Friday comes bearing sad news - Oscar-winning Home Alone star has passed on to the other side at the age of 81. The Home Alone family was just recovering from the tragic death of Catherine O’Hara, who played Kate McCallister in the first two movies, when another member of the cast departed the world. O’Hara passed away on January 30, 2026, at the age of 71. 

This is the second death for the beloved movie franchise this year, and the star played a memorable character in the second movie.

Oscar-winning Irish actress Brenda Fricker, who rose to fame in America as the "pigeon lady" in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, passed away at the age of 81. After a period of poor health, Fricker passed away on Thursday night, July 16, 2026, in her hometown of Dublin, Ireland, according to information originally reported by TMZ and then verified by her agent, Phil Belfield.

"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," Belfield said in a statement.

In 1990, Fricker's performance as Daniel Day-Lewis's mother in the film My Left Foot, which is about an Irish man named Christy Brown who was born with cerebral palsy and could only control his left foot, earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. According to The Irish Times, she was also a consistent presence on television, appearing in movies including Omagh and A Man of No Importance as well as the BBC medical soap opera Casualty. 

However, Fricker's portrayal of the reclusive Central Park pigeon lady in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992) was her most well-known performance for a particular audience. She was also well-known for her parts in movies including A Time To Kill (1996), Angels in the Outfield (1994), and So I Married An Axe Murderer (1993).

Is ‘Home Alone’ on Netflix? Where and How to Stream the Iconic Christmas Movies Online

Turning attention to her personal life, it seems her private and professional life presented a sharp contrast.

In a 2020 appearance on The Ray D'Arcy Show, Brenda Fricker shared how being alone made the holidays difficult for her, while talking about her holiday plans. She further added that she just watches pre-recorded programs with her dog while shutting the phone off and pulling the blinds down. Fricker pointed out that she resembled her character when presenter D'Arcy said it was ironic because her loneliness occurred at a time when so many families would be watching her in Home Alone 2. 

She was married to filmmaker Barry Davies from 1979 until their divorce in 1988. She had multiple pregnancies but suffered miscarriages every time, which she claimed caused her to experience acute sadness for a significant portion of her life. She rests now peacefully with her other Home Alone co-star, Catherine O'Hara, while her legacy continues through her movies.

‘We Had Unfinished Business’ Macaulay Culkin Reflects on How Catherine O’Hara’s Death Hit Him Too Soon

Which Brenda Fricker movie is your favorite? Do let us know.