Casey and Ben Affleck's mother Chris Anne Affleck dies at 83 after pancreatic cancer battle
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Ben Affleck and brother Casey Affleck's mother, Christopher Anne "Chris Anne" Affleck, died at 83 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
According to her family, the former public school teacher passed away peacefully in her sleep on June 2, just two days after attending her grandson Atticus' high school graduation, a milestone she had hoped to witness after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in December 2025.
According to an obituary published in The Boston Globe, Chris Anne Affleck died peacefully in her sleep with her family by her side.
How Chris Anne Affleck spent her final months after pancreatic cancer diagnosis
Chris Anne Affleck, born Christopher Anne Boldt in New York City in 1942, dedicated much of her life to education and social activism.
A Harvard graduate, she spent 35 years teaching in public schools after beginning her career by teaching literacy classes during the 1964 Freedom Summer campaign in Mississippi.
Her obituary revealed that after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in December 2025, doctors gave her approximately six months to live. Despite the devastating prognosis, Chris focused on one goal.
Ben Affleck and Casey Affleck's mother, Chris Anne Affleck, has died at the age of 83.
— Complex (@Complex) July 24, 2026
Chris Anne Affleck died on June 2 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in December, according to The Hollywood Reporter. She was given six months to live after her diagnosis. Her… pic.twitter.com/v8XREp2M30
"Her greatest wish after her diagnosis, however, was to live to see her grandson graduate high school." The family shared that she achieved that wish by attending Atticus' graduation with loved ones on May 31, 2026.
"She did so, attending with her family on May 31, 2026. She died peacefully, in her sleep, two days later."
Chris is survived by her sons, Ben and Casey, and five grandchildren.
As per Fox News, after teaching for more than 30 years, Chris retired in 2008. She later volunteered for Barack Obama's presidential campaign, traveled to Israel and Palestine, and worked as an organizer with the Alliance for Water Justice in Palestine.
How Chris Anne Affleck inspired Ben Affleck's acting career
Throughout his career, the 'Good Will Hunting' actor frequently acknowledged the role his mother played in shaping his life and encouraging his interest in the arts. Chris supported both Ben and Casey from an early age and even helped Ben land his first auditions through a connection with casting director Patty Collins.
She proudly accompanied him to the 1998 Academy Awards, where he won his first Oscar for 'Good Will Hunting' alongside Matt Damon. Years later, while accepting an honorary degree from Brown University, Ben dedicated the recognition to his mother, saying, "Mom, this is for you. I love you."
