Dame Maggie Smith, the esteemed Oscar-winning British actress who graced stage and screen for over seven decades, passed away peacefully in a London hospital on Friday at the age of 89, her sons Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens announced.
“It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith. She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27th September,” the family’s statement read.
Smith, a towering figure in British theatre and film, garnered numerous accolades throughout her illustrious career, including a Tony, two Oscars, three Golden Globes, and five Baftas. Despite her extensive body of work, she gained renewed international acclaim in her later years for portraying the Dowager Countess of Grantham, Violet Crawley, in the globally popular television series “Downton Abbey.”
Born on December 28, 1934, as the daughter of an Oxford professor of pathology, Smith began her journey in the performing arts with her stage debut in 1952 at the Oxford University Dramatic Society. Her talent soon blossomed, leading to a stellar career.
In 1969, she achieved Oscar success, winning Best Actress for “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” and Best Supporting Actress for her role as Desdemona in “Othello.”
“An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end,” her sons shared. “She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother,” they added, expressing their gratitude for the “kind messages and support” they had received from well-wishers.
