Ben Affleck marked his 54th birthday on Saturday with a family gathering in Santa Monica, joined by his ex-wife Jennifer Garner and their children. This occasion comes two months after the death of his mother, Chris Anne Affleck, who passed away on June 2 at the age of 83 following a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Affleck, dressed in a striped shirt and navy trousers, visited the market Farmshop with his sons Fin, 17, and Samuel, 14. Their elder daughter, Violet, 20, was not present during the outing. The actor and his sons were seen smiling in the parking lot.
Although Affleck and Garner were not photographed together, Garner was also seen at the same store. She wore leggings and a black top, accessorizing with a blue cap. Garner was accompanied by a friend.
Affleck's mother's passing was announced in July. According to an obituary, she had been informed by doctors in December of the previous year that she had six months to live, with her last wish being to witness her grandson's high school graduation. Chris Anne Affleck attended this ceremony on May 31, and died two days later in her sleep. She was a grandmother to five children, including Affleck's three.
Chris Anne Affleck also attended her son's 2022 wedding to Jennifer Lopez, reportedly experiencing a leg injury the day prior but still attending the ceremony. She retired from teaching in 2008 but remained active in social causes. Sources close to the family stated that Ben and his brother Casey Affleck were deeply affected by their mother's death, finding comfort and strength in their children and support system.
According to a death certificate, Chris Anne Affleck died of cardiopulmonary arrest at her son's residence in Los Angeles. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma was listed as an additional cause of death. She had been diagnosed six months prior to her passing.
Affleck's mother was a former public school teacher who held a master's degree from Harvard. Her obituary highlighted her history as a civil rights advocate, including her participation in Freedom Summer in Mississippi during the 1960s, her anti-Vietnam War activism, and her engagement with the counterculture movement. She encouraged her son's early acting aspirations, connecting him with a Harvard roommate who worked as a casting director. Chris Anne Affleck accompanied her son and Matt Damon to the 1998 Academy Awards when they won for Best Writing, Screenplay for "Good Will Hunting."
She maintained a close relationship with Jennifer Garner even after Affleck and Garner's divorce, with the two having been seen together on various occasions, including a Thanksgiving celebration at Garner's home last year.
Last year, Affleck also spent his birthday with his sons, having lunch in Santa Monica.