Ben Affleck marked his 54th birthday on Aug. 15, spending the day with two of his children, Fin and Samuel, during a Santa Monica outing that came during an emotionally difficult year for the Oscar-winning actor.
Photographs captured the “Good Will Hunting” star laughing with his kids as the group made their way through a local market. Ben Affleck wore a white button-up shirt with black stripes, pairing it with blue wide-leg trousers cinched at the waist with a black leather belt, and completed the look with dark sunglasses and comfortable shoes. Samuel kept it casual in navy shorts and a grey T-shirt, while Fin chose a relaxed outfit of jean cutoffs, a dark tee, a bag worn across the body, and a baseball cap in green.
Garner Spotted Nearby but Not With the Group
Also in the area that day was actress Jennifer Garner, Affleck’s ex-wife and the mother of his three children. Though she was not photographed alongside Affleck and the kids, Garner was spotted at the same location walking with a friend, both of them dressed in workout attire. Garner wore green tights, a black sweater, crew socks, and green clogs, topping the look with a light blue cap and sunglasses.
The couple’s eldest daughter, Violet, was not part of the birthday outing. The couple also has a 20-year-old daughter named Violet. Affleck and Garner split in 2015, and the “13 Going on 30” actress finalized their divorce in 2018.
A Difficult Year for the Affleck Family
The birthday celebration arrived during a period of grief for the family. In July 2026, news emerged that Affleck’s mother, Chris Affleck, had died after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Her death certificate listed cardiopulmonary arrest as the immediate cause of death, and she passed away at Ben Affleck’s home. His brother, actor Casey Affleck, shared in the loss alongside him.
According to Chris Affleck’s obituary, she had set a deeply personal goal for herself after her diagnosis: she wanted to live long enough to watch her grandson graduate high school. She achieved that wish, attending the ceremony with family on May 31, 2026. The obituary noted she passed away peacefully in her sleep two days after the graduation. A source close to the family said the Afflecks are supporting each other through this difficult time.
On Raising Kids Out of the Hollywood Spotlight
Despite growing up with two famous parents, the Affleck-Garner children have not been pushed toward the entertainment industry. In January 2026, Affleck discussed his and Garner’s parenting philosophy with E! News at the world premiere of “The Rip.” He said he and Garner want to give their children room to figure out what they want to do and that he wouldn’t push them into acting. He described his kids as brilliant, lovely and wonderful, adding that he and Garner love them and are proud of them.
During that same interview, Affleck reflected on his own upbringing and how starting out anonymously, far from Hollywood, shaped him positively. He acknowledged that his children have privileges because of their parents’ careers but expressed gratitude for the modest beginnings he and Damon shared before their careers took off. Affleck told E! News that in some ways, it was a blessing to have anonymity and to struggle, starting from the middle of nowhere.
Details From the Santa Monica Outing
The Saturday market outing offered a glimpse into how Affleck chose to spend his 54th birthday. Photographs showed him smiling and relaxed alongside Fin and Samuel as they browsed the market together. One source described Affleck’s attire as including a striped white shirt with navy blue wide-leg trousers, while another noted the shirt had black stripes — both accounts agreeing on the blue trousers, belt, sunglasses and comfortable footwear.
Garner, meanwhile, was dressed for a workout. One report described her outfit as dark green leggings with a black top and slip-on shoes, her hair in a low updo, accessorized with brown-tinted sunglasses and a blue baseball cap. Another account noted green tights, a black sweater, crew socks and green clogs with a light blue cap — variations that suggest she may have layered or changed elements of her outfit during the outing.
What remained consistent across reports was that Garner was in the same area as Affleck and their children but was not photographed together with them. She was accompanied by a friend throughout the Santa Monica stop.
A Milestone Birthday Rooted in Family
Turning 54 just weeks after losing his mother, and with the memory of her final milestone — watching her grandson graduate — still fresh, Affleck’s birthday carried both celebration and reflection. He spent the day with Fin and Samuel, two of the three children he shares with Garner, in a relaxed setting that allowed the family to be together during a challenging time.
The presence of Garner nearby, even if not directly in the same group, reflected the co-parenting arrangement the former couple has maintained since their 2018 divorce. For Affleck, the Santa Monica outing appeared to be less about fanfare and more about spending his birthday surrounded by the people closest to him.