Matt Damon’s Father Kent Dies After Long Battle With Bone Marrow Cancer

Our thoughts are with the Damon family during this difficult time. Actor Matt Damon‘s father Kent Damon has sadly died at 74 years old. Kent had a long battle with multiple myeloma, which is a bone marrow cancer, and Matt recently revealed that his dad’s condition had worsened in the last few months. Kent passed away on Dec. 14, Matt’s publicist confirmed to The Boston Globe.

During an interview earlier this month., the 47-year-old star gave fans an update on his dad Kent Damon’s ongoing cancer battle. “It’s been a slow, unfolding, my dad’s sick, so that’s been a process we’re going through. We’ll take any prayers you got, so throw ’em up there,” Matt told Extra on Monday, Dec. 11.

Matt and his family first revealed Kent was diagnosed with cancer back in 2011. At the time, The Martian star said his father was in remission after undergoing treatment for the rare blood disease multiple myeloma. “We’ve lost some close personal friends to cancer in recent years, but I never thought it would happen to my dad, the marathon runner. It sucked,” Matt said six years ago of his dad’s battle.

Matt and his dad, Kent, in 2004. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

In recent months, Matt has canceled public appearances to be by his dad’s side in his Massachusettes hometown. On Friday, Oct. 27, the father-of-four unexpectedly missed the 2017 Britannia Awards — where he was set to receive the Stanley Kubrick Award for Excellence in Film — due to a “family emergency.” During the event, actress Kate Mara accepted the honor on Matt’s behalf and told the audience, “Unfortunately, Matt has urgently needed to travel back to Boston and couldn’t join us tonight. As much as we wish he was here with us, we know family comes first. So our thoughts are with you, Matt and much love from your friends here in LA.”

Matt later told the crowd via a video message, “I found out about this award six months ago and I was just so incredibly honored to receive it and I was really looking forward to tonight. Unfortunately, I had to go back to Boston for a family emergency. I’m really sorry not to be with you tonight. Thank you for this wonderful honor and I hope you have a lovely evening. See you soon.”

The star, his wife, Luciana Barroso, and their four daughters were also supposed to join Ben Affleck, his estranged wife, Jennifer Garner, and their three children in LA over Thanksgiving. “I ended up going to Boston to be with my family,” Matt recently told E! News of his changed holiday plans.