Maggie Smith Useless at 89, Celebrities & Followers Pay Tribute to Harry Potter & Downton Abbey Star

On Friday, Smith’s sons, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, introduced the unhappy information of their mom’s dying in a assertion by means of her publicist, Clair Dobbs. Smith’s sons mentioned she handed away in a London hospital on Friday morning, however didn’t share any future info.

“She leaves two sons and 5 loving grandchildren who’re devastated by the lack of their extraordinary mom and grandmother,” Larkin and Stephens added.

The official Harry Potter Instagram account shared a heartfelt assertion, writing, “Dame Maggie Smith was a shining drive as Professor McGonagall in all eight Harry Potter movies. We’re so saddened to listen to of her passing right now, aged 89. Her fast wit and formidable presence because the Head of Gryffindor Home made positive Hogwarts was at all times in protected arms.”

Smith’s legendary profession spanned over seven many years, with quite a few roles in movie and tv, and on-stage in theater productions. A few of her most notable movie roles embody Othello (1965), The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969), California Suite (1978), Dying on the Nile (1978), A Room with a View (1985), Hook (1991), Sister Act (1992), The Finest Unique Marigold Resort (2012), and within the eight Harry Potter movies from 2011 to 2011, during which she performed Professor Minerva McGonagall.

As for tv, Smith was finest identified for her position as Violet Crawley within the interval drama Downton Abbey, which ran from 2010 to 2015. She additionally reprised her position within the two follow-up movies, 2019’s Downton Abbey and 2022’s Downton Abbey: A New Period. The official account for the collection remembered her with a social media publish calling her a “true British icon,” including, “Thanks for every part.”

All through her profession, Smith acquired two Academy Awards, 4 Emmy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, 5 BAFTA Awards, and a Tony Award. In 1990, Smith was additionally made a Dame by Queen Elizabeth II.

Following the information of Smith’s passing, celebrities and followers took to social media to pay tribute.

Whoopi Goldberg shared a publish on Instagram, posting a photograph of herself and Smith collectively from Sister Act.

“Maggie Smith was an important girl and a superb actress,” Goldberg captioned the publish. “I nonetheless cannot consider I used to be fortunate sufficient to work with the ‘one-of-a-kind.’ My heartfelt condolences exit to the household…RIP.”

Rob Lowe — who starred with Smith in 1993’s All of the sudden Final Summer time — shared an announcement on X, previously Twitter, writing, “Saddened to listen to Dame Maggie Smith has handed. I had the unforgettable expertise of working along with her; sharing a two-shot was like being paired with a lion. She may eat anybody alive, and infrequently did. However humorous, and nice firm. And suffered no fools. We are going to by no means see one other. God velocity, Ms. Smith!”

Followers mourned Smith’s passing on social media, remembering the legendary actress as a “treasure,” “icon” and one of many “greats.”

“The nice Dame Maggie Smith has handed away, aged 89. She was such a major a part of my childhood and grownup life too,” a person wrote. “An excellent actress, a beautiful human being. Could she relaxation in peace. Thanks, Maggie, for the fantastic expertise you shared with us all.”

“This one hurts. ‘Iconic’ feels too shallow and base a phrase for the way monumental she was. Most adjectives to explain Maggie Smith and her unimaginable profession do, truly. Relaxation in peace, Dame Maggie,” a second fan mentioned, whereas one other wrote, “RIP Maggie Smith. Two Oscars, 4 Emmys, a Tony and a fabulously dry sense of humour. One of many all-time greats.”

A well-liked publish on X featured a nonetheless from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Hearth, with Smith alongside her late costars Alan Rickman (Severus Snape), and Michael Gambon (Albus Dumbledore). Rickman handed away in 2016 following a battle with most cancers. Gambon, in the meantime, died precisely one yr in the past right now, on September 27, 2023, on the age of 82 after a bout with pneumonia.

“Relaxation in peace to an absolute treasure, Dame Maggie Smith. They have been reunited,” the person wrote alongside the photograph.

In the meantime, many followers honored Smith by sharing a few of their favourite performances and clips of Smith’s most memorable scenes, along with posting hilarious snippets from Smith’s previous interviews.

See extra tributes and reactions from celebrities and followers within the posts, beneath.