Courtesy of Vivien Killilea Getty Images for MultlHouse/PAL Public Relations
By
Jeff Dodge
Published 7 minutes ago
Jeff Dodge (he/him), a published author and graduate of Western Washington University, has been a TV news editor for many years and has had the chance to interview multiple reality show stars, including Randy Jackson, Nick Cannon, Heidi Klum, Mel B and John Cena. Fun Fact: he’s been to every single Idol Live! Tour.
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Kevin Smith paid tribute to his mother as the filmmaker is mourning a major loss in his life. Smith is best known for movies like Clerks and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. He also helmed several episodes in the Arrowverse on shows like Supergirl and The Flash.
In 1970, Grace Smith gave birth to the future director when she was 25 years old. Fifty-five years later, Smith is mourning his mother's passing at the age of 80. He took to Instagram to share a lengthy tribute to Grace, who "took her last breath" on December 1 at 8:34 p.m., and included several photos from throughout her life.
Smith called Grace a "strong woman with a stronger heart" who put everyone else's needs above her own. He compared her to a lioness who was "fiercely protective" of her kids. Grace made sure that her children always felt "value...cherished...and deeply loved."
The bill for 55 years of unconditional love came due on December 1st, and the costly price was having to watch the strongest person I’ve ever known - my absolute favorite person in the world - exit the stage after a lifetime of setting it for her children. My Mom is gone. At 8:34 last night, Grace V. Smith - the first person I ever loved - took her last breath.
In his tribute, Smith recounted his mother's biography of being adopted as an infant and training to be a secretary after graduating from high school. She eventually fell in love with and married "goofy guy" Don Smith after they met at a bowling alley. In the mid-1960s, Grace and Don had their first baby, Virginia, and then son Donald.
After high school, she trained to be a secretary and worked at Prudential for a minute before meeting some goofy guy at a bowling alley. Two years later, she married that pin-striker named Don Smith.
Smith was born just four years later, the same day as his brother Donald's birthday. The filmmaker joked that the timing made it seem like he was "declaring himself the star of the show." However, the "real star" in the Smith family was always their mother, "Amazing Grace - Momily, The Mother of All Mothers."
The four Smiths would live happily ever after… until four years later, when their youngest son, Kevin, was born on his brother Don’s birthday in 1970, barging in and declaring himself the star of the show. But the real star was always Amazing Grace - Momily, The Mother of All Mothers.
One of his most well-known films, Clerks, which takes place in Smith's View Askewniverse, never would have existed without Grace, whom he called the "blueprint" that shaped his career in the entertainment industry.
He admitted that he'll "miss her for the rest of my days" and acknowledged how "lucky" he's been to call her his mother and to spend 55 years of his life with her.
Smith also thanked his fans for treating Grace like a rock star and ended his tribute by calling her his "hero."
But biggest thanks to you, Ma - for making me and taking me on the journey of a lifetime. I love you so much, Mom. You've always been, and will forever be, my hero. Love, Tiger.
In the comments section of his Instagram post, which received over 10,000 reactions, several celebrities, including Nicole Maines, Justin Long, Rosario Dawson, Questlove and Ken Jeong, left their condolences.
On November 30, Smith shared an update on Grace's health. Alongside a photo of his mother in a hospital bed, he revealed that she had rebounded from being on "death's doorstep." It ended up only being a temporary moment of celebration because one day later, Grace passed away.
Kevin Smith has multiple projects in the works for the future, including Jay and Silent Bob: Store Wars, but for now, the iconic director is putting all of that aside to mourn the loss of a woman who meant the world to him.
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Kevin Smith
Birthdate
August 2, 1970
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Red Bank, New Jersey, United States
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5 feet 9 inches
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Director, Producer, Screenwriter, Actor, Comic Book Writer, Author, Podcaster, Public Speaker, Stand-up Comedian
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