(NEXSTAR) – Renowned Irish actress Brenda Fricker, celebrated for her memorable roles in “Home Alone 2” and “My Left Foot,” has passed away at the age of 81, as confirmed by her representatives in London.
“We are heartbroken, as the iconic and beloved #BrendaFricker departed from this world peacefully last evening,” a heartfelt message from her talent agency, Belfield & Ward, announced on Instagram Friday. “She will forever remain in our hearts.”
Fricker, a native of Dublin, initially pursued a career in journalism with The Irish Times before transitioning to the entertainment industry in the 1960s. Her illustrious career took a significant leap in 1989 when she received critical acclaim for her role in “My Left Foot,” earning her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Over the years, she also graced the silver screen in films like “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York,” “A Time to Kill,” and “So I Married an Axe Murderer.”
While the cause of her death remains undisclosed, Fricker had previously shared in a 2025 interview with The Guardian that she experienced persistent physical pain and shortness of breath.
“Day by day, I feel like I’m dying, constantly in pain,” she confided to the publication. “Though, knowing my luck, I might just live to be 100.”
Phil Belfield, Brenda’s agent, shared a statement with Nexstar confirming she had suffered a “period of ill health.”
“We will never see her like again and the world is lesser for the lack of her,” Belfield said. “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.”