Actress Angelina Jolie has experienced another loss connected to her mother’s side of the family with the passing of her step-grandmother, Elke Bertrand, at the age of 85 in 2024. This event marks the fading of one of the few remaining ties Jolie had with her extended family, highlighting an ongoing estrangement that has lasted for decades.
Background on Elke Bertrand’s Relationship with Angelina Jolie
Elke Bertrand, originally from Germany, married Rolland Bertrand, Jolie’s grandfather, in 1975—the same year Angelina was born. The step-grandmother shared a warm relationship with Angelina and her brother James Haven before family tensions arose following Rolland’s death in 1985. According to a 2016 Daily Mail interview, the bond between Elke and the family deteriorated after a falling-out with Angelina’s mother, Marcheline.
Yet, nearly three decades later, Elke retained fond memories of Angelina.
“Angelina hasn’t got many people left in her life,”
Elke remarked, underscoring the actress’s limited family connections. She added,
“I know she’s got her father [Jon Voight] but I don’t know how close they are.”
Continuing Losses Within Angelina Jolie’s Family
Angelina has endured significant family grief over the years, with her mother passing away in 2007 and her uncle Raleigh dying in 2009, both from cancer. Additionally, Jolie’s aunt Debbie, her mother’s sister, died in 2013 due to breast cancer. The accumulation of these losses has left Angelina with few close relatives.
Publicly, Angelina has shared the depth of her isolation, revealing in a 2011 Marie Claire interview that Brad Pitt, then her partner, was the only person she confided in, though their relationship ended in 2017. Reflecting on Angelina’s personal growth, Elke commented,
“Maybe it’s good Angelina is moving on,”
and added, “Leopards don’t change their spots.”
Angelina’s Current Family Life and Shared Values with Step-Grandmother
In a 2023 Wall Street Journal interview, Angelina disclosed that she leads a social life centered primarily around her six children—Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Knox and Vivienne—considering them her closest friends. Despite years without contact, both Angelina and Elke shared a commitment to helping vulnerable communities. Elke was known for mentoring abused and neglected children and providing aid to the homeless, causes that align with Angelina’s advocacy.
Elke’s obituary describes her as
“a passionate advocate for abused women and children,”
reflecting a life dedicated to supporting the marginalized, a legacy that resonates with Angelina’s own humanitarian work.
Significance of This Family Loss
The death of Elke Bertrand symbolizes the gradual closing of Angelina Jolie’s familial chapter linked to her mother’s side, deepening the actress’s personal and emotional challenges. As Angelina continues to focus on her children and humanitarian efforts, this loss might further underscore her reliance on immediate family and philanthropic pursuits. The impact may deepen her sense of solitude, yet also reinforce her enduring commitment to causes close to her and her step-grandmother’s hearts.
