Brad Pitt Returns To Set Two Weeks After His Mother’s Passing

Brad Pitt is back on set just two weeks after saying goodbye to his mom, Jane, who passed away at 84. The actor, 61, was photographed in Los Angeles on August 19, suited up once again as Cliff Booth for the sequel to Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood.

Despite the heartbreak, a source told PEOPLE that Brad has remained “his usual professional self.” Jane’s death on August 5 was a painful loss for the Pitt family. She was affectionately called “Grammy” by her 14 grandchildren and was known for creating “Your Special Day” traditions with each of them. In a family obituary, her loved ones wrote that these one-on-one celebrations were some of their most cherished memories.

Brad, the oldest of Jane and William Pitt’s three children, grew up in Springfield, Missouri, with siblings Doug and Julie before chasing his Hollywood dreams. Over the years, he often spoke fondly of his mother. In one interview, he even gave her a shoutout on live TV, saying, “I gotta say hi to my mom because she watches you every morning… Love you, Mom.”

Now, while grieving, he is channeling his energy back into work. On set this week, Brad sported Cliff Booth’s signature blond wig and mustache, this time longer and messier than how fans saw him alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 hit. That role famously earned Brad his first Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

The sequel, The Adventures of Cliff Booth, is being directed by David Fincher and written by Tarantino, who decided not to direct. Tarantino explained on The Church of Tarantino podcast that he felt the spinoff covered “the same ground” he had already explored, and he wanted to move on to “uncharted territory” for his next project.

The original film reimagined late 1960s Hollywood and crafted an alternate history where Booth and Rick Dalton (Leonardo) prevent the Manson family murders. This new film promises to dive deeper into Booth’s story, though no release date has been set yet.