Avengers & Game of Thrones legend Diana Rigg dies at age 82
It is with great sadness that ComingSoon.net brings word (via Deadline) that legendary British actress Dame Diana Rigg has passed away at age 82, reportedly from cancer diagnosed in March. The BAFTA, Emmy and Tony Award-winner was best known for the 60’s spy series The Avengers, her role as a Bond Girl in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, and her recent work as Olenna Tyrell in Game of Thrones.
“She died peacefully early this morning. She was at home with her family who have asked for privacy at this difficult time,” her agent said.
An alum of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and the Royal Shakespeare Company, Rigg first gained international fame from 1965 to 1968 as secret agent Emma Peel on Seasons 4 and 5 of the stylish ITV spy series The Avengers opposite Patrick Macnee’s John Steed. Succeeding Julie Stevens and Honor Blackman as Steed’s sidekick, Emma Peel became an instant sex symbol in the 60’s. She followed Blackman into the 007 arena as Tracy, the doomed wife of James Bond, in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) opposite George Lazenby.
After this initial success Rigg had a variety of roles throughout the 70’s, including as a fashion designer in her own American NBC sitcom titled Diana, which lasted one season (1973-1974). She played Portia opposite Charlton Heston in 1970’s Julius Caesar, co-starred with George C. Scott in Arthur Hiller’s satire The Hospital (1971), with Vincent Price in 1973’s horror comedy Theatre of Blood, and sang in the Stephen Sondheim musical adaptation A Little Night Music (1977) with Elizabeth Taylor.
In the 80’s she co-starred with Charles Grodin and Miss Piggy in Jim Henson’s The Great Muppet Caper (1981) and among the ensemble of Peter Ustinov’s Poirot movie Evil Under the Sun (1982). In the 90’s she co-starred with Sean Connery in Bruce Beresford’s A Good Man in Africa (1994), and her role as Mrs. Danvers in ITV’s Rebecca (1997) won her an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie. In 2006 she appeared opposite Edward Norton and Naomi Watts in The Painted Veil, and in Andy Serkis’ 2017 directorial debut Breathe starring Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy. She also appeared in the 2013 episode of Doctor Who titled “The Crimson Horror”.
In 2013 she took on what might be her most popular role as the feisty and ruthless Olenna Tyrell -the powerful matriarch of House Tyrell- in HBO’s cultural juggernaut Game of Thrones. Her role in the series lasted until 2017, and Rigg was Emmy nominated for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series four times.
Rigg will make her final posthumous film appearance as “Miss Collins” in Edgar Wright’s upcoming horror film Last Night in Soho, which is scheduled for release on April 23, 2021.
“We are very sad to hear of the passing of Dame Diana Rigg, the legendary stage and screen actress who was much beloved by Bond fans for her memorable performance as Tracy di Vicenzo in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, the only woman to have married James Bond.” pic.twitter.com/nqQCSg35oM
— James Bond (@007) September 10, 2020
I’m so sad to hear of the death of Diana Rigg. She undoubtedly raised my acting game when we made On Her Majesty’s Secret Service together in 1968-9. I remember the press conference at the Dorchester in London, knowing she was going to play my wife. We …https://t.co/2OgVHS0JMK pic.twitter.com/bEaHKXlsnB
— George Lazenby (@lazenbyofficial) September 10, 2020
Be a dragon.
The realm will always remember Diana Rigg.— Game of Thrones (@GameOfThrones) September 10, 2020
Dame Diana Rigg . She always raised the bar with her incredible talent, intelligence and wit. An absolute joy and honor to work with. May her soul Rest In Peace https://t.co/BC4annah1H
— Nikolaj CosterWaldau (@nikolajcw) September 10, 2020
An icon and powerhouse left this world today… Rest in Peace Diana Rigg #RestinPeaceDianaRigg
— Nathalie Emmanuel (@missnemmanuel) September 10, 2020
What to say about Diana Rigg? I could talk about her incredible career, but for now I’ll just say as a lifelong fan, it was beyond a thrill to work with her on her final film. She exceeded all my highest expectations, so blazingly talented, fiery & funny. Miss you already Dame D. pic.twitter.com/3crtUsJhla
— edgarwright (@edgarwright) September 10, 2020
RIP Dame Diana Rigg. Great actress and good sport – lest we forget, she let Daniel Radcliffe flick a condom on her head in Extras. pic.twitter.com/scFC8KPlZz
— Stephen Merchant (@StephenMerchant) September 10, 2020
Diana Rigg with Oliver Reed. pic.twitter.com/2zaL6jYBup
— Larry Karaszewski (@Karaszewski) September 10, 2020
For a girl in the 1960’s, Diana Rigg was the embodiment of power and allure. To see her on stage in Medea 30 years later was sheer terror. And the icing was Game of Thrones. She outplayed them all. A great grand actor. pic.twitter.com/9XjCQh1qmi
— Dana Delany (@DanaDelany) September 10, 2020
Diana Rigg was one of the original badass women of television who remained badass as #OleannaTyrell
Thank you for paving the way, #EmmaRigg. RIP#avengers #GameOfThrones https://t.co/faCC8bpqoS— Ming-Na Wen (@MingNa) September 10, 2020
Dame #DianaRigg will be fondly remembered for a million different things today. (I first met her glamorously introducing MURTHER on Mystery!) But I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t pay homage to her iconic #GOT character who remains perfect and untarnished. https://t.co/dadKLwpkyo pic.twitter.com/2ujvnFUoYz
— Joanna Robinson (@jowrotethis) September 10, 2020
And somewhere between
The Avengers & Game of Thrones,
the forgotten Generation X
discovered Diana Rigg
in ‘The Great Muppet Caper’ pic.twitter.com/Tg02bApygF— John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) September 10, 2020
RIP #DianaRigg We have all the time in the world. pic.twitter.com/u5KfMPqN1v
— Don Mancini (@RealDonMancini) September 10, 2020
(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
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