Ethan Rhodes
Oscar-winning actress Dame Maggie Smith passed away in September 2024 at the age of 89. Smith died in a London hospital, with her family thanking the NHS staff at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their care and kindness during her final days. Smith was candid about her health throughout her six-decade career, revealing details about her diagnoses of breast cancer, Grave's disease, and glaucoma. While the exact cause of her death was not confirmed, Smith suffered two major health scares during her professional career, one of which left her in a 'fog of despair'.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of death | 27 September 2024 |
| Age | 89 |
| Place of death | Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London |
| Cause of death | Not confirmed |
| Health issues | Breast cancer, Grave's disease, Glaucoma, heart trouble |
| Notable works | Downton Abbey, Harry Potter film franchise, Sister Act |
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What You'll Learn
- Dame Maggie Smith died aged 89 in hospital in London
- She passed away peacefully but no cause of death was confirmed
- She had a long career in film, TV and theatre
- Smith had several health issues, including breast cancer, Grave's disease and glaucoma
- She was candid about the impact of her diagnoses on her acting career
Dame Maggie Smith died aged 89 in hospital in London
Dame Maggie Smith, one of the finest British stage and screen actors of her generation, died aged 89 in hospital in London. Smith's family announced her death, saying she "passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning". They did not confirm her cause of death.
Smith's acting career spanned seven decades, during which she won numerous awards, including two Oscars, eight Baftas, a Tony, and three Evening Standard Theatre Awards. She was made a Commander of the British Empire in 1969, a dame in 1990, and a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour in 2014.
Smith's notable roles included the freethinking Scottish schoolteacher in "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie", for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1970, and the acid-tongued dowager countess on "Downton Abbey". She also played Professor McGonagall in the "Harry Potter" films and starred in "Sister Act" and "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel".
Smith's family released a statement following her death, expressing their gratitude to the staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their care and kindness during her final days. Smith's sons, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, described their mother as an "intensely private person" who was surrounded by friends and family at the end.
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She passed away peacefully but no cause of death was confirmed
Dame Maggie Smith, the Oscar-, Emmy- and Tony-winning actor, passed away peacefully in hospital in the early morning of 27 September 2024, aged 89. She was surrounded by her friends and family at the end. While no cause of death was confirmed, Smith had experienced a number of health issues throughout her life.
Smith was candid about her health struggles during her six-decade career, during which she experienced two major health scares. The actor was diagnosed with Grave's disease in 1988, after she broke her arm falling off a bicycle on a trip to the British Virgin Islands. Grave's disease is a disorder where the immune system attacks the thyroid gland for unknown reasons, causing symptoms such as irritability, fatigue, tremors, skin discolouration, and changes in eye shape. Smith later developed "protrusion of the eyeballs", telling the New York Times that she thought she "looked absolutely frightening".
In addition to her battle with Grave's disease, Smith was also diagnosed with breast cancer while filming "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" in 2007. She noticed a lump in her breast but didn't initially worry as she had previously felt a lump that turned out to be benign. Smith's cancer treatment included radiation and surgery, and she wore a wig after losing her hair. Despite being left "flattened" by the treatment, Smith persevered and continued her acting career.
Smith's family released a statement following her death, thanking the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their care and kindness during her final days. They also acknowledged the outpouring of support and kind messages they received and requested privacy during their time of grief. The world mourned the loss of a talented and beloved actor, with tributes pouring in from fans, colleagues, and notable figures, including King Charles III and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who both described Smith as a "national treasure".
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She had a long career in film, TV and theatre
Dame Margaret Natalie Smith, known as Maggie Smith, was one of Britain's most recognisable and prolific actresses, with an extensive career spanning over seven decades. She was known for her wit in both comedic and dramatic roles and had a long career in film, TV and theatre.
Smith's career began at the Oxford Playhouse in the 1950s, and she made her film debut in 1956 as one of the party guests in "Child in the House". She went on to perform in over sixty films and television series, often alongside some of the world's most prominent actors and actresses. Her notable film roles include "Othello" (1965), "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" (1969), "California Suite" (1978), "A Room with a View" (1985), "Richard III" (1995), "Gosford Park" (2001), "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" (2011), and the "Harry Potter" film series (2001-2011), in which she portrayed Professor Minerva McGonagall.
