Harry Potter and Downton Abbey Star Maggie Smith Dies Aged 89

Dame Maggie Smith, star of the Harry Potter films and Downton Abbey, has died aged 89.

Dame Maggie’s sons issued a statement in which they said she had died peacefully in hospital on Friday morning.

Smith, born on December 28, 1934 in Ilford, London, won two Oscars during her glittering acting career, for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie in 1970 and California Suite in 1979.

Photo by Dave Hogan/Getty Images.

The statement from Smith's sons Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin, issued to the BBC, is as follows:

"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. 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."

Smith had already achieved a legendary status before she won a new generation of fans by playing Professor McGonagall in 2001's Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, a role she would go on to reprise in all of the subsequent Potter movies apart from Deathly Hallows Part 1.

She would later star in hit British period drama Downton Abbey as Violet Crawley, Countess of Grantham, from 2010 to 2015 and, subsequently, in standalone Downton Abbey movies released in 2019 and 2022. Smith won three Primetime Emmy Awards for her performance in the role.

Stars from across the entertainment industry paid tribute to the actress following the news. Hugh Bonneville, who co-starred in Downton Abbey with Dame Maggie, said: “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.”

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.… pic.twitter.com/wjJCL7FqWf

We’ve lost one the best today.
RIP Maggie Smith. pic.twitter.com/8hLqJw9qnJ

GNU Dame Maggie Smith. My perfect Granny Weatherwax. Mind how you go.

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Photo by Dave Hogan/Getty Images.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.