Austin Butler opened up to The Hollywood Reporter about the heartbreaking experience of losing his mother, Lori, at age 20, during the actor’s roundtable discussion published Tuesday.
The former Disney channel star, 31, admitted he started filming a project shortly after his mother’s death, which was caused by a battle with cancer, and that he “cried every night.”
The Elvis actor, who received a Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of the King of Rock n’ Roll, also credited his mother for supporting him through his career, stating: “I owe her everything.”
Opening up: Austin Butler, 31, recently opened up about his mother’s passing during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter’s Actors Roundtable published on Tuesday; seen earlier this month in Palm Springs
During the round table, Austin was joined by other talented actors like Brendan Fraser and Colin Farrell, both of whom are also Golden Globe nominees.
The Carrie Diaries actor expressed that he got into acting when he “stumbled into extra work,” adding that he was “an incredibly shy kid.”
He explained that his mother, Lori, saw his passion for acting at an early age. ‘My mom saw that in me, and I owe her everything because she quit her job and took me to auditions and acting classes. Then I started to work.
However, after landing bigger roles, her mother passed away in 2014 after battling cancer. “After my mother passed away, I had never felt pain like that before, and I started to question it,” Austin admitted during the interview.
The star claimed that after spending time in hospitals and around doctors, he began to wonder if acting was “a noble profession”.
Questioning her career: While dealing with the grief of her mother’s death, ‘I thought, ‘I have a little money in the bank. I’m just going to take a break. Then I began to sink into a deeper and deeper depression’; Austin seen with his family and mother (top right) when he was a child
Busy: During the round table, Austin was joined by other talented actors like Brendan Fraser and Colin Farrell, both also Golden Globe nominees; the actor seen on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Monday
Austin expressed 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 the show was liked by viewers and he himself had fun recording it, “I would go home and cry every night”.
“I was dealing with the pain, but it was also this feeling that I wasn’t aligned with something that felt truly fulfilling,” he added, revealing he was around 24 at the time and ready to take a break. to act.
‘I thought, ‘I have some money in the bank. I’m just going to take a break. Then I began to sink into a deeper and deeper depression. It was about six or eight months of that.
However, he later submitted an audition tape for the Broadway show, The Iceman Cometh, which also starred Denzel Washington. Austin explained after being cast that it was, ‘the moment that changed my career.’
‘I owe her everything’: The Golden Globe-nominated actor explained that, ‘My mom saw that in me, and I owe her everything because she quit her job and took me to auditions and acting classes’; seen in 2012-two years before mother’s death
Back on screen: After auditioning and being cast in the Broadway show The Iceman Cometh, Austin claimed it was, ‘the moment that changed my career’; seen November 2022 in LA
Austin has previously credited and paid tribute to his mother, including his recent appearance as the host of Saturday Night Live last month in December.
During his opening monologue, the former Nickelodeon actor told the audience that when he was younger, he had a “crippling shyness”, but when he was with his mother, “I would do anything to make her laugh”, including a Gollum impression.
‘But really, being silly with her is what brought me out of my shell and the core of what got me into acting.’
Being on SNL made the star think of his mother, and that he could imagine, ‘how proud she would be of her son, who previously couldn’t order food for me in a restaurant, is now on this stage.’
To conclude his monologue, Austin then dedicated every ‘silly voice’ or ‘funny face’ he made on the show to his mother, adding emotionally, ‘This is for you, Mom.’
Special tribute: Austin has credited and paid tribute to his mother, including his recent appearance as host of Saturday Night Live last month in December; seen in june 2022
Nominated: The talented actor was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in the Motion Picture-Drama category for his portrayal of Elvis in Baz Luhrmann’s 2022 biopic; Baz and Austin spotted earlier this month in Palm Springs
Recognition: The star, who is due to make an appearance later on Tuesday at the 80th Golden Globe Awards, will be joined by her sister, Ashley
The star, who is due to appear later on Tuesday at the 80th Golden Globe Awards, will be joined by her sister, Ashley. When speaking recently with Entertainment Tonight, Austin expressed, ‘she is my only sister, so it will be good to be with her.’
Though his girlfriend and supermodel, Kaia Gerber, wasn’t by his side during the awards show, the couple were most recently spotted together on a getaway to Mexico over the New Year’s break along with their family.
The talented actor was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in the Motion Picture – Drama category for his portrayal of Elvis in Baz Luhrmann’s 2022 biopic. The critically acclaimed feature was nominated for two additional Golden Globes, including Best Motion Picture – Drama and also Best Director.
During the 34th Annual Palm Springs Film Festival earlier this month, Austin received the Breakthrough Performance Award for his role as Elvis. The previous Sunday, he also attended a pre-Golden Globes event and was spotted with Lisa Marie Presley.
The 2023 Golden Globe Awards ceremony is set to air live from the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles on NBC later Tuesday night.
Big night: The critically acclaimed feature was nominated for two additional Golden Globes, including Best Motion Picture-Drama and also Best Director for Baz Luhrmann
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