Brad Pitt is grieving the loss of one of the most important women in his life—his mother, Jane Etta Pitt, who has died at the age of 84.
The former school counselor was remembered in a touching Instagram post by Brad’s niece Sydney Pitt, who described her grandmother as “love in its purest form.”
‘We were not ready for you to go’
Sydney, the daughter of Brad’s brother Doug Pitt, shared the emotional tribute on Wednesday, saying, “My sweet Grammy, Jane Etta, we were not ready for you to go yet but knowing you are finally free to sing, dance, and paint again makes it a tad easier.”
She went on to highlight Jane Etta’s remarkable energy and devotion to her grandchildren, writing, “She could keep up with all 14 of us grandkids without missing a beat. There was no limit to the love she gave, and everyone who met her felt it.”
A quiet life behind the spotlight
Jane Etta raised Brad Pitt and his two siblings in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and later in Springfield, Missouri, alongside her husband William Alvin Pitt, a trucking company owner. Deeply committed to her faith, she was a practicing Christian and raised her children with Southern Baptist traditions.
Though she stayed out of the public eye for the most part, fans may remember her from a few notable red carpet appearances—most memorably when she attended the 2012 Oscars with Brad and his then-wife Angelina Jolie.
‘Biscuits and gravy before the Oscars’
In a moment that showed just how grounded his family was, Brad once told reporters that they had shared a meal of biscuits and gravy before walking the red carpet.
Jane Etta’s relationship with her husband began at Oklahoma Baptist University, where they met before marrying in 1962. Brad was born just over a year later.
The Hollywood star previously described his Missouri hometown as being “surrounded by cornfields.” He told GQ in 2017, “Ten minutes outside of town, you start getting into forests and rivers and the Ozark Mountains.” Jane Etta lived out her life in that peaceful setting, surrounded by family.
The lesson that changed Brad’s life
Brad Pitt has long credited his parents with shaping his work ethic and outlook on life. He once shared that his decision to chase a dream in Hollywood—just weeks before graduating with a journalism degree from the University of Missouri—was largely inspired by his father.
In a 2011 interview with Parade, Brad shared a pivotal memory from high school that stuck with him forever. During a tough tennis tournament, his father offered a few simple but life-changing words.
“He got right up to me and said, ‘Are you having fun?’ I said, ‘No.’ And he said, ‘Then don't do it.’”
Brad added, “Finding something you love to do has been a big guideline for me. I think it gave me the impetus to move out to California in a beat-up Datsun with a couple hundred dollars in my pocket. It's been the impetus to seek out projects that are important to me.”