Oscar-winning actress Maggie Smith passed away on September 27, 2024, at the age of 89. This tragic news was confirmed by her two children, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, who released a statement indicating that Smith died peacefully in the hospital.
“An intensely private person, she was surrounded by friends and family at the end. She leaves behind two sons and five loving grandchildren who are heartbroken by the loss of their remarkable mother and grandmother.”
The statement further expressed gratitude, stating:
“We would like to extend our thanks to the wonderful staff at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their compassionate care and unwavering kindness during her final days.”
The family of the beloved actress has requested privacy as they navigate through this heartbreaking loss. While Maggie’s illustrious acting career commenced in theater, she received her inaugural Bafta nomination in 1958.
Born on December 28, 1934, in Essex, Maggie Smith gained immense popularity through her versatile roles in numerous films. She is especially renowned for her character, Professor Minerva McGonagall, in the Harry Potter series. The talented actress had two children, Chris and Toby, both of whom are also in the acting profession.
Maggie had Chris and Toby with her first husband, Robert Stephens. Chris Larkin, 57, is notably recognized for his role as Hermann Göring in the film Hitler: The Rise of Evil, and he last appeared in the movie Widow Clicquot.
Born in 1969, 55-year-old Toby is known for his portrayal of Gustav Graves in the 2002 James Bond film Die Another Day. He, too, received his training at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and has appeared in several movies, including Space Cowboys.
Everything You Need to Know About the Life and Career of Maggie Smith
Born as Margaret Natalie Smith, Maggie made her Broadway debut in New Faces of ’56. She won Oscars for her outstanding performances in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and California Suite.
As a child, Maggie Smith attended Oxford High School until the age of 16. She then enrolled at Oxford Playhouse to study acting. In 1969, Maggie Smith was cast in the lead role for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, an adaptation of the novel by Muriel Spark.
In 1970, she received an Oscar for her performance in the film, and that same year, she joined Ingmar Bergman’s production of Ibsen’s play Hedda Gabler at the National Theatre in London’s West End.
The Evening Standard’s Milton Shulman famously described Maggie’s performance as “haunt[ing] the stage like some giant portrait by Modigliani, her alabaster skin stretched tight with hidden anguish.”
In 1973, Maggie Smith was nominated for Best Actress for her role in the 1972 film Travels with My Aunt. Over the years, the late actress appeared in many films, including Ladies in Lavender, Becoming Jane, The Miracle Club, Downton Abbey, Downton Abbey: A New Era, From Time to Time, and Tea with Mussolini, among others.
Social media has been flooded with tributes and condolences from fans expressing their sorrow for the family of the beloved actress.
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