brenda fricker, oscar winner and home alone 2 star, dies at 81
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oscar-winning irish actress brenda fricker.
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brenda fricker, the oscar-winning irish actress whose career stretched decades but who became unforgettable to millions as the gentle “pigeon lady” in home alone 2: lost in new york, has died at 81.
her agent, phil belfield, confirmed the news in a statement to the bbc, saying: “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,” he added.
according to hello!, belfield said fricker died following a period of ill health.
how she found acting
born in dublin in february 1945, fricker didn’t originally plan to become an actress. usa today says she first wanted to be a journalist and worked as an assistant to the art editor at the irish times, where her father was employed. but acting found her instead. at 19, she landed an uncredited role in the 1964 film of human bondage, kicking off a career that would eventually make her one of ireland‘s most respected performers.
after years of television and film work, fricker broke through in 1986 as nurse megan roach on the bbc drama casualty, according to usa today. four years later came the role that changed everything. playing the mother of daniel day-lewis’ christy brown in my left foot, fricker won the academy award for best supporting actress in 1990, people notes.
brenda fricker as the homeless ‘pigeon lady’ in home alone 2: lost in new york.
20th century fox
her smallest performance left biggest mark
still, for many movie fans, especially those who grew up in the ’90s, she’ll always be the lonely but kind-hearted “pigeon lady” who befriends macaulay culkin‘s kevin mccallister in home alone 2. it wasn’t the biggest role of her career, but it became one of her most beloved.
off-screen, fricker spoke candidly about her own struggles with loneliness. in a 2020 interview on rtÉ radio 1, cited by usa today, she admitted christmas wasn’t the joyful season many imagined.
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“i would be lying if i said that it would be a nice and happy christmas because i’m one of those people, i’m old and i live alone. it can be very dark,” she said. “i just turn the phone off and put the blinds down. i pre-record some good programs and things. i have my dog, and i get myself through it that way.”
tributes pour in after news of her death
according to the bbc, ireland’s tánaiste simon harris called fricker “a national treasure,” praising the authenticity and humanity she brought to every performance.
“she truly was among the greatest exports this country has ever produced … quite simply, we will never see the like of her ever again.”
u.s. ambassador to ireland edward walsh described fricker as “a giant of irish film,” writing on x that “from dublin to hollywood, her work brought ireland’s stories to the world and inspired generations on both sides of the atlantic.”
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