Remembering Molly Cooke as 'a brilliant judge and one of the only women in her law school class,' the 'Cruel Intentions' actress says her life and her sisters' will never be the same without her.
- May 25, 2020
AceShowbiz - Selma Blair is mourning the loss of a loved one. The Liz Sherman of "Hellboy", who has been dealing with multiple sclerosis, broke the sad news that her judge mother, Molly Cooke, passed away on Saturday, May 23 through a loving tribute she shared on social media.
On Sunday afternoon, the 47-year-old actress posted on Instagram a vintage photo of her late mother. Along with it, she wrote her lengthy homage that read, "My first person. My deepest heart still beats with what you gave me. I worship you , Mom." She then dished, "Molly Cooke died yesterday. In her home."
Describing her mother as "formidable, funny, quick , striking and generous," the mother-of-one continued, "She often gave the shirt off her back, a trait I have adopted. Gifts of herself. My mother was a brilliant judge and one of the only women in her law school class. She was my first style icon, my muse , my prize. My whole life, I kept my eye on the prize."
"She had many friends and admirers, cousins nieces, (and a nephew) a sister, a son in law. most of all, she had us, her girls, her grandchildren ,Jim, Nicholas, Frances and Arthur Saint. My sisters and myself, we loved her so much," she went on to note. "Our lives will never be the same. Mom, Arthur understood you so sweetly and I am grateful and pleased you loved him."
Having been stuck at her home in Los Angeles due to the coronavirus pandemic, Blair added, "I wish I could pay a back at home tribute to you ... to be in the company of my sisters: Lizzie, Katie, Mimi." Near the end of her post, she thanked her mother for "your love , your loyalty." She concluded her post by writing, "I hold you from here. Oceans of love, Baby bear, the original Saint."
A number of fellow celebrities were quick to offer support and condolences for Blair. Mia Farrow wrote, "I'm so very sorry dearest Selma. This loss is a terrible one. I send you and your family all my love." Kris Jenner similarly sent her words of comfort, "Heartbreaking to [lose] your Mama I'm so so sorry I love you and I'm praying for you and Arthur."
Michelle Pfeiffer chimed in, "I so sorry for your loss Selma. Its hard to lose a parent at any age," while fellow actress Reese Witherspoon told her, "Oh Selma ! I'm so sorry. I know how much you loved her. And she loved you. God bless her soul." Blair's "Cruel Intentions" co-star Sarah Michelle Gellar, in the meantime, simply wrote, "I love you."
Weeks earlier, Blair celebrated Mother's Day by expressing her gratitude to Cooke. "Arthur doesn't know her well. She is in Michigan. But when he has been with her, he held her hand. He gave her flowers from my sisters garden. He made me proud. My mom loves him," she wrote in her Instagram tribute.
Blair, who shared 8-year-old Arthur with fashion designer ex Jason Bleick, is Cooke's youngest of four daughter she had with ex-husband and attorney Elliot Beitner. She divorced Beitner when the "Legally Blonde" actress was 23 years old.
