Actress Harry Potter Star Dame Maggie Smith Passes Away At Age 89

According to her sons Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin, Smith passed away on Sept. 27, as reported by BBC. Both Stephens and Larkin went on to thank the staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for caring for Smith, as well as fans for their kind messages and support, though they also asked that their privacy be respected during this time. Maggie Smith played Violet Crawley in Downtown Abbey, and was beloved for her sharp wit and quick remarks in that show. She is perhaps best known for her role as Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter movies, though, where she was also often quick-witted and snarky with the students and teachers alike when needed. Smith was also knighted in 1990 by Queen Elizabeth II and became a Dame.