British Acting Legend Dame Maggie Smith Has Passed Away at Age 89
Dame Maggie Smith, titan of stage and screen, has left us. The Oscar-winning actress, who starred in everything from A Room with a View to Downton Abbey, passed away in London at the age of 89. The news was announced this morning by her two sons Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin via Smith's longtime publicist Clair Dobbs.
"It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith," they said in a statement. "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."
She also leaves behind a legion of equally devastated fans. For so many of us, Smith epitomized the idea of British entertainment and culture. A charismatic scene-stealer gifted with wry wit and perfect comedic timing, her array of bon-mots and one-liners was enough to power a cottage industry of GIF and meme makers in the latter part of her career. And what a career it was.
