Guy Pearce announced that his mother, Anne Cocking, passed away Monday evening after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
The actor, 55, posted the sad news on Twitter while paying tribute to her.
The Neighbors star shared a gallery of snaps of his mum and sister Tracey as he revealed his heartbreak.
He described Anne as “sharp, fierce and witty” before he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s thirteen years ago.
He wrote, “Lost my beautiful mother today.
Devastated: Neighbors star Guy Pearce has paid tribute to his mother (left). after she passed away after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease
‘We will always love you’: The actor, 55, announced the sad news on Twitter that his mother (right) had passed away late Monday night – pictured with his sister Tracey (centre)
“Kicked the bucket,” as she would say. What a sharp, fierce and witty woman Anne was until Alzheimer’s disease hit in 2010.
“It’s been a long and winding road. A fitting song for your departure mama. Tracy & I will miss you immensely. We will always love you XX.’
Several fans and celebrity friends took to the comments to express their condolences and support for the star.
Anne was an English school teacher who was widowed in 1975 after her RAF test pilot husband Stuart Pearce was killed in a plane crash.
Guy, who was only eight years old when his father died tragically, has previously spoken of his close relationship with his mother, Anne.
In November 2022, Guy explained to The Times that he helped his mother raise his older sister, Tracy, who was diagnosed with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome – a rare genetic condition present from birth that results in physical , cognitive and medical challenges.
He said, “A big part of why I never wanted to have kids was because I helped raise my sister – I have a sister with a mental disability – so I felt like I had done my parenting.
“I knew for a long time that I would never have children. It was very final.’
‘What a sharp, fierce and witty woman Anne was’: Anne was an English school teacher who was widowed in 1975 after her RAF test pilot husband Stuart Pearce was killed in a plane crash
He wrote, “Lost my beautiful mother today. Kicked the bucket, as she would say. What a sharp, fierce and witty woman Anne was until Alzheimer’s disease hit in 2010. It’s been a long and winding road. A fitting song for your departure mama. Tracy & I will miss you immensely. We will always love you XX.’
In 2016 Guy welcomed his son Monte with Game of Thrones actress Carice van Houten.
Despite having fond memories of his mother, Guy has also previously spoken about her struggles with Alzheimer’s.
In 2017, he shared a childhood photo with Anne, as well as some prose on Twitter.
He wrote: ‘A beautiful piece of text that my beautiful mother gave me many years ago. Unfortunately, her Alzheimer’s means she doesn’t know me anymore. But I know I will carry her wisdom with me forever…”
Prior to being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Anne was a strong supporter of her son’s acting career, leading him to fame on the hit Australian soap opera Neighbours.
He played Mike Young in the Australian soap before leaving in 1989 where he went on to build a successful career in Hollywood.
Looking back at his own childhood, Guy has also credited Anne for helping inspire his love of acting.
In 2009 he told MailOnline: ‘I loved going to the theater with my mother. I was totally in awe that the actors could have such an effect on the audience and make them think they were smart and funny. I decided to do that myself.’
Neighbors will return to the screens in September after being rescued by Amazon Freevee – and Guy will once again grace Ramsay Street.
‘I will carry her wisdom with me forever’: Despite Guy having fond memories of his mother, he has also previously spoken about her struggle with Alzheimer’s