Austin Butler opens up about his enduring sorrow following his mother's battle with cancer.

Austin Butler reflects on the cherished memories of his mother, Lori, who passed away when he was in his 20s.

The former Disney Channel star, now 32, continues to grieve the loss of his 'best friend,' who died when he was 23.

Describing his mother, the American actor told Adelaide Now, "She was incredibly kind to everyone she met, and I strive to be even a fraction like her in that way. If you interacted with her, your day instantly got better. She was such a bright light. My father is the same way—always kind."

Butler added, "I have to credit my parents. My mum was my best friend."

After his mother’s death from cancer, Austin began filming a project and revealed that he would "cry every night."

The Elvis actor, nominated for a Golden Globe for his portrayal of the King of Rock 'n' Roll, has often credited his mother for supporting his career, telling The Hollywood Reporter, "I owe her for everything."

Reflecting on his early days, the Carrie Diaries actor recalled how he "stumbled into extra work" and was "an incredibly shy kid." His mother recognized his passion for acting early on, quitting her job to drive him to auditions and acting classes.

Despite gaining larger roles, his mother passed away in 2014 after battling cancer. Austin admitted, "After my mum passed away, I'd never experienced pain like that before, and I started to question if acting was a noble profession."

After her death, he flew to New Zealand to film a series that was eventually cancelled after two seasons. Though he enjoyed shooting the show, he confessed, "I'd go home and cry every night," grappling with grief and a feeling of unfulfillment.

Ready to take a break from acting, Austin explained, "I thought, 'I've got a little bit of money in the bank. I'll just take time off.'" However, he soon found himself sinking into a deeper depression that lasted six to eight months.

His career took a turning point when he sent an audition tape for the Broadway show The Iceman Cometh, starring Denzel Washington, which changed the trajectory of his career.

Austin has often paid tribute to his mother, including during his hosting of Saturday Night Live in 2022. In his opening monologue, he shared how his "crippling shyness" as a child was broken by making his mother laugh, particularly with a Gollum impression.

"Being silly with her is what broke me out of my shell and was the core of what started me in acting," he said. Hosting SNL made him think of his mother and how proud she would be of him.

To conclude his monologue, Austin dedicated each "silly voice" and "funny face" he did on the show to his late mother, emotionally adding, "That's for you, mum."