Ben Affleck joined his brother Casey at the Venice Film Festival on Tuesday for the premiere of the film 'Company,' which Casey wrote, directed, and stars in. The appearance marks a rare public outing for the brothers as they navigate the recent loss of both their parents.
Ben Affleck, 54, posed on the red carpet with his 22-year-old nephew, Indiana Atticus Affleck, who also stars in the film. Casey Affleck, 51, was also present at the event celebrating the movie. Casey's younger son, Atticus, 18, also has a role in the film but was not in attendance at the premiere.
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At a press conference earlier that day, Casey Affleck spoke about the experience of working with his sons. "I think they grew up around it and had some interest in it and a sort of innate understanding of what it was," he said. "Like I did, my dad worked in the theater for many years. And so it’s passed down, I suppose, which is a really nice thing. And they were willing to be a part of this."
Casey also used the press conference to dedicate the film to his parents, Timothy and Christine Affleck, both of whom the family has lost this year. "It’s dedicated to my parents because I lost both my mom and my dad this year, and they were very important to me," he stated. "I really wanted to show this movie to them, and I didn’t get to. I think they would have liked it."
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In July, it was announced that their mother, Christine Affleck, had died on June 2 following a battle with pancreatic cancer. The date of Timothy Affleck's death has not been publicly disclosed. The Affleck siblings, Ben and Casey, are survived by five grandchildren: Indiana, Violet, Atticus, Fin, and Sam.
Christine Affleck's obituary noted that her grandchildren were "the animating force of her last two decades." She had reportedly been given six months to live in December and her final wish was to witness her grandson's high school graduation, which she attended on May 31, just two days before her passing.
Timothy Affleck largely stayed out of the public eye, with the exception of an appearance in Casey's 2010 mockumentary 'I'm Still Here.' In a 2018 interview, Timothy defended his sons against allegations, suggesting that Hollywood had taken a toll on them. He also spoke about his own past struggles with alcoholism and expressed pride in Ben's sobriety efforts.
Christine Affleck, born in New York City in 1942, was a public school teacher for 35 years. She was a graduate of Harvard University and an advocate for civil rights, having taught literacy classes in Mississippi during Freedom Summer and marched against the Vietnam War. She and Timothy Affleck divorced in 1984. The brothers were raised by Christine in Massachusetts, while Timothy relocated to California.