Oscar-winning Irish actress Brenda Fricker, 'Home Alone' Pigeon Lady, dies at 81

Oscar-winning Irish actress Brenda Fricker, widely known for her role as the "Pigeon Lady" in "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York," has died at the age of 81. Her agent confirmed her peaceful passing in Dublin on Thursday night, July 16, 2026, following a period of ill health.

Fricker's distinguished career also saw her become the first Irish woman to win an Academy Award, which she earned in 1990 for Best Supporting Actress. This accolade was for her powerful portrayal of Mrs. Brown in the film "My Left Foot," where she played the mother of Christy Brown, an Irish writer and artist with cerebral palsy.

Her agent, Phil Belfield, issued a statement expressing profound sadness at her death, noting, "We will never see her like again and the world is lesser for the lack of her." Fricker's career spanned six decades, encompassing numerous film and television roles that solidified her legacy as a respected and beloved figure in acting.