Chris Anne Affleck, the mother of actors Ben and Casey Affleck, died on June 2, 2026, from pancreatic cancer first diagnosed in December, with reports placing her age at 82 or 83. Her final wish was to witness her grandson’s high school graduation, which she attended with family on May 31 before passing away in her sleep two days later. A Harvard graduate who spent 35 years teaching fifth and sixth grade, she was a lifelong civil rights advocate and one of the original Freedom Riders in the 1960s. She helped launch Ben’s career by connecting him with a Harvard roommate who arranged auditions, and she accompanied him to the 1998 Oscars with Matt Damon and his mother. In retirement, she remained active in public life, volunteering for Barack Obama’s campaign and supporting causes such as water justice; she is survived by Ben, Casey, and five grandchildren: Indiana, Violet, Atticus, Fin, and Sam. Her death was announced by family and reported by outlets including The Hollywood Reporter and the Boston Globe, reflecting her longstanding influence on her sons’ careers and public-service legacy.