Ben Affleck Prioritizes Parenting Over Hollywood’s Demanding Travel Schedules

Ben Affleck reveals how his shared custody arrangement with Jennifer Garner shapes his career choices and commitment to staying in Los Angeles.

For Ben Affleck. the most significant role in his life isn’t found on a movie set or in a production office—it’s found in the routine of school pickups and family dinners. In a candid reflection on his life as a father. the 54-year-old actor opened up about the shared custody arrangement he maintains with his ex-wife. Jennifer Garner. detailing a life that revolves strictly around his three children: Violet. 20. Fin. 17. and Samuel. 14.

“I work hard, and then I go home and pick up the kids from school,” Affleck said. “We have dinner if they agree to hang out with me. They’re with me for a week, then with their mom for a week.”

This week-on, week-off schedule has fundamentally altered how Affleck approaches his career. While he remains a fixture in the film industry. he is no longer willing to trade his presence at home for location shoots that take him across the country. “I’m divorced, I have shared custody, and I don’t want to miss these years,” he explained. “My kids are here, and their life is flying by. I don’t want to have to be in Shreveport or New Mexico in order to work.”.

Instead. he and his longtime creative partner. Matt Damon. are working to turn Los Angeles into a more sustainable hub for the next generation of filmmakers through their production company. Artists Equity. The duo recently launched Artists Equity Independent Pictures. a fund specifically designed to support indie projects that can remain rooted in the city. allowing him to stay local. He noted that he feels “fortunate” to have the power to decide where he works. pointing to Los Angeles’ superior crews as a professional advantage.

Affleck. who was married to Garner from 2005 to 2018. described his current personal life as “really wonderful. ” adding that he has “nothing salacious or all that interesting in my life.” The exes have maintained an amicable relationship since their divorce. frequently appearing together for holidays and milestone family events.

Beyond his children. Affleck also addressed his recent separation from Jennifer Lopez. with whom he was married from 2022 until their divorce was finalized in 2025. He expressed continued admiration for her. telling those who asked that he is “biased” and holds an “enormous amount of respect and admiration for what she can do” in her acting career. For now. however. dating is not at the forefront of his mind; he told reporters earlier this month that finding a new relationship simply isn’t a “big priority.”.

Whether he is being spotted on routine ice cream runs or grabbing dinner at Santa Monica spots like Fia—where he was seen with Fin and Violet this past August—the focus remains singular. Affleck is settling into a chapter defined not by the glare of the spotlight. but by the quiet cadence of a father who has decided that his priority is exactly where his children are.

Ben Affleck Jennifer Garner shared custody parenting Los Angeles Artists Equity Hollywood