Dame Maggie Smith, renowned for her remarkable career in film, television, and theatre, has passed away at the age of 89. Her sons, Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin, confirmed her death in a statement issued through publicist Clair Dobbs on Friday, Sept. 27.
“It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith,” the statement read. “She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27th September, surrounded by friends and family. She leaves behind two sons and five loving grandchildren, all of whom are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother.”
Smith’s family expressed gratitude to the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital staff for their care and compassion during her final days. “We thank you for your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time,” the brothers concluded.
Celebrated career spanning seven decades
Born in Ilford, England, in 1934, Smith’s acting career began in 1952 when she played Viola in a stage production of Twelfth Night. Over the course of her seven-decade career, she appeared in over 50 films, winning two Academy Awards for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969) and California Suite (1978).
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She earned widespread recognition for her roles in Harry Potter as Professor Minerva McGonagall and in Downton Abbey as the Dowager Countess Violet Crawley, for which she won three Emmy Awards.
Her first Oscar came in 1969 for her portrayal of an unconventional school teacher in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. A decade later, she won her second Academy Award for California Suite. Smith also won a Tony Award in 1990 for her performance in Lettice and Lovage and was made a dame by Queen Elizabeth II the same year for her contributions to the arts.
The Harry Potter actress continued to work well into her later years, gaining a new generation of fans with her roles in films like Sister Act (1992), Hook (1991), and Tea with Mussolini (1999). Her final film role was in 2023’s The Miracle Club.
Legacy of strength and wit
Throughout her career, Dame Maggie Smith was known for her sharp wit and ability to portray strong, spiky characters. In an interview with the Associated Press, she once remarked, “It’s true I don’t tolerate fools, but then they don’t tolerate me, so I am spiky. Maybe that’s why I’m quite good at playing spiky elderly ladies.”
In a 2014 interview with The Telegraph, she reflected on her sudden mainstream fame from Downton Abbey, saying, “I love wandering around on my own, and I just couldn’t. It’s very difficult when you’re on your own because you have no escape.” Smith also spoke openly about her grief following the death of her second husband, playwright Beverley Cross, in 1998, admitting that she used work to distract herself from the loneliness.
Smith is survived by her sons Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin, as well as five grandchildren.
