peacefully in her sleep two days later. She is survived by her two sons and five grandchildren: Atticus and Indiana (Casey’s children) and Violet, Fin, and Sam (Ben’s children).
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