Ben Affleck reflects on the loss of both parents

Actor and director Ben Affleck has spoken about the recent loss of both of his parents within a two-month period. His father, Timothy Affleck, passed away in April at age 76, followed by his mother, Chris Anne Affleck, who died on June 2 at age 83 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

While organizing his mother's personal belongings, Affleck discovered letters she had written to her parents during her youth. These documents revealed a side of her life he had not fully understood as a child. The letters described a young woman living in California with ambitions to work as a social worker or educator, including her time in Mississippi participating in the Freedom Summer civil rights movement.

Affleck shared these reflections during an appearance on Kerry Washington’s podcast, 'Street You Grew Up On'. He noted that while he primarily knew her as a devoted mother, the letters helped him realize she had lived a full, ambitious life before her role in his upbringing.