Growing up, the Affleck home centered around many lively discussions that took place amongst loved ones, as childhood friend Matt Damon could attest to.
“That dinner table was one of the funnest places to be growing up because of all the debates that went on—on any subject,” Damon told the outlet. “You had to craft an argument and a good one to survive. Ben really honed his debating skills there. He’s not a guy you want to get in a debate with.”
Fast-forward decades later, and both Ben and Casey each built their up their acting careers, respectively. In 2013, Ben received an honorary degree from Brown University, and used the opportunity to thank one of his greatest inspirations, his mom.
“This means a lot to her,” he said during his speech, while dedicating his degree to Chris. “She never got to see me graduate from any higher education at all. So, Mom, this is for you. I love you.”
Prior to her passing, according to her obituary, Chris’ greatest wish after her diagnosis, was to live to see her grandson Atticus graduate high school.
“She did so, attending with her family on May 31, 2026,” her obituary concluded. “She died peacefully, in her sleep, two days later.”
