Kevin Smith has announced the demise of his mom, Grace. The Clerks director, 55, took to Instagram on November 30 to share a photo of his mother in a hospital room. He disclosed that he flew out to Florida a few days prior due to an "unplanned, emergency trip to see" her, as she was "suddenly on death’s doorstep." He said that Grace "bounced back, returning from the brink" in an update shortly after. However, this Tuesday, December 2, he confirmed that she died the night before. She would have turned 80 years old later this month. People Magazine has reported that Kevin Smith and his siblings, Donald Jr. and Virginia, were raised by Grace and their father, Don. The latter died of a heart attack in 2003 at age 67. Kevin Smith pens a heartfelt tribute to his mother: Read more View this post on Instagram Instagram PostIn his tribute to his mother on X, Kevin Smith said alongside a string of family photos, "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." He called her "the first person I ever loved" and lauded her for having "a stronger heart that had a tendency to put everyone else first." He continued, "She was a lioness, fiercely protective of her pride, who lived for her kids," noting, "so there’s never been a day in my life when I didn’t know in my bones that I was valued as human being, cherished as a child, and deeply loved beyond reason. My Mom made me feel like I mattered - to our family, to the world, and especially to her."He also shared that his mother was his "biggest fan," noting, "If you like me or anything I've ever made, she was the blueprint. I will miss her for the rest of my days but I also know how lucky I was to have had as much time as I got with my Mom." Kevin Smith also shared that he would be canceling all forthcoming shows and appearances for some time as he needed time to grieve his mother. The filmmaker concluded his ode to his "Ma" by thanking her 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." The update comes over a year after Kevin Smith revealed in September 2024 that his mother underwent "life-saving surgery." "Mom's been in and out of hospitals all year now, and as hard as it's been to see it, it's been far more difficult for Mom to live it," the famed director shared at the time. "She'll be 79 in December, so recovering from surgery takes almost as much as a toll as the malady they're mending. I love my Mom as much as the next guy, but I also revere her for being the strongest person I know. If I was faced with what Mom goes through, I'd likely call it a day." As of this writing, Grace's exact cause of death remains unclear. Stay tuned to SoapCentral for more.