Ben Affleck breaks silence on the heartbreak of his parents’ back-to-back deaths

Ben Affleck has spoken for the first time about losing both his parents within two months, with his father Timothy dying in April and his mother Chris succumbing to pancreatic cancer in June. In an appearance on Kerry Washington's podcast this week, the 54-year-old Oscar-winning screenwriter reflected on how the back-to-back losses have prompted him to reconsider his childhood and deeply appreciate the sacrifices his mother made as both a parent and career woman.

After his mother's death, Ben discovered letters she had written before he was born, which struck him with the realisation of how she had managed to balance her career as a public school teacher with being completely present for her children and grandchildren. Chris, who attended Harvard University and taught in public schools for 35 years before retiring in 2008, passed away on 2 June after doctors told her in December that she had six months to live; her final wish was to attend her grandson's high school graduation in May, which she managed to do before passing away days later.