On television, Smith appeared in various programmes, including "BBC Sunday Night Theatre", "Theatre Royal", "Play of the Week", "Armchair Theatre", "Play of the Month", and "Screen Two". She also received Primetime Emmy Award nominations for her work in "Suddenly, Last Summer" (1992), "David Copperfield" (1999), and "Capturing Mary" (2010).
In addition to her film and television work, Smith had a distinguished career in theatre. She made her professional debut on Broadway in "New Faces of '56" and went on to become one of the most significant British theatre performers, working with the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company. On Broadway, she received the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for "Lettice and Lovage" (1990). She was also Tony-nominated for "Noël Coward's Private Lives" (1975) and "Tom Stoppard's Night and Day" (1979).
Smith's impressive body of work earned her numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, five BAFTA Awards, four Emmy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and a Tony Award. She was also nominated for six Olivier Awards. Smith is one of the few performers to earn the Triple Crown of Acting.
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Smith had several health issues, including breast cancer, Grave's disease and glaucoma
Dame Maggie Smith, the Oscar-, Emmy- and Tony-winning actor, passed away aged 89 on Friday, September 27, 2024. Smith died peacefully in a London hospital, surrounded by her family. While the exact cause of her death was not shared, Smith had several health issues throughout her life, including breast cancer, Graves' disease, glaucoma, and heart trouble.
Smith was diagnosed with Graves' disease in 1988, after she broke her arm falling off a bicycle on a trip to the British Virgin Islands. Despite her condition, she saw out her year-long contract for the play "Lettice and Lovage." Graves' disease is a disorder in which the immune system attacks the thyroid gland for unknown reasons, causing symptoms such as irritability, fatigue, tremors, skin discolouration, and a change in eye shape. Smith later developed "protrusion of the eyeballs," which she found frightening.
In 2007, while filming "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," Smith was diagnosed with breast cancer and immediately started treatment. She wore a wig after losing her hair due to cancer treatment and struggled with feeling "horribly sick" and "flattened." Despite her health challenges, Smith persevered with her acting career, demonstrating her dedication to her craft.
Around the time she became a patron of Glaucoma UK (then known as the International Glaucoma Association), it emerged that Smith had glaucoma herself. Glaucoma is caused by fluid building up in the front part of the eye, increasing intraocular pressure.
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She was candid about the impact of her diagnoses on her acting career
In 2008, Maggie Smith was hospitalized and underwent treatment for breast cancer. She was incredibly candid about her health struggles and how they impacted her work as an actress.
Smith's diagnosis and treatment occurred during her time working on the popular television series, "Downton Abbey." Despite her illness, she remained dedicated to her craft and continued to portray the beloved character of Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham. In an interview with the Radio Times, she shared that she felt it was important to keep working through her treatment: "You just think, 'Come on, I will deal with it, get on with it, do it.' I didn't want to fade away into the sunset. I wanted to do it and be brave."
Smith's determination to continue acting despite her health challenges is a testament to her passion for her profession. However, she also acknowledged that her illness affected her memory and, consequently, her ability to memorize lines. In an interview with the Daily Mail, she shared, "I never look ahead because I don't know what's going to happen. At my age, you don't plan ahead because you don't know if you're going to be here. It sounds morbid, but you don't. I take it day by day because I know what it's like to think that you're fine and then bop, you discover you're not."
Her openness about the impact of her health on her memory and line delivery is a rare and honest insight into the challenges faced by actors who continue to work later in life. Despite these challenges, Smith's talent and dedication to her craft are undeniable. Her performance in "Downton Abbey" during this time remains one of her most celebrated roles, and she received numerous award nominations and wins, including a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award.
Maggie Smith's candor about her health struggles and their impact on her career is a reminder of her incredible resilience and commitment to her art. Her willingness to continue working through treatment and to openly discuss the challenges she faced serves as an inspiration to many. Despite the impact of her illness, Smith persevered, delivering memorable performances and continuing to captivate audiences with her undeniable talent.
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Frequently asked questions
Dame Maggie Smith was in the hospital due to her long-running health struggles, including breast cancer, Grave's disease, glaucoma, and heart trouble. She passed away in the hospital on September 27, 2024, aged 89, but her cause of death was not confirmed.
In addition to breast cancer, for which she underwent treatment while filming for the Harry Potter films, Smith also faced Grave's disease, glaucoma, and heart trouble.
While Smith's cause of death was not confirmed, it is likely that her health struggles contributed to her passing. She had been candid about the impact of her diagnoses and treatments on her acting career.
