Maggie Smith, Oscar-Winning Actress Known for ‘Downton Abbey,’ ‘Harry Potter,’ Dies at 89

Maggie Smith arrives at "The Lady in The Van"- Centrepiece Gala in London, England, on Oct. 13, 2015. John Phillips/Getty Images for BFI

British actress Maggie Smith, a stage and screen luminary renowned for her roles in “Downton Abbey” and the “Harry Potter” films, has died at the age of 89.

Smith’s two sons, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, confirmed her death in a statement, revealing that the Oscar-winning actress passed away at a London hospital on Friday morning.

“She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother,” Larkin and Stephens said.

Born on Dec. 28, 1934, in Ilford, a town in East London, Smith went on to study acting at the Oxford Playhouse School before attaining roles in revues throughout the 1950s, including the 1956 Broadway production “New Faces.”

Smith landed her first film role in 1956, playing a minor part in the drama “Child in the House.” Two years later, she appeared in the thriller noir “Nowhere to Go,” a role that garnered the actress her first BAFTA nomination.

In 1969, Smith played the titular role in the romance comedy “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,” a performance that earned her an Academy Award for “Best Actress in a Leading Role.”

Smith won her second Oscar in 1979 for her role in “California Suite,” a 1978 anthology comedy film that was adapted from screenwriter Neil Simon’s Broadway play of the same name.

Some of Smith’s subsequent films include “The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne” (1987), “Hook” (1991), “Sister Act” (1992), “The Secret Garden” (1993), “The First Wives Club” (1996), “Gosford Park” (2001), “Divine Secrets Of The Ya-Ya Sisterhood” (2002), “Becoming Jane” (2007), and “My Old Lady” (2014).

Smith portrayed professor Minerva McGonagall in the “Harry Potter” cinematic franchise, including “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” (2001), “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” (2002), and “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” (2004).

She also played Violet Crawley, the dowager countess of Grantham, in the British drama series “Downton Abbey” from 2010 to 2015.

Tributes Pour In

The news of Smith’s passing prompted an outpouring of heartfelt messages and tributes online, highlighting her immense influence in entertainment.

Actor Rob Lowe—who starred alongside Smith in “Suddenly, Last Summer,” a 1993 television adaptation of Tennessee Williams’s play of the same name—took to X to express his deep sadness over the loss.

“I had the unforgettable experience of working with her; sharing a two-shot was like being paired with a lion,” he wrote. “She could eat anyone alive, and often did. But funny, and great company. And suffered no fools. We will never see another. God speed, Ms. Smith!”

“RIP Dame Maggie Smith,” wrote British broadcaster Piers Morgan. “Magnificent actress, magnificent lady. As entertaining, sharp and witty off screen as she was off it. A very very sad loss for Britain.”

Dame Maggie Smith attends the Royal Film Performance and world premiere of "The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" in London on Feb. 17, 2015. Ian Gavan/Getty Images

“Anyone who ever shared a scene with Maggie will attest to her sharp eye, sharp wit and formidable talent,” actor Hugh Bonneville, who portrayed Smith’s onscreen son on “Downton Abbey,” told People.

“She was a true legend of her generation and thankfully will live on in so many magnificent screen performances. My condolences to her boys and wider family.”

Actress Michelle Dockery, who played Lady Mary Crawley on the ITV drama series, said in a statement to several media outlets that “there was no one quite like Maggie.”

“I feel tremendously lucky to have known such a maverick,” Dockery said. “She will be deeply missed and my thoughts are with her family.”

The Associated Press contributed to this article.