3 November 2024
Broadway theaters will "dim their lights" in memory of the late great Dame Maggie Smith.
Dame Maggie Smith is being remembered on Broadway
It's a traditional tribute for late stars of the stage and the 'Harry Potter' star - who made her Broadway debut in 1956 portraying several roles in the revue of 'New Faces of '56' at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre - will be honoured with a minute's silence as the lights go out before performances at 6.45pm on November 7.
Robert E. Wankel, Chairman and CEO of the Shubert Organization, a major owner of theatres in New York City, told Deadline: “Maggie Smith was a singular talent, whose artistry graced stages and screens alike with unmatched depth and wit.
“Her legacy as a remarkable actor and an inspiration to countless performers is indelible. Broadway joins her admirers worldwide in mourning her loss and celebrating her remarkable contributions. Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and all who were touched by her work.”
The 'Downton Abbey' star passed away in September at the age of 89.
A statement by her two sons, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, read: “She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27th September. An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end. She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their care and unstinting kindness during her final days.
“We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time.”
Maggie moved to Oxford when she was four after her father got a job at Oxford university and later left school to study acting at the Oxford Playhouse.
She was 17 when she was cast as Viola in 'Twelfth Night' at the Oxford Playhouse and she went on to land roles in 'Cinderella', 'Rookery Nook', 'Cakes and Ale' and 'The Government Inspector' through the early 1950s at the same English theatre.
From there, Maggie was cast opposite Kenneth Williams in the 1957 musical comedy 'Share My Lettuce' and that led to work in plays at London's Old Vic theatre and ultimately a place in Laurence Olivier's National Theatre Company. The two acting legends stared opposite one another in a production of William Shakespeare tragedy 'Othello'.
Her film debut came in 1956 in an uncredited role of a party guest in the drama 'Child in the House', but it was in 1959 that she made her name on the screen thanks to her performance as Bridget Howard in the film 'Nowhere to Go' which earned Maggie the first of her five BAFTA trophies, while in 1996 she was honoured with the prestigious BAFTA Academy Fellowship.
In 1969, Smith won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the title role of the 1969 film 'The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie'.
Her second and final Oscar came in 1978 when she was named Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Diana Barrie in Herbert Ross' anthology film 'California Suite'.
English (US) ·