Heartbreaking News for 'Home Alone' Fans: The Pigeon Lady's Farewell

Brenda Fricker, the Oscar-winning actress behind the beloved 'Pigeon Lady' in the 1993 Christmas classic Home Alone 2: Lost In New York, has sadly died. Phil Belfield, Fricker's agent, said in a statement to the Press Association: “We will never see her like again and the world is lesser for the lack of her. "I was honored to know, love and work with her and she will always have a place in my heart and in the heart of so many film and TV fans the world over.” Fricker, 81, was best known for her role in My Left Foot, which won her an Academy Award. She played Daniel Day-Lewis' character Christy Brown's mum Bridget in the 1989 title, winning the Best Supporting Actress award for her performance. In doing so, she became the first Irish actress to win an Academy Award, as Day-Lewis also won the Best Actor accolade. Fricker thanked Brown for "being alive," dedicating her Oscar to his real-life mother, stating: "Anybody who gives birth 22 times deserves one of these, I think." The actor behind the beloved Home Alone 2 character has died. Credit: 20th Century Fricker was the "Pigeon Lady" Aside from her Academy-winning performance, an entire generation will recognize her as the Pigeon Lady from Home Alone 2, who also has a striking resemblance to journalist and TV host Piers Morgan . The character is homeless in the flick, and while she is feared by Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) at first, they become close friends and she eventually saves him. Fans will never forget the character, who delivered some powerful scenes in the role. One emotional moment involved the Pigeon Lady explaining how she removed herself from society, becoming more comfortable with birds in the park. Kevin would later help her learn to trust people again after gifting her a porcelain turtledove on Christmas morning. Fans of the movie franchise were distraught upon being told of her death, as one wrote on X: "It's going to be sad seeing ' Home Alone 2 ' on TV at Christmas this year with both Catherine O'Hara and now Brenda Fricker gone," with a crying emoji. Another said: "Home Alone marathons this year without Catherine O’Hara and Brenda Fricker," with sad face emojis. Fricker also appeared in BBC drama Casualty as Megan Roach until 1990, while featuring in films such as A Time to Kill, Axe Murderer, Angels in the Outfield, Veronica Guerin and the Sir Richard Attenborough-directed epic, Closing the Ring. Kevin and the Pigeon Lady would become close friends in Home Alone 2. Credit: 20th Century Studios She felt "invisible" in the industry Despite success in years past, Fricker started to feel a bit like the Pigeon Lady, telling The Times in a 2024 interview that she wasn't really part of the industry anymore. She explained: "They don't write for old women. Shakespeare wrote for old women, but none of the young writers do. None. "There are so many wonderful people around… interesting women with history and stories. "Remember these words when you turn 70: you become invisible. "Richard Harris said that to me while sitting on the rocks looking out over the Atlantic Ocean and it stuck in my head. "On my 70th birthday I thought: 'He's wrong, I feel great.' A week later I knew exactly what he meant. It's weird. "So it's not that I'm out of work for any other reason there are no parts to do," she admitted. Featured image credit: 20th Century Studios