Ben Affleck’s Mom Chris’s Cause of Death Revealed

Chris Affleck, the mother of Academy Award-winning actors Ben and Casey Affleck, died on June 2 at the age of 83 following a battle with pancreatic cancer, according to a death certificate obtained by Us Weekly. She spent her final moments at a residence connected to Ben Affleck at 10:52 a.m., with the immediate cause of death listed as cardiopulmonary arrest and pancreatic adenocarcinoma cited as an underlying condition, according to the official document.

Details of Chris Affleck’s Final Days and Passing

According to her death certificate obtained by Us Weekly, Chris Affleck had been living with pancreatic cancer for months after her initial diagnosis in December 2025. Her obituary published in The Boston Globe noted that she had initially been given six months to live. Just two days before her death, she fulfilled her greatest wish by watching her grandson, Samuel, graduate from middle school on May 31, 2026. The family kept her passing private for nearly two months before publicly announcing it on July 24.

A Lifelong Commitment to Activism and Education

Before her sons achieved Hollywood fame, Chris Affleck worked as a teacher and raised Ben and Casey with their father, Timothy Affleck. Her obituary detailed a decades-long history of activism, which included teaching literacy classes in Mississippi during Freedom Summer, protesting the Vietnam War, and participating in the 1960s counterculture movement. In later years, she volunteered on Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, traveled to Palestine in 2009 for water justice advocacy, and helped establish the Sustainable Cape project in Truro, Massachusetts.

Lasting Bond With Jennifer Garner

Chris Affleck maintained a close relationship with her former daughter-in-law, Jennifer Garner, long after Ben Affleck and Garner separated in 2015 and finalized their divorce in 2018. According to photographic evidence and family accounts, she regularly attended activities and spent holidays with Garner and her grandchildren, Violet, Fin, and Samuel. During a difficult period in 2018, she reportedly stayed with Garner and the children while Ben Affleck underwent treatment at a rehabilitation facility in Malibu. For Mother’s Day in 2019, Ben Affleck shared a photo of Garner and Chris together, describing them as two incredible mothers.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Chris Affleck pass away?

According to her death certificate obtained by Us Weekly, Chris Affleck died on June 2 at the age of 83.

What was the cause of death?

Her immediate cause of death was cardiopulmonary arrest, with pancreatic adenocarcinoma listed as an underlying condition, according to the death certificate.

How long had she been ill?

According to her obituary in The Boston Globe, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in December 2025 and initially given six months to live.

Did she attend her grandson’s graduation?

Yes. Just two days before her death, she attended her grandson Samuel’s middle school graduation on May 31, 2026.