Leah Adler, a Cincinnati native and mother of Steven Spielberg, has died at age 97, multiple sources report.
The Hollywood Reporter broke the news of Adler's death, confirmed by a spokesperson from Spielberg's production company.
Adler was raised and began raising her own family in Cincinnati; she was the daughter of a classical guitarist and a linguist, fostering "a deep love of art and independent thinking," People Magazine reported.
Adler would make her own name as an artist and musician after attending the Music Conservatory in Cincinnati. She also attained a home economics degree from the University of Cincinnati, according to People.com.
Adler married Arnold Meyer Spielberg in 1945. The couple lived in Cincinnati with their four children until moving to New Jersey and, later, Arizona, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Two decades later, the couple divorced; Leah married Bernie Adler one year later.
Leah and Bernie Adler opened a kosher restaurant in Los Angeles called The Milky Way, People reported.
"Spielberg and his mother had an especially close relationship, and he often credited her for his artistic inclinations," People wrote. "For one birthday, he took over the Beverly Hills Neiman Marcus after hours and gave his mother her pick of anything in the store."
Spielberg previously told People "I'm on a personal crusade to spoil my mother."
The family has asked that, in lieu of flowers, friends make a donation to their favorite charity in Leah Adler's name.
