Austin Butler shares his ongoing heartbreak after losing his mother to cancer: ‘My mum was my best friend’

Austin Butler has shared fond memories of his mother, Lori, who died when he was still in his 20s.

The former Disney Channel star, 32, continues to grieve over the loss of his “best friend” when he was just 23.

“When I describe her, she was someone who was so kind to everyone she came into contact with and I hope to be just a little bit like her in that way,” says the American actor. Adelaide now.

“When you came into contact with her… your day was a little better. She was such a bright light and I think there are many things I learned from her that I admire so much. And my dad is the same way, he’s just always nice.”

He added, “I just have to thank my parents, you know, my mom was my best friend.”

Austin has revealed this before that he had started filming a project shortly after his mother’s death, which was caused by a fight with him cancerand that he “cried every night.”

The Elvis actor, who has received a Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of the King of Rock n’ Roll, has also credited his mother for supporting him in his career. The Hollywood Reporter“I owe her everything.”

The Carrie Diaries actor said he first started acting when he “came across extra work”, adding that he had been “an incredibly shy kid”.

He explained that his mother, Lori, saw his passion for acting early on.

“My mother saw that in me, and I owe her everything because she quit her job and took me to auditions and took me to acting classes. Then I started working,” he said.

“I just have to thank my parents, you know, my mom was my best friend,” he said. Austin is pictured with his family and mother (top right) when he was a child

However, after landing bigger roles, his mother passed away in 2014 after battling cancer.

“After my mother passed away, I had never experienced such pain, and I started asking questions,” Austin admitted during the interview.

The star stated that after spending time in hospitals and with doctors, he began to question whether acting was “a noble profession.”

Austin said that after his mother’s death, he flew to New Zealand to film a series that was canceled after two seasons.

He explained that although viewers enjoyed the show and he himself had “fun” recordings, “I went home every night and cried.”

“When I describe her, she was someone who was so kind to everyone she came into contact with and I hope to be just a little bit like her in that way,” the American actor said.

“I was dealing with sadness, but it was also the feeling that I wasn’t aligned with something that was really fulfilling,” he added, revealing that he was about 24 years old at the time and ready to take on a to take a break from acting.

“I thought, ‘I’ve got some money in the bank. I’m taking some time off,” he explained.

‘Then I started to sink into deeper and deeper depression. It took about six to eight months.”

However, he later submitted an audition tape for the Broadway show, The Iceman Cometh, which also starred Denzel Washington.

The Elvis actor also credited his mother for her support in his career, saying, “I owe her everything.” Pictured in 2012, two years before mother’s death

Austin explained after being cast that this was “the moment that changed my career.”

He has previously credited and paid tribute to his mother, including his appearance as host of Saturday Night Live in 2022.

During his opening monologue, the former Nickelodeon actor told the audience that when he was younger he had “crippling shyness,” but when he was with his mother, “I would do anything to make her laugh,” including a Gollum impression.

“But actually being silly with her is what brought me out of my shell and is the core of what got me into acting.”

Being on SNL made the star think of his mother, and he could imagine, “how proud she would be of her son, who before couldn’t order food for myself at a restaurant, is now standing on this stage.”

To conclude his monologue, Austin then dedicated every “silly voice” or “funny face” he made on the show to his later mother, adding emotionally, “That’s for you, Mom.”