Brad Pitt’s Mom Jane Etta Pitt Dead at 84

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Brad Pitt’s family is mourning the loss of his mother Jane Etta Pitt.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d like to share a poignant moment that recently touched my heart: Sydney Pitt, the niece of the renowned actor from Fight Club, who happens to be the daughter of Brad’s brother Doug Pitt, announced the passing of her beloved grandmother at the age of 84. In a heartfelt social media post, she paid tribute to this remarkable woman.

On Instagram, August 6, she expressed, ‘My dear Grandmother, Jane Etta, we weren’t quite prepared for your departure yet, but knowing that you can now freely sing, dance, and paint again brings some comfort.’ If you knew Grammy, you’d know her heart was immense. She cared deeply for all, without hesitation.

Meanwhile, Jane was a beacon of light within their family, Sydney shared insights about the deep influence her grandmother had on her personal life.

As Jane shone brightly among their family members, Sydney spoke of the significant effect that her grandmother had on her personally.

She showed me how to paint, how to be strong, how to lead with kindness, to love Jesus unconditionally, and to discover happiness even in tiny moments,” she went on. “She would invent the most absurd games just to bring a smile to our faces, and she held firm beliefs in fairness, putting others ahead, and doing what’s right out of a sense of morality.

Among all the moments they shared together, one stood out the most.

Each school year, she would arrange a unique day for us grandkids at the start, an entire day dedicated to our choices (with Papa joining in, though I suspect he enjoyed it secretly as well). Sydney reminisced. My special days often commenced with banana splits for breakfast, followed by endless hours of Trouble, a creative craft project, a thrilling adventure together at Silver Dollar City, dinner at Olive Garden with Papa, mini golf where she’d form a ‘V’ with her feet to assist me aim… (and miraculously, still manage to beat me) and concluding the day by watching Paulie until we dozed off.

Besides Brad, Jane also leaves behind her spouse William Alvin Pitt, her son Douglas, and her daughter Julie Pitt Neal, in addition to fourteen grandchildren.

Sydney expressed in her post that “She never faltered while keeping pace with all fourteen of us grandkids. There wasn’t a limit to the affection she shared, and everyone who encountered her felt it deeply. I’m unsure how we can carry on without her, but I believe she remains present in every stroke of paint, every act of kindness, every flutter of the hummingbird. She was love personified.

Among Jane’s grandchildren, there are the children Brad shares with his former wife, Angelina Jolie. Continue reading for further family details.

After developing a deep affection for Cambodia during the filming of “Tomb Raider” in 2001, Angelina Jolie sought to visit an orphanage in Battambang, a rural town, with the intention of potentially adopting her first child.

She later shared with Vanity Fair that she didn’t feel a connection with any of them until she came across Maddox, born on August 5, 2001, who was lying in a suspended box from the ceiling. Upon seeing him, she instantly felt a strong bond and started crying profusely.

After turning 26, the woman took on the role of a single parent to her oldest child. However, once she started dating Brad Pitt, he decided to formally adopt the son too.

Through his curiosity about his mother’s profession, when Angelina directed the 2017 film “First They Killed My Father“, which was an adaptation of her friend Loung Ung’s book detailing the Cambodian genocide by the Khmer Rouge regime, Maddox decided to contribute as an executive producer. He expressed this about his role: “I was trying to lend a hand wherever possible.” Regarding his supervisor, otherwise known as his mother, he described her as “funny, easy-going, and enjoyable to work with.” In his words, “She’s amazing.

Following his biochemistry education at Yonsei University in South Korea (a decision that made his mother extremely joyful), Maddox attended a White House state dinner in April 2023, which was hosted by President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife, First Lady Kim Keon Hee.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase it as follows:

“I was born on November 29, 2003, and for the first three-and-a-half years of my life, I resided in a single room within an orphanage situated outside Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. For the majority of that time, I shared this small space with 20 other children, and my daily routine was dictated by circumstances beyond my control. The freedom to make choices for myself was a luxury I did not possess.” (Angelina, in an interview with MSN, 2007)

Coexisting with Maddox, Zahara, and Shiloh, Angelina noted, “all of a sudden, he finds himself in a very open environment with new siblings and parents.” She went on to say, “He’s learning English now, and he’s so affectionate. He’s wild and free because he has newfound freedom, making him a bit unruly and energetic. But what a resilient and remarkable little individual he is.

Showing enthusiasm for the family enterprise, Pax lent his voice to the character Yoo in Angelina’s 2016 animated film “Kung Fu Panda 3” and functioned as a set photographer for “First They Killed My Father”. Later, he accompanied his mother to the 2018 Golden Globes.

Apart from this, he assisted in adorning Atelier Jolie – a creative fashion collaborative and tailoring business owned by Angelina in New York City. Additionally, he was employed within the assistant director’s team during the production of his upcoming movie, “Without Blood,” set in Italy.

In her conversation with People, Angelina shared that collaborating with both Pax and Maddox was similar to having an extended family on set, making the experience feel organic.

At the age of three, Maddox went with Angelina to an orphanage in Hawassa, Ethiopia, where they met their eldest daughter Zahara. Born on January 8, 2005, Zahara was already seven months old when she came home. Angelina shared later that Maddox adores her, saying “Mad loves her.” For Maddox, it’s like having a tiny pet he can hold and gaze at.

Just like my other siblings, I’ve shown a keen interest in every aspect of my mother’s endeavors. I’ve accompanied her on red carpet events, collaborated with jeweler Robert Procop to launch the Zahara Collection jewelry line in 2019, and made visits to Syrian refugee camps as part of our collective work with the UNHCR.

In August 2022, Angelina felt emotional as she sent Zahara to Atlanta’s Spelman College (she mentioned in an Instagram post that she hadn’t cried yet but hoped to keep it together). Later, she went back for the Homecoming celebrations of the Historically Black College or University (HBCU).

Zahara, who became a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority at school in 2023, has also traveled with an actress on multiple occasions to Washington D.C. She stood beside Angelina during her emotional speech advocating for the renewal of the Violence Against Women Act in February 2022 and again a year later when they lobbied legislators to pass the Justice for All Reauthorization Act of 2022.

Several months following the announcement of their pregnancy, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt welcomed their daughter Shiloh into the world at Cottage Hospital, Swakopmund, Namibia on May 27, 2006. In an interview with MSN, Angelina described her as “brimming with light and love, a tiny sweetheart, and incredibly amusing.” She also noted that she could see some of herself in Shiloh, suggesting that the child might cause a bit of trouble!

At the premiere of “Unbroken” in 2014, Shiloh made her first appearance on the red carpet. Later, she attended events for “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil”, “The Breadwinner”, “Dumbo”, the 2018 National Board of Review Awards Gala, and the 2021 “Eternals” premiere, where she donned her mother’s Dior gown on the red carpet.

Angelina said on Daily Pop at TopMob, “Wow, go ahead and wear it! You can pull it off even better than me!” She explained that she encourages her kids to borrow clothes from her wardrobe, saying, “Take whatever you want, it’s your time now.” She described herself as a mom who is happy to share her fashion with her children.

Beyond expressing curiosity about Angelina’s charitable work, it appears that Shiloh has dipped her toes in the world of entertainment, frequently visiting the Millennium Dance Complex in Los Angeles.

When she turned 18 in 2024, Shiloh Jolie-Pitt chose to petition a court in Los Angeles to officially drop the “Jolie-Pitt” part of her surname, opting instead to be known simply as Shiloh Nouvel Jolie. According to an insider who spoke with TopMob News, Shiloh has hired and paid for her own legal representation in this matter.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase it like this: Back in 2008 at the Independent Spirit Awards, Angelina first flaunted her baby bump. Later that year, on July 12th, she welcomed not one but two bundles of joy – Knox and his sister Vivienne – in the beautiful city of Nice, France. Since then, we’ve made our home at Château Miraval, where chaos reigns, yet it’s a delightful kind of chaos. Shortly after settling in, Angelina shared with People magazine that our family is thriving. Shiloh and Zahara have taken on the roles of fashion stylists, picking outfits for their twin siblings and even helping change and hold them. It’s been a whirlwind, but every moment is precious!

Referring to Brad’s grandfather, Hal Knox Hillhouse, Angelina remarked that “Knox is much like Brad, both emotionally and physically.” In fact, at the 2015 British motorcycle Grand Prix, they shared a strong resemblance.

Just as Pax, Zahara, and Shiloh, Knox also played a minor part in the 2016 movie “Kung Fu Panda 3,” lending his voice to the character Ku Ku. As Jolie shared with ET, they were initially timid about acting. “They’re not really keen on becoming actors,” she said. “But I didn’t want them to miss out on this chance. They came in and had a fantastic time with it.

In a statement given to TopMob News, Angelina described Knox’s younger fraternal twin as having qualities similar to her late mother, Marcheline Bertrand. She mentioned that the twin is less concerned with being in the spotlight and more dedicated to supporting other creative individuals. Angelina further stated that this twin is thoughtful, serious about theater, and diligent in learning how to contribute effectively.

Even though she delivered an impressive performance as the younger version of Elle Fanning’s Aurora in the 2014 film “Maleficent”, this high school student has since shifted her focus towards behind-the-scenes roles. As Angelina Jolie had remarked then, she was astonished by her excellent acting and had to reposition herself to hit her mark! It’s quite impressive.

Angelina mentioned that Vivienne motivated her to aid in transforming Francis Ford Coppola’s 1983 movie “The Outsiders” into a Broadway production. Consequently, the teenager became a voluntary assistant to her producing mother, who won a Tony for her efforts.

In my own words, I shared with People magazine that Vivienne, known as Vivienne Jolie in the playbill, will correct me if I slip up. She’ll remind me, “Haven’t you seen the memo? We need to do this, we have to go through these steps,” as she did. Vivienne has been an incredibly dedicated and serious assistant for me.

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2025-08-06 19:17