Austin Butler is a renowned actor in Hollywood but he’s mainly known as a Nickelodeon child star who performed in three different shows — Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide, iCarly, and Zoey 101. However, his most notable acting role to date is his portrayal of the main character in Baz Luhrmann’s biographical film, Elvis, where he stars alongside Tom Hanks. The film was released in 2022 and received notable recognition.
Even though Butler is reaching heights of success in his career, he can never forget the tragic loss of his mother. During the candid interviews, he still recounts the cherished memory of his late mother, Lori. The Elvis star went through a tragic loss in 2014 when his mother, Lori, passed away. This event triggered a battle of depression in him during those years.
Austin Buttler Faced Severe Depression When He Lost His Mom 10 Years Ago
Austin Butler seems so connected to his mother because when his mother passed away in 2014 after battling cancer, he underwent severe depression and started questioning himself. In a recent interview with The Times, while promoting the new Yves Saint Laurent fragrance, the Elvis actor shared a touching moment of his mother related to the scent of orange blossoms. He shared:
“Because in my childhood home there was this orange tree in the backyard and I remember so vividly when the tree would bloom.”
“My mother and I would go in the backyard and pick oranges and then go inside to make orange juice. And that really hit me.”
During a January discussion with The Hollywood Reporter, the actor openly shared an emotional experience of losing his mother in his early twenties. He revealed that his mother, Lori, had recognized his acting potential before anyone else did. Butler mentioned that his mom left her job to support him by taking him to auditions and acting classes. Her mom’s strong foundation and sacrifice led him to begin his acting career.
Austin Butler Questioned His Career When His Mom Was Dying in Hospital
During that time, Butler started doubting his acting career. He shared an emotional experience making MTV’s The Shannara Chronicles while missing his late mother:
“I started falling in love with the craft. But I was stuck in a lane of doing Nickelodeon and Disney. Then I moved on to young-adult TV shows. After my mom passed away, I’d never experienced pain like that before, and I started to question.”
Having spent time around doctors and hospital medical personnel, he started questioning whether acting was truly a “noble profession.” After his mother passed away, he traveled to New Zealand for a TV series shoot. Despite enjoying the filming process, he said he would still “cry every night.”
At that time, the young Butler announced his mother’s death on September 12, 2014, via a tweet:
“Lori Butler, my mom, my hero, & my best friend passed away this morning. Let’s all celebrate her. I love you and will miss you every day Mom.”
Last year, the actor talked about the tattoo on his wrist, which is a tribute to his mother. The tattoo features the number 27, which held special meaning to her.
Source: People
