Julia Roberts' mother, Betty Lou Bredemus, passed away early Thursday at the age of 80.

Bredemus succumbed to lung cancer at a Santa Monica hospital, People and InTouch Weekly can reveal, however, Roberts' publicist have not yet issued any statement, as the Oscar winning star is known for not divulging personal life in public.

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This was the second tragedy to befall the actress' family, following the tragic death of her half-sister, Nancy Motes, which was picked up by the press because of her fatal drug overdose and drowning in a bathtub. The death was apparently ruled as suicide, as a suicide note was handed to her family.

Roberts' was inconsolable over the death of her sister and in an interview with WSJ Magazine, Roberts said: "You don't want anything bad to happen to anyone, but there are so many tragic, painful, inexplicable things in the world," she said.

She, however, said that despite the bad "situation of challenge and despair, we must find a way, as a family..."

She also mentioned that words are not enough to describe the "weepy huddle of my family."

The former acting school teacher in Smyrna, Ga., was also mother to actor Eric Roberts and Lisa Gillan. Her four grandchildren, includes actress Emma Roberts.

Bredemus lived with Julia after Motes' death.

TagsJulia Roberts, betty lou bredemus