'Home Alone 2' cooing 'pigeon lady' Brenda Fricker dies at 81

Irish-born actress Brenda Fricker, who won hearts worldwide as the "Pigeon Lady" character helping Kevin in the film 'Home Alone 2,' has died at age 81.

U.S. entertainment outlet Page Six reported on the 17th (local time) that Fricker passed away on the night of the 16th in Dublin, Ireland, following a long illness.

The exact cause of death was not disclosed, but earlier, in a 2025 interview with The Guardian, she said she was experiencing serious breathing difficulties, adding, "I’m dying in pain every day,"

In a statement, Fricker’s agent said, "We will never meet an actor like her again. Leaving him behind, it feels like the world has gotten a little smaller," and added, "She will be remembered forever in the hearts of countless movie and TV fans around the world."

Ireland’s deputy prime minister, Simon Harris, also paid tribute, saying, "Brenda Fricker was the greatest talent Ireland ever produced and a world-class icon," and calling her "a true artist who lit up the screen with remarkable authenticity and talent."

Born in Dublin in 1945, Fricker began her career in show business at the Irish Times, then entered the acting world in 1964 with a supporting role in the film 'Nothing to Lose.' She later became known to audiences through the BBC drama 'Casualty.'

In particular, she won the Academy Award (Oscar) for best supporting actress with the 1989 film 'My Left Foot,' earning recognition for her acting. The work that left the deepest impression on the public was 'Home Alone 2,' starring Macaulay Culkin. In the film, she took on the role of a wounded homeless woman who feeds pigeons in New York’s Central Park, delivering a powerful emotional moment.

Until recently, she kept burning with passion for acting by appearing in a range of works including 'Forgive Me,' 'Holding,' and 'The Catch,' and her final appearance would be the 2024 documentary drama 'The Swallow.'