Ben Affleck reveals how his late mother and teacher shaped his life

Ben Affleck reflects on his late mother and drama teacher, crediting both with shaping his life and career

Ben Affleck is reflecting on the educators who influenced his life, including his late mother, Chris Anne Affleck, and his former high school drama teacher, Gerry Speca.

Speaking to PEOPLE at the world premiere of his new film Animals in Los Angeles on Oct. 1, Affleck praised his mother, who spent 35 years teaching in the Cambridge public school system.

“My mom was an extraordinary teacher and an extraordinary woman,” Affleck said, adding that she made many students’ lives better, as she did his own.

Chris Anne Affleck died on June 2 at age 83 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in December 2025. She retired from teaching in 2008.

Affleck also credited Speca with shaping his values and professional approach. The actor said his former teacher taught him to take his work seriously, respect others, collaborate and understand that there is no “star system” in life.

According to Affleck, Speca’s drama class also gave students space to be vulnerable while encouraging them to take responsibility for their work. He described Speca as a “one-in-a-million teacher” and said he could not overstate his gratitude for the educator’s influence.

The actor said Speca’s approach has continued to shape his professional life and that he directly applied what he learned in the drama classroom while making Animals.

“I used on this film” Affleck said of Speca’s approach to building drama, adding that he hoped his former teacher would like the finished movie.

Animals, which Affleck co-wrote and directed, stars him as Los Angeles mayoral candidate Mark Kimball and Kerry Washington as his wife. The film follows the couple after a threat disrupts their carefully constructed lives.

Animals is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on Oct. 9.