Irish actress Brenda Fricker died on 17 July at the age of 81. The news of the death of the actress who played the Pigeon Lady in the film *Home Alone 2* was announced by her agent, Phil Belfield. Fricker was the first Irish actress to win an Oscar: she received the award for her performance in the film *My Left Foot*.
Briefly about the main points
- Brenda Fricker’s death was confirmed by her agent on 17 July.
- The actress was 81 years old.
- She played the Lady of the Doves in *Home Alone 2*.
- Fricker won an Oscar for *My Left Foot*.
- An agent reported the death following a deterioration in his health.
The agent announced the death
Phil Belfield confirmed that Brenda Fricker She died following a period of declining health. In a widely circulated statement, he described her as a one-of-a-kind actress and said he had been honoured to «know, love and work» with her.
Brenda Fricker was born on 17 February 1945 in Dublin.
«An »Oscar’ for her role as Christy Brown’s mother
In 1990, Fricker won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the film *My Left Foot*. She became the first Irish actress to win this award.
In the film, Fricker played the role of Christy Brown’s mother. The lead role was played by Daniel Day-Lewis, who that same evening received «Oscar» for Best Actor.
Her filmography also includes roles in Irish and British films and television programmes, notably *Veronica Guerin*, *Time to Kill* and the medical drama *Casualty*.
A role that millions of viewers will remember
To a wide international audience, Fricker was first and foremost the Pigeon Lady from *Home Alone 2*. Her character meets and befriends Kevin McCallister, who was played in the film by Macaulay Culkin.
The combination of her Oscar-winning dramatic performance and her role in one of the most famous family films has made the actress a familiar face to several generations of viewers.
Recognition in his native Dublin
In February 2026, Dublin City Council approved the conferral of honorary citizenship upon Fricker. The Lord Mayor Ray McAdam He went on to describe her as one of Dublin’s most outstanding cultural figures, and her performance in *My Left Foot* as a landmark moment for Irish acting and cinema.
