Maggie Smith, legendary ‘Harry Potter,’ ‘Downton Abbey’ star, dies at 89

globalnews.ca:

Dame Maggie Smith, best known for her roles in the Harry Potter franchise and Downton Abbey, has died. She was 89 years old.

The prolific star’s family issued a statement about Smith’s death through her publicist. Smith died on Friday morning in hospital, though a cause of death has not yet been announced.

“It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith,” said her sons, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, in a statement.

“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,” the statement continued. “We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time.”

Smith was one of the most recognizable British actors in film and television. Her illustrious career spanned over seven decades, though she earned international admiration particularly for roles as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter series and as Violet Crawley in Downton Abbey.

She won two Oscars during her lifetime, for 1970 film The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, and later for California Suite in 1979.

Smith also received Academy Award nominations as a supporting actress in Othello, Travels with My Aunt, Room with a View and Gosford Park.

Her career began on the stage in the 1950s, where she first earned a reputation as a talented, and often scene-stealing, actor.

By her 80s, Smith on occasion joked it was more difficult to find acting work, especially when competing for