Downton Abbey and Harry Potter star Dame Maggie Smith dies aged 89 - family release heartbreaking statement as tributes pour in
Dame Maggie Smith, the legendary actress whose career spanned more than six decades, has passed away in hospital, her sons Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens have announced.
Known for her unparalleled talent and iconic roles, including her beloved portrayal of Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter films and as Lady Violet Crawley in Downton Abbey as well as her award-winning performances on stage and screen, Maggie was a towering figure in the world of acting.
Her sons shared the heartbreaking news, reflecting on the incredible legacy their mother leaves behind. In a statement issued via their publicist, they said: "It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith.
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"She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27th September.
"An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end. She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother.
"We would like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their care and unstinting kindness during her final days.
"We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time."
Maggie starred as resident powerhouse Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham. As well as returning in the subsequent movies, Downton Abbey (2019) and Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022), the actress has appeared in various films.
Among her many roles, Maggie has appeared in Sherlock Gnomes (2018), A Boy Called Christmas (2021), and The Miracle Club (2023).
Tributes
Tributes flooded in on social media, with fans and fellow famous faces praising the award-winning actress. Hugh Bonneville, who played the son of Dame Maggie's character in Downton Abbey, said in a statement: "Anyone who ever shared a scene with Maggie will attest to her sharp eye, sharp wit and formidable talent.
"She was a true legend of her generation and thankfully will live on in so many magnificent screen performances. My condolences to her boys and wider family."
King Charles and Queen Camilla also paid tribute to the late actress. In a statement, they shared: "My wife and I were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Dame Maggie Smith. As the curtain comes down on a national treasure, we join all those around the world in remembering with the fondest admiration and affection her many great performances, and her warmth and wit that shone through both on and off the stage."
Fellow Downton actor Dan Stevens took to his Instagram Story, writing: "Truly one of The Greats. RIP," alongside two pictures of his former co-star.
Whoopi Goldberg shared an old picture of the two on set of Sister Act, dressed as nuns, on Instagram and described her as a "great woman". She wrote in her post: "Maggie Smith was a great woman and a brilliant actress. I still can't believe I was lucky enough to work with the 'one-of-a-kind.' My heartfelt condolences go out to the family… RIP."
Kristin Scott Thomas added that Dame Maggie "saw through the nonsense and razzmatazz" of acting, and "had a sense of humour and wit that could reduce me to a blithering puddle of giggles".
American actor Rob Lowe, who appeared with Maggie in 1993 BBC drama Suddenly, Last Summer, described his late co-star as a "lion".
In a post on X, he wrote: "Saddened to hear Dame Maggie Smith has passed. I had the unforgettable experience of working with her; sharing a two-shot was like being paired with a lion. She could eat anyone alive, and often did. But funny, and great company. And suffered no fools. We will never see another. God speed, Ms. Smith!"
Broadcaster Gyles Brandreth said: "The saddest news: the death of Dame Maggie Smith marks the end of a golden era & a quite extraordinary life. She was a truly great actress, 'one of the greats' & simply the best company: wise, witty, waspish, wonderful. One of a kind in every way & consequently irreplaceable."
The Prime Minister has praised the icon, describing her as a "true national treasure". Sir Keir Starmer said: "Dame Maggie Smith introduced us to new worlds with the countless stories she acted over her long career.
"She was beloved by so many for her great talent, becoming a true national treasure whose work will be cherished for generations to come. Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones. May she rest in peace."
Rishi Sunak added: "Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Dame Maggie Smith - an icon of the stage and screen. She touched many lives across many generations with her incredible performances. Rest in peace."
Maggie Smith's early career
Maggie was born in Essex, 1934 and began performing from a young age after joining the Oxford Playhouse to study acting. Soon after, Maggie began working on stage in Shakespearean productions and soon gained attention for her talent. Her first film appearance was in 1956 in Child in the House and also made her Broadway debut in the same year.
In her early career, Maggie was named Stage Actress of the Year by the Varity Club of Great Britain. She earned her first Oscar nomination just two years later in 1965 for her performance in the film adaption of Othello opposite Laurence Olivier, securing her name as one of the greats in the acting world.
Probably her greatest triumph was in The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie, for which she won her first Oscar.
Later on in her career
Maggie continued working in numerous stage productions throughout the latter half of the twentieth century. But she also continued to appear in a number of successful films such as California Suite (for which she awarded the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress), Death on the Nile, Sister Act, Hook, and many more.
In recent times, the actress was hailed for her work in films such as A Room With a View, The Lady in the Van and Harry Potter.
However, in a previous interview with ES Magazine, the actress surprised fans by admitting that she didn't find her two iconic characters, Violet Crawley and Professor McGonagall, "satisfying".
"I am deeply grateful for the work in Potter and indeed Downton but it wasn't what you'd call satisfying. I didn't really feel I was acting in those things," she said.
Family life
Maggie's first marriage was to actor Robert Stephens, a rising star of British theatre, in 1967. The couple quickly became a powerhouse duo in the world of acting, with both gaining widespread acclaim for their work with the National Theatre in the late 1960s.
Together, they had two sons, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, who would later follow in their parents' footsteps as actors.
The couple separated in 1973 and officially divorced the following year, marking the end of what was once a dynamic partnership on and off the stage.
In 1975, shortly after her divorce from Stephens, Maggie married playwright and screenwriter Beverley Cross. The couple remained together until Beverley's death in 1998, after 23 years of marriage.
