Ben Affleck chose to keep things simple as he turned 54, spending his birthday close to the people who matter most. The actor stepped out in Santa Monica on Saturday, August 15, where he was seen enjoying time with two of his children, Fin and Samuel.
Rather than a glamorous Hollywood celebration, the day included a casual stop at a local market. Affleck appeared cheerful and at ease as he talked and laughed with his children. Jennifer Garner, his former wife and the mother of his three kids, was also seen in the area that day.
The birthday star kept his look relaxed, pairing a striped white button-down with blue trousers and sunglasses. Fin wore denim shorts with a black T-shirt, green cap and crossbody bag, while Samuel opted for a gray tee and navy shorts.
Garner wasn’t photographed walking directly with Affleck and the children, but she was spotted nearby in the company of a friend. Wearing green leggings, a black sweater, sunglasses and a pale-blue cap, she appeared to be enjoying a casual outing of her own.
Despite ending their marriage years ago, Affleck and Garner have remained closely linked as parents. Along with Fin and Samuel, they are also parents to their eldest child, Violet, and have continued to come together around important family moments.
This birthday, however, arrived after an especially painful chapter for Affleck. In July, his family suffered the loss of his mother, Chris Affleck, who died following a battle with pancreatic cancer.
In the weeks surrounding her death, Ben and his brother Casey reportedly relied on loved ones for support. Chris’s obituary also revealed that after receiving her diagnosis, she had one deeply meaningful goal: she hoped to live long enough to witness her grandson’s high school graduation.
That wish came true on May 31, 2026, when she joined her family for the milestone. Only a short time later, they were mourning her loss. Against that emotional backdrop, Affleck’s understated birthday spent around his children appeared far removed from a typical celebrity celebration and instead centered firmly on family.
