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Brenda Fricker Dies at 81, Ireland’s First Oscar‑Winning Actress

Her six-decade career boosted Irish cinema’s international profile, creating a beloved screen persona remembered by generations.

Overview

  • Her agent, Phil Belfield, confirmed she died peacefully in Dublin after a period of ill health, a death reported by multiple outlets and described as occurring on Thursday.
  • Fricker won the 1990 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for My Left Foot, becoming the first Irish woman to win an acting Oscar.
  • She reached wide popular recognition as the Central Park 'Pigeon Lady' in Home Alone 2, a role that sustained her visibility across generations.
  • In later life she published a 2025 memoir, She Died Young, and was granted the Freedom of the City of Dublin earlier this year, both cited by her agent as sources of pride.
  • Colleagues, Irish officials and international press have paid tribute to her versatility and influence, noting her work on stage, British and Irish television, and nearly 100 screen credits over six decades.