(ProsperNews.net) – Legendary actress Dame Maggie Smith has passed away at the age of 89.
“It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Dame Maggie Smith,” her sons Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens shared in a statement via her publicist, Clair Dobbs, on Friday. “She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday, September 27th.”
Known for her privacy, the statement mentioned that Smith was surrounded by close friends and family during her final moments. “She leaves behind two sons and five loving grandchildren who are heartbroken by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother,” the family said. “We would also like to express our deep gratitude to the staff at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their incredible care and kindness in her final days.”
The statement concluded with a request for privacy during this difficult time: “We appreciate all the kind messages and support and ask for privacy as we navigate this loss.”
Born in Ilford, England, in 1934, Maggie Smith was one of the most beloved and accomplished actresses of her generation. She was widely recognized for her iconic roles as Violet Crawley in Downton Abbey and Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter films.
Smith began her remarkable career in 1952, making her mark as Viola in Twelfth Night at the Oxford Playhouse. Her Broadway debut came in 1956 with New Faces of ’56 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, and her first film appearance was in Child in the House that same year. In 1959, she earned her first British Academy Film Award nomination for her role in Nowhere to Go.
Her international acclaim grew in 1965 with an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Othello. Four years later, she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her powerful performance in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.
Over the course of her distinguished 60-year career, Smith received numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, four Golden Globes, four Emmy Awards, five Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Tony Award.
Smith was married to playwright Beverley Cross until his death in 1998. She is survived by her two sons, actors Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, whom she had with her first husband, actor Robert Stephens, and her five grandchildren. Her passing marks the end of a remarkable legacy in film, television, and theatre.
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