Oscar-winning actress Brenda Fricker best known for Casualty and Home Alone has died aged 81
A heartbreaking loss for TV and filmBrenda Fricker has sadly died at the age of 81, it has been confirmed.
Tributes have poured in for the Irish actress, best known for her roles in Casualty and Home Alone.
Brenda is also famed for starring alongside Daniel Day-Lewis in the 1989 movie, My Left Foot. The star won an Oscar for the role.
Oscar winner Brenda Fricker dies
Earlier today (Friday, July 17), the sad news of Brenda’s death was announced by her agent.
He said the much-loved actress died following a period of ill health.
In a statement, agent Phil Belfield confirmed: “We will never see her like again, and the world is lesser for the lack of her.
“I was honoured to know, love and work with her, and she will always have a place in my heart and in the heart of so many film and TV fans the world over.”
Tributes to Brenda pour in following her death
Tributes flooded after news of Brenda’s death broke.
US ambassador to Ireland, Edward Walsh, paid tribute, branding the star “a giant of Irish film”.
He praised her Oscar winning performance in My Left Foot.
“From Dublin to Hollywood, her work brought Ireland’s stories to the world and inspired generations on both sides of the Atlantic,” he said on X.
“She leaves a remarkable legacy, and I extend my deepest condolences to her family, friends, and all who loved her.”
Fans of the star also took to social media to pay their respects.
“An Oscar winner, an Irish legend, and the heart behind one of cinema’s most beloved side characters. Rest easy, Brenda Fricker,” one fan wrote.
“R.I.P to an Irish Legend, who was a lot more than just the Bird Lady from Home Alone 2,” another said.
Brenda’s life and career
Born in Dublin in 1945, Brenda’s first TV role came in the 1964 television movie, Made for Bondage.
In 1977, she appeared in four episodes of Coronation Street before finding fame as Megan Roach on Casualty. She initially appeared on the show between 1986 and 1990, before returning in 1998, 2007, and 2010.
In 1990, Brenda won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in comedy-drama My Left Foot. The role also saw her nominated for a Golden Globe.
One of her most famous roles came in 1992, when she played the Central Park Pigeon Lady in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.
Her final acting role was in 2024, in Irish film, The Swallow.
