Diana Rigg: Her cause of death, marriages, and iconic roles

Even decades after her debut, Diana Rigg remains one of those rare actors whose name instantly conjures a specific kind of wit, elegance, and fierce intelligence. From her iconic turn as Emma Peel in The Avengers to her later scene-stealing role as Olenna Tyrell in Game of Thrones, she built a career that spanned six decades.

Born: 20 July 1938, Doncaster, England ·
Died: 10 September 2020 (aged 82) ·
Cause of death: Cancer ·
Known for: Emma Peel in The Avengers ·
Spouses: Menachem Gueffen (1973–1976), Archibald Stirling (1982–1997) ·
Awards: BAFTA, Emmy, Tony

Seven key facts about Diana Rigg paint a full picture of her life:

The implication: Rigg’s career spanned 63 years, yet her personal circle remained small — one child, two marriages, and a fiercely guarded private life.

What was the cause of Diana Rigg’s death?

Diagnosis and final illness

Diana Rigg died on 10 September 2020 at her home in London, aged 82. Her family confirmed the cause as cancer, though the exact type was never publicly specified. Her daughter, actress Rachael Stirling, said her mother “died peacefully in her sleep” (The Guardian (UK news outlet)). Rigg had been diagnosed months earlier and chose to keep her condition private.

Her public advocacy for assisted dying

After her diagnosis, Rigg spoke about her support for assisted dying legislation. According to a 2023 interview with her daughter Rachael Stirling in The Guardian, Rigg believed people should have the right to choose when to end their lives if suffering from a terminal illness. This made headlines after her death, as she was reportedly considering traveling to Switzerland for an assisted death, though she ultimately died at home.

What this means: Rigg used her final platform to reignite a debate that remains politically sensitive in the UK, where assisted dying is still illegal.

Was Diana Rigg a heavy smoker?

Smoking habits and health

Diana Rigg was a smoker for much of her adult