Diana Rigg Dies: ‘Game of Thrones’, ‘The Avengers’ & Bond Actress Was 82

English actress Diana Rigg has died at the age of 82. A celebrated and award-winning performer on stage and screen, Rigg was known for her TV roles in “The Avengers” and “Game of Thrones”, and in film as Tracy Bond in “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”. Rigg’s theater work included a 1992 production of Greek tragedy “Medea”, for which she won a Tony in the title role, and a 1987 staging of Stephen Sondheim’s musical “Follies”.

Rigg died peacefully in her sleep, she was at home with her family who have asked for privacy at this difficult time. Rigg was a much loved and admired member of her profession, a force of nature who loved her work and her fellow actors. Rigg will be greatly missed. Rigg died of cancer and spent her last months joyfully reflecting on her extraordinary life, full of love, laughter, and a deep pride in her profession.

Born in Doncaster in 1938, Rigg grew up for a brief period in India before returning to the United Kingdom to attend boarding school. Rigg enrolled in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1955, where her classmates included Glenda Jackson. After a stint with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Rigg achieved stage fame with her role in the Ronald Millar play “Abelard and Heloïse”, for which she earned the first of three Tony nominations.

Diana Rigg’s TV break came in the 1960s spy series “The Avengers”, in which she played secret agent Emma Peel for 51 episodes, becoming something of a style icon and sex symbol in England.

Staying in the genre, in 1969 she was cast in the sixth Bond movie “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”, starring opposite George Lazenby, his one and only appearance in the franchise. Rigg’s character, Tracy Bond, is still to this day the only one to have wed the Brit secret agent, though she meets a tragic fate in the film. More recently, Rigg portrayed Olenna Tyrell in “Game Of Thrones”, and appeared in ITV’s “Victoria” and Channel 5’s “All Creatures Great And Small”.

Rigg’s films roles also included 2006 romantic drama “The Painted Veil” and Andy Serkis’ 2017 romance “Breathe”. Rigg also played a role in Edgar Wright’s upcoming feature “Last Night In Soho”, which is scheduled for release on April 23rd 2021. Rigg was a regular recipient of award nominations for her work both on stage and on screen. In 1994 she won the Best Actress in a Play Tony for “Medea”, while she was Golden Globe nominated for “The Hospital” in 1972, won an Emmy for “Rebecca” in 1997, a BAFTA Television Awards in 1990, and received several Olivier nominations.

Rigg was married twice, to the Israeli painter Menachem Gueffen from 1973-1976, and to theater producer Archibald Stirling 1982-1990. With the latter she had a daughter, Rachael Stirling, the two-time Olivier Award nominated actress.