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Acclaimed British actress Dame Maggie Smith died on September 27, 2024. Smith was 89 years old.

Smith was born in 1934 in Ilford, England, grew up in Oxford, England, and made her stage debut as a teenager at a local theater. Smith had an unparalleled career that earned her Oscar, Tony, Golden Globe awards and more. Smith won two Emmy Awards for her role as Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham Downton Abbey.

Smith was known for a series of celebrated projects on stage, television and film, including her Oscar-winning performances in The Prime of Miss Jean BrodieAnd California suiteroll in it Gosford Park, A room with a view, Tea with Mussolinithe Harry Potter movies, and Downton Abbeyamong many others.

In 1990, Smith was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

Her sons Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin released a statement saying: “It is with great sadness that we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith.

“She passed away peacefully in hospital this morning, Friday 27 September. She was an intensely private person and was with friends and family at the end. She is survived by two sons and five loving grandchildren, devastated by the loss of their special mother and grandmother.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful staff at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their care and continued 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.”

Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes wrote in a statement: “Maggie Smith was a truly amazing actress and we were more than fortunate to be part of the final act in her amazing career. She was a joy to write for, subtle, layered, intelligent, funny and heartbreaking. Working with her has been the greatest privilege of my career and I will never forget her.”

Hugh Bonneville, Lord Grantham Downton Abbeyoffered a statement saying, “She was a true legend of her generation and will happily live on in so many wonderful film performances.” My condolences to her boys and the rest of the family.”

Michelle Dockery, who played Lady Mary Crowley Downton Abbeytold Term in a statement: “There was no one like Maggie. I feel extremely lucky to have known such an outsider. She will be greatly missed and my thoughts are with her family.”

Susanne Simpson, executive producer of MASTERPIECE, said: “The entire MASTERPIECE and PBS family are terribly saddened to hear the news of Maggie Smith’s death. She was an icon and will be deeply missed by us personally, and by our audiences who grew to love her Downton Abbey. She will be remembered by all of us for decades of memorable performances.”

View a slideshow of some highlights from Smith’s career.

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