DUBLIN, IRELAND—On July 16, actress Brenda Fricker, known for her role as, the Pigeon Lady in “Home Alone 2,” died at the age of 81. Fricker was born in Ireland in 1945 and has been acting since 1964 in Ireland, and internationally since 1989.
At 19, she worked as an assistant to the art editor at the Irish Times with dreams of becoming a reporter. She began her acting career in Dublin performing on screen and on television starring in the soap opera, “Tolka Row,” in the in the 1960s. In 1977, the ITV soap opera, BBC’s medical drama “Coronation Street,” and she acted in the play, “Licking Hitler,” in 1978,
She played at least 30 roles during her career including Jim Sheridan’s, “My Left Foot,” where won Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her portrayal of Bridget Brown in 1990. In 1992, she portrayed the bird lady, alongside Macaulay Culkin in “Home Alone 2.” She appeared in 72 episodes of “Casualty” (1986-2010). She also appeared in the movies “The Field,” “A Time to Kill,” “Veronica Guerin” and “Albert Nobbs.”
Fricker’s last role was in 2024, as the voice of Maureen in the British film, “The Miracle Club.”
Cathy Shipton who played Duffy Duffin, spoke to the BBC about Fricker, stating: “One of the most authentic people I have ever met.”
Fricker’s former “Casualty” co-star Derek Thompson, who played long-running character Charlie Fairhead told the BBC News: “Truly the best I have ever worked with, and I’ve worked with a lot of actors”.
