Timothy Byers Affleck: The Life Story of Ben Affleck’s Father

Timothy Byers Affleck is best known as the father of Oscar winners Ben and Casey Affleck. Yet he has his own story. He worked in theater, took many different jobs, and fought a long battle with alcohol. Later, he helped other people in recovery. In 2026, Casey shared that both of their parents had died that year. This article explains what trusted sources say about Tim’s life. It also shows which details nobody has confirmed.
Quick Bio of Timothy Byers Affleck
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Timothy Byers Affleck |
| Also called | Tim Affleck |
| Known as | Father of Ben Affleck and Casey Affleck |
| Nationality | American |
| Date of birth | Not confirmed by a reliable source |
| Home area | Massachusetts (Falmouth and Cambridge) |
| Early arts work | Actor and stage manager, Theater Company of Boston (mid 1960s) |
| Other jobs | Carpenter, auto mechanic, bartender, electrician, janitor |
| Later work | Addiction counselor at a rehab center in Indio, California |
| Former wife | Chris Anne Boldt (teacher, died June 2, 2026) |
| Divorce | 1984 |
| Children | Ben Affleck and Casey Affleck |
| Recovery | About 30 years sober by 2020, according to Ben |
| Death | Confirmed by Casey Affleck in September 2026. Date and cause not shared. |
Who Is Timothy Byers Affleck?
Timothy Byers Affleck is an American man from Massachusetts. Friends and family call him Tim. He is the father of Ben Affleck and Casey Affleck, two well known names in Hollywood.
Tim never became a movie star. He stayed out of the spotlight for most of his life. That is why we know so little about him, and why many websites repeat guesses. This article uses facts from Wikipedia, Hollywood Life, and HOLA. These sources point back to interviews that Ben gave to magazines such as People and The Hollywood Reporter.
Early Life and Family Background
Tim married Christopher Anne “Chris” Boldt. Their son Ben was born on August 15, 1972, in Berkeley, California. The family moved to Massachusetts when Ben was three. They lived in Falmouth first, where Casey was born. Later, they settled in Cambridge.
No reliable source gives Tim’s birth date or tells us about his childhood. Some websites list different dates and even different birthplaces. Because these sites disagree, we do not repeat them here.
Love for Theater and Writing
In the mid 1960s, Tim worked as an actor and stage manager with the Theater Company of Boston. He also dreamed of becoming a playwright. A 2000 article in The New York Times about Ben describes him as an aspiring playwright.
It is easy to see a link between this dream and his sons’ careers. Ben later became an Oscar winning writer and director. Of course, Tim’s story was never about fame. It was about a creative person who struggled to build a steady life.
Jobs He Had Over the Years
Money was often tight in the family. Wikipedia says Tim was mostly unemployed and worked only now and then. His jobs included carpenter, auto mechanic, bartender, and electrician. Reports also mention that he worked as a bookie. He also worked as a janitor at Harvard University.
That last job mattered to Ben. In 2000, Ben spoke at a Harvard rally for better pay for campus workers. His father had worked there as a janitor.
Struggles With Alcohol
Tim has described his drinking as a severe and long lasting problem. Ben remembers his father drinking all day, every day. In a 2012 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Ben said life became hard for his father when Ben was a teenager. He called it scary and difficult to have a parent who is an alcoholic.
Reports say Tim later lost his home. He spent about two years living on the streets of Cambridge. These years were painful for the whole family.

Divorce and Life After
Tim and Chris divorced in 1984, when Ben was 11. Tim left the family home. Ben has said he felt relief at that time.
After the divorce, Ben and Casey grew up mostly with their mother in Cambridge. Chris taught in public schools for 35 years. Even so, Tim stayed part of their lives.
Recovery and Work as a Counselor
Wikipedia reports that Tim entered a rehab center in Indio, California, when Ben was 16. He lived there for 12 years to stay sober. He also worked at the center as an addiction counselor. HOLA reports that he later worked as a counselor at an alcohol rehab center too.
Accounts differ a little on timing. In 2012, Ben said his father got sober when Ben was in his twenties. In 2020, Ben said his father had stayed sober for about 30 years. Either way, Ben sees this recovery as a big part of his father’s legacy. It shows how much a person can change.
His Bond With Ben and Casey
Their relationship grew better after Tim got sober. In 2012, Ben said they mostly stayed in touch by email. Tim has positional vertigo, so flying makes him dizzy. Because of this, he drove from the East Coast to California a couple of times each year to visit Ben and his children.
Ben has also talked about growing up. In a 2020 People interview, he said part of being an adult is learning that your parents are just people. He added that he wants to stop painful patterns from moving to the next generation.
How He Shaped His Sons
Ben and Casey grew up in a home full of art. They watched plays with their mother and made home movies. Tim’s own years in theater were part of that creative world.
Ben later won an Oscar for writing Good Will Hunting with Matt Damon. He also directed Argo, which won Best Picture. In The Way Back (2020), he played a man in recovery from alcohol. Ben has said that the themes in that film were close to home.
News of His Death in 2026
On September 8, 2026, Casey spoke at the Venice Film Festival while promoting his film Company. He said he dedicated it to his parents because he lost both of them that year. HOLA shared the news on September 9. Their mother, Chris, had died on June 2, 2026, at age 83.
Nobody has shared Tim’s exact date of death or the cause. Reports also say it is not clear if he died before or after Chris. We do not guess. Please treat any website that claims to know more with care.

What Is Still Unknown
Many pages online list Tim’s age, net worth, and a long career. Some even call him an actor in major films. Some call him Ben’s younger brother. Those claims are wrong or have no proof.
A trusted source has not confirmed his birth date, net worth, or full work history. When you read about him, check the names, dates, and sources. If a page gives no source, be careful.
Conclusion
Timothy Byers Affleck lived a quiet life, but it was not a simple one. He loved theater, worked hard in many jobs, and faced alcohol addiction. He later found sobriety and helped others do the same. His sons say that his recovery mattered a lot.
In 2026, the Affleck family lost both parents. Tim’s story reminds us that people are more than their mistakes. It also reminds us to read with care, because many online pages mix facts with guesses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Timothy Byers Affleck?
He is the father of actors and filmmakers Ben Affleck and Casey Affleck. He worked in theater and many other jobs.
Is Timothy Byers Affleck still alive?
No. Casey Affleck said in September 2026 that he lost both his mother and his father that year.
How old was Timothy Byers Affleck?
His birth date has not been confirmed by a reliable source. Websites that give an exact age do not agree with each other.
What jobs did Timothy Byers Affleck have?
He worked as a carpenter, auto mechanic, bartender, electrician, and janitor at Harvard. Later, he worked as an addiction counselor.
Was Timothy Byers Affleck an actor?
He acted and managed stages with the Theater Company of Boston in the mid 1960s. He was not a film star.
Did he have a problem with alcohol?
Yes. Ben has spoken openly about his father’s alcoholism and his later recovery.
Who was Timothy Byers Affleck’s wife?
He married Chris Anne Boldt, a teacher. She died on June 2, 2026, at age 83.
When did Tim and Chris divorce?
They divorced in 1984, when Ben was 11 years old.
What is Timothy Byers Affleck’s net worth?
There is no reliable report on his net worth. He lived privately, and he worked many ordinary jobs.
How did he influence Ben Affleck?
He gave Ben a theater background and a story of hard times and recovery. Ben says this story helped him understand people better.
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