Sandra Bullock has spread the ashes of her longtime partner Bryan Randall on his birthday after he died aged 57.
A statement released by Randall's family through PEOPLE confirmed the sad news of his passing and disclosed the cause of death in the summer last year. "It is with great sadness that we share that on Aug. 5, Bryan Randall passed away peacefully after a three-year battle with [Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)]," the family expressed.
The statement continued: "Bryan chose early to keep his journey with ALS private, and those of us who cared for him did our best to honor his request. We are immensely grateful to the tireless doctors and astounding nurses who navigated the landscape of this illness with us."
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, is a rare neurological condition affecting motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord, controlling voluntary muscle movement.
According to an Instagram post by Gesine Bullock-Prado, Bullock's sister, the Proposal actress has scattered the ashes of her partner at Snake River in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
In the caption of the video, Bullock-Prado wrote: "Happy birthday, Bry. Sandy brought you to the river, just as she promised."
The couple's story began in January 2015 when the acclaimed photographer collaborated with Bullock on a project for her son's birthday celebrations.
Despite keeping their relationship mostly private, they officially confirmed their status as a couple after making a joint appearance at Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux's wedding a year later.
In 2018, Randall and Bullock attended the Oceans 8 World Premiere in New York City, capturing the attention of paparazzi as they enjoyed quality time together.
While Bullock rarely discussed their relationship in the public eye, she did open up about their nearly decade-long connection, expressing her perspective on marriage during an interview with the hosts of Red Table Talk.
"I don't want to say do it like I do it, but I don't need a paper to be a devoted partner, devoted mother. I don't need to be told to weather a storm with a good man," Bullock revealed. She also mentioned their shared joy in raising three children together.
Recalling the early days of their relationship, Bullock shared: "I said, 'Remember that NDA you signed when you photographed my son?' I said, 'You know, that still holds.'" She praised Randall as a "saint" for his role in helping raise her children.
Bullock also shed light on Randall's apprehension about the spotlight, describing him as "scared" of her high-profile life. "My life was already on the track, and here's this beautiful human being who doesn't want anything to do with my life but [is] the right human being to be there," she admitted.
