Sharon Stone became emotional while discussing the final hours of her mother Dorothy Stone’s life on All There Is with Anderson Cooper.
The actress told Anderson Cooper that Dorothy was in her home before her death and was afraid to die. People reported that Stone said she eventually realized she had to stop entering the room so her mother could let go.
Dorothy Marie Stone died on March 26, 2025, at age 91, according to a notice cited by People. Sharon announced her mother’s death on Instagram in July 2025.
Stone said the moment was painful because she still wanted comfort and acknowledgment from her mother at the end of her life.
Stone Said Her Mother Was Afraid to Die
Stone told Cooper that Dorothy’s fear at the end was tied to her childhood. People reported that Stone said her mother had been removed from her home at age 9 after violent abuse.
Stone said Dorothy was afraid her parents would be waiting for her after death. She told Cooper she lied to comfort her mother, saying Dorothy’s father was in jail and her mother was in a mental hospital.
Entertainment Weekly reported that Stone described Dorothy as fighting death in her final hours even as medical staff increased morphine.
She Said She Had to Stop Going Into the Room
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Stone said she believed her presence was keeping Dorothy attached. People reported that she decided she needed to go upstairs and stop checking on her mother so Dorothy could die in peace.
Stone said the decision meant giving up the words she still wanted to hear from her mother. She told Cooper she had hoped Dorothy would say she loved her, was proud of her, was sorry, and considered her important.
Stone said those words did not come. She said she had to make peace with that before Dorothy died.
Stone Discussed Their Difficult Relationship
Stone said therapy helped her understand parts of her relationship with Dorothy. Entertainment Weekly reported that Stone said her mother often behaved as if she did not like her.
Stone connected Dorothy’s behavior to her own childhood trauma. She said her mother’s treatment of her reflected Dorothy’s pain and self-loathing.
The actress also said Dorothy resisted acknowledging that Stone was the person caring for her near the end. Stone said she sometimes entered the room while pretending to be staff.
She Has Spoken About Her Family History Before
Stone has previously written and spoken about childhood trauma and family history. Her 2021 memoir, The Beauty of Living Twice, included allegations of abuse involving her maternal grandfather.
People reported in a separate story from the same podcast interview that Stone also discussed her reaction to her grandfather’s death and the abuse she said he inflicted on her family.
Stone announced Dorothy’s death in July 2025 with an Instagram tribute that called her mother “hilarious” and “complex.”