Brad Pitt grew up in a modest, conservative family of Missourians — a far cry from his high-profile life as a Hollywood star. His mother, Jane Pitt, didn’t spend much time in the spotlight with her son, but her impact on his life was evident. Today, Brad’s niece, Sydney, shared more about Jane than we’ve heard in years.

Who is Brad Pitt’s mother?

Brad Pitt’s diehard fans know the basics of his family lineage. His parents, Jane Etta Pitt and William “Bill” Alvin Pitt, raised him in Springfield, Missouri, alongside his two younger siblings, Doug and Julie. According to Parade, Brad called his upbringing “very, very conservative,” saying, “My mother was incredibly loving and supportive, but also firm in her beliefs.”

As Pitt’s star rose, Jane and Bill, the former owner of a trucking company, kept a low profile, rarely attending public events with their oldest child. Jane, a former school counselor, was deeply devoted to her family. Brad once said, “We don’t see eye to eye on everything, but we have open lines of communication. I love her dearly.”

As the news of her August 2025 death went public, her granddaughter Sydney Pitt pulled back the curtain on the beloved family matriarch. On Instagram, Sydney posted a series of photos of Jane.

Sydney Pitt shares more about Brad’s late mom, Jane

Alongside photos of Jane, Sydney shared:

“My sweet Grammy, Jane Etta, we were not ready for you to go yet but knowing you are finally free to sing, dance, and paint again makes it a tad easier.” Brad’s niece explained that Jane had the “biggest heart,” “cared deeply for everyone,” and “believed in fairness.”

“She taught me how to paint, how to be strong, how to lead with kindness, to love Jesus through everything, and to find joy in the smallest things,” Sydney continued. “…Every year before school, she gave each of us grandkids a ‘special day’ which was a whole day to do whatever we wanted (and Papa had to go along with it… though I know he secretly loved it too).”

“She could keep up with all 14 of us grandkids without missing a beat. There was no limit to the love she gave, and everyone who met her felt it. I don’t know how we move forward without her. But I know she’s still here in every brushstroke, every kind gesture, every hummingbird. She was love in its purest form.”

Brad Pitt’s family tree

How is Sydney related to Brad? The World War Z actor‘s younger brother, Doug, has three children with his wife, Lisa: Landon, Sydney, and Reagan. Doug is a successful entrepreneur, philanthropist, and Goodwill Ambassador.

Brad’s sister Julie is known for her philanthropy as well, particularly regarding water initiatives in Ethiopia. With her husband, Julie has five children, including twins and two adopted from Ethiopia: Caleb, Josie, Rylie, Caden, and Cruz. In total, Brad has eight nieces and nephews — all heavily shielded from the public eye.

Does Brad Pitt’s mom see her grandchildren?

Jane Pitt has reportedly not seen her grandchildren — Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox, and Vivienne — since Brad and Angelina Jolie’s separation in 2016. However, it’s difficult to say for certain that there’s been no contact. Some isolated stories hint at rare visits, such as a 2020 lunch between Jane, her grandkids, and Angelina in Los Angeles as reported by Daily Mirror.

As fans ponder what those relationships looked like at the time of Jane’s death, we note that Sydney mentioned all “14” grandkids in her Instagram post.