Maggie Smith, ‘Harry Potter’ & ‘Downton Abbey’ Icon, Dead At 89

Hollywood is mourning the loss of a legend. Dame Maggie Smith, known for her work in the “Harry Potter” movies and “Downton Abbey,” has died at 89 years old. Her sons, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, confirmed the sad news in a statement through her publicist on Sept. 27, sharing that Smith passed away “peacefully” that morning in a London hospital. “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,” the statement read in part. Smith launched her decades-long career in the 1950s and received six Oscar nominations, winning Best Actress for 1970’s “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” and Best Supporting Actress for “California Suite” nearly a decade later. She also earned acclaim for films including “Gosford Park” and “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.” Her last on-screen appearance was in 2023’s “The Miracle Club” opposite Kathy Bates and Laura Linney.