Jonathan Rhys Meyers' Mother Dies

[baby2swt]

HOLLYWOOD - The mother of Irish movie star Jonathan Rhys Meyers died in a Cork city hospital on Tuesday--just days after the actor's drunken outburst at Dublin Airport.

The death of Geraldine Meyers-O'Keeffe, 51, at the Mercy University Hospital in Ireland was confirmed by the actor's publicist, who said the family had no further comment to make at this stage.

It is believed she succumbed to a stroke.

The tragic news sheds light on the August Rush star's erratic behavior of the past few days.

Rhys Meyers was arrested over the weekend on alcohol-related public order offenses, when he was clearly struggling to cope with his mother's ill health.

He sparked further fears of a downward spiral on Tuesday when he was spotted downing cans of super-strength cider at 11 a.m.

It is now understood that the 30-year-old--who checked into rehab for alcohol-related problems earlier this year--was turning to booze to get him through the painful ordeal of losing his mother.

Ms. Meyers-O'Keeffe--known as Gerri--lived in Glanmire, County Cork, and was hugely proud of her son's rapid rise to fame as a movie and TV award-winning actor.

She raised him single-handedly after her husband walked out on her when the Match Point star was just 3 years old, taking his two other brothers with him.

In the latest edition of Details magazine, the actor tells of how he was estranged from his father for over 20 years and found it extremely hard to accept his dad's rejection.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers at mother's funeral

The Tudors actor was accompanied to the funeral by his girlfriend Reena Hammer. Fellow Irish actor Colin Farrell and his sister were also in attendance, seen embracing Jonathan. Irish actor Cillian Murphy was also reportedly there. Among those who sympathised with Jonathan and his family in the cold winter sunshine director Neil Jordan, Tudors star Maria Doyle Kennedy, designer Lainey Keogh, and actress and comedian Pauline McLynn.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers buries ‘the best mother a son could have’

By Eoin English

GRIEVING actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers led mourners in a standing ovation for his mother’s life yesterday after her funeral Mass.

In a moving tribute to Geraldine “Geri” Meyers O’Keeffe from the altar of St Joseph’s Church in Glanmire, Co Cork, the 31-year-old Hollywood star said: “My mother was a happy woman, a humorous woman.

“She was very intelligent, very polite, very sweet, and the best mother a son could have.”

Jonathan, who always enjoyed a very close relationship with her, told the congregation that there is usually a moment of silence at the end of a funeral ceremony.

“My brothers and I discussed this yesterday and my mother really didn’t like silence,” he said, before the congregation laughed politely.

“So I’d like you all to stand if you would and, if you wouldn’t mind, please give her a round of applause for her life.”

Hundreds of people from the Glanmire area, where Ms Meyers O’Keeffe lived, rubbed shoulders outside the church with leading figures from the entertainment world.

Dressed in a simple dark suit, a clean-shaven Jonathan clutched his girlfriend Reena Hammer’s hand as they walked past a carpet of floral tributes on their way into the church.

They were followed by his brothers Alan, Paul and Jamie, who spent some time reading the tributes, their sister Maria, their mother’s partner John O’Neill, her former husband Johnny O’Keeffe, and her beloved grandson, Dylan, who is Alan’s son.

“What happens when we die, when we exit the stage of life, is that we go in to a new life that will last forever — a fuller life, a happier life,” he said.

“Human existence on earth is like a prologue to a life that begins when we die. We go in to a new life that will last forever.”

Our deepest condolences go out to Jonathan and his friends and family.

[Guest bonbons]

aww ><

RIP

and I hope he recovers too <33

[Guest Azura]

my condolence to him....hope he's coping well.

[Guest dotty]

RIP

tt's so sad. i hope he'll recover from that ordeal and not turn to alcohol

[LucasBunny]

:tears:

awww my poor baby!

RIP to his mom and I send my condolences

[Guest VioletSauce]

Wow! I can't even believe this. I just saw him last week on the View then all of this happens? O.o

Bless him and his family.

[Guest Vino de Jerez]

R.I.P Mrs Meyers. I read a chapter in the prayers book yesterday. and one of the prayer of "When Someone Dies" is dedicated to you.

God Bless

[Guest goodvibrations]

I hope he copes well and steers away from alcohol and other forms of self abuse. RIP.

[Guest Addy]

I felt so sorry because he had the DUI bust and disturbing the peace or something like that the day or so before he heard of his mother. He tried to get on the plane and everything went haywire.

Hope he grows stronger from this and to his mother: RIP

SEE AUGUST RUSH and THE TUDORS!! Good movie and show! 8D

[Guest matrixhasme18]

OMG! He looks so sad in the small pictures of him being hugged.... R.I.P.! Hope he feels better