American actor Ben Affleck has revisited memories of his childhood from a different perspective following the deaths of both his parents this year. Reading old letters written by his mother, Chris Anne Affleck, before his birth led him to discover details about her life that he had never known.
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The 54-year-old actor spoke about losing his parents and how their deaths changed the way he viewed his childhood and his relationship with his mother during his appearance as a guest on the first episode of Kerry Washington’s new podcast, Street You Grew Up On, which premiered on Wednesday, September 30.
Ben Affleck talks about his parents’ deaths
During his conversation with Washington, Affleck revealed that his parents died just months apart. His mother, Chris Anne, died in June, while his father, Timothy “Tim” Affleck, died in April of the same year.
Chris died at the age of 83 on June 2 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in December 2025. She had attended her grandson’s high school graduation just two days before her death.
His father, Timothy, died earlier in the year. The news was revealed by Ben’s brother, Casey Affleck, while discussing his new film Company in September during the Venice Film Festival.
Ben explained that the deaths of his parents prompted him to reconsider his childhood, particularly the role his mother played in his life and that of his brother, Casey.
His mother’s letters revealed a life he never knew
After his mother’s death, Ben found a collection of letters Chris had written to her parents when she was young, including letters from the period when she lived in California before returning to Boston with her family.
The letters gave Ben an opportunity to learn about his mother before he and his brother became part of her life. He discovered that she had been a young woman with dreams and ambitions of her own and had considered working as a social worker or teacher.
The letters also described her participation in protests and a trip to Mississippi, all before the family life and motherhood that Ben would later know.
Affleck said reading the letters was a strange experience because it made him realize for the first time that his mother had lived a full and independent life before he was born, with years of experiences in which he had played no part.
Ben Affleck reflects on his mother’s sacrifices
The discovery led Ben to think differently about the relationship between children and their parents, noting that a child may see their mother as someone who exists primarily for them, without realizing that she has her own life, sacrifices and dreams that existed before motherhood.
He explained that his mother made him and his brother the central focus of her life, something he was unable to fully appreciate as a child but has come to understand more clearly with age.
He described Chris as beautiful, intelligent, understanding and passionate, adding that he now sees her as a woman who could have achieved many of her own dreams.
Chris Affleck devoted her time to her family
Chris Anne Affleck worked as a teacher in public schools before specializing in teaching fifth- and sixth-grade students.
Ben explained that she would finish her school day at around 2:30 p.m. but often stayed until 5:30 or 6 p.m. to complete her work before returning home and continuing to take care of the family.
Affleck recalled part of his childhood, saying that he did not understand at the time how many responsibilities his mother carried. He viewed things from the perspective of a child who simply wanted to play and did not want to go home.
He noted that he and his brother required a great deal of care and attention, and that he did not think then about the effort his mother was making to provide them with a stable life.
He said reading her letters made him realize for the first time that he may have taken what she did for granted, considering that this could be a natural part of how children view their parents.
Ben Affleck and Kerry Washington on Street You Grew Up On
Kerry Washington hosted Ben Affleck on the first episode of Street You Grew Up On, a podcast released in both audio and video formats in partnership with Daylight and published weekly.
Upcoming episodes will feature a number of notable names, including Dwayne Johnson, Demi Lovato, Colin Kaepernick and Chelsea Handler.
Affleck’s appearance on the program coincided with the release of his new film Animals, which stars him alongside Kerry Washington. The film is currently in theaters and is scheduled to become available on Netflix on October 9.
Through his conversation, Affleck shared a personal side of his experience, explaining how the deaths of his parents and the letters his mother left behind prompted him to reconsider his childhood and discover a life she had lived before he and his brother became part of it.
