Kate Beckinsale announces her mother Judy Loe has passed away aged 78 after ‘immeasurable suffering’ as she admits she is ‘paralysed’ with grief

Kate Beckinsale has shared the heartbreaking news that her mother Judy Loe has passed away aged 78 after ‘immeasurable suffering’.

The star took to Instagram on Thursday night to share that she died in her arms on July 15 and admitted she is ‘paralysed’ with grief.

Judy’s cause of death wasn’t confirmed however Kate previously revealed her mum been battling stage four cancer for the last two years.

Her death comes 18 months after the death of her second husband and Kate’s stepfather Roy, who died in January 2024. 

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. 

Kate didn’t confirm the cause of death however her mum was known to have been battling stage four cancer for the last two years

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.’

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.’

Fans and friends rushed to send their condolences in the comments as they penned: ‘I’m so sorry. What a beautiful lady’;

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  

Sharing a collection of photos and videos she shared that she died in her arms on July 15 and admitted she is ‘paralysed’ with grief

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’ 

‘Sending you and Lily so much love’; ‘I’m so incredibly sorry for your loss! Y’all had such an incredible bond that not a lot of mothers and daughters do’;

‘Sending love. Not enough. Because NOTHING can replace your mother.’; ‘Oh no. May angels lead her in’.

Jess Wright added: ‘Omg I am so deeply sorry’. 

Back in March Kate shared a tearful Mother’s Day tribute to her mum amid her cancer battle. 

She reassured her mum that ‘any journey you are on, I’m on it with you,’ in an Instagram post dedicated to her, revealing just how much she idolises her mum.

Describing Judy as her ‘partner in crime,’ Kate posted a carousel of photos from throughout her mum’s cancer treatment, as well as memories that hold a special place in her heart.

Kate – who revealed that her mum was sick last year – admitted they had been ‘through some s**t together’ and that her mum has her heart.

The Fool’s Paradise star further offered her advice to others who are grieving.

She said: ‘My heart is with you,’ on a day that is ‘joyful for so many and painful for so many.’ 

In one snap she shared a clip visiting her mother in hospital on her birthday as they sang together

She added: ‘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 – who revealed that her mum was sick last year – previously admitted they had been ‘through some s**t together’ and that her mum has her heart

Fans and friends rushed to send their condolences in the comments as reality star Jess Wright sent her love

Kate also asked for good wishes to be sent to her ‘extraordinary’ mother who she called a ‘warrior’ in her post.  

Kate penned in the caption of the post about her mum: ‘I wasn’t going to come back to Instagram but anyone who has a spare prayer or magic or miracle or sunbeam please send it to my mama, my most extraordinary, warrior, generous, humble, loving, unique, irreplaceable Mama.

‘Thank you – Lord, keep her safe this night, secure from all her fears, may angels guard her while she sleeps till morning light appears, amen.’

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.

Kate’s father Richard died when she was just five-years-old after he suffered a shock heart attack in his sleep (pictured with mother Judy)

Kate reflected on his death a year later as she revealed she’ll forever be ‘haunted’ after seeing Roy die 

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.’

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.

‘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.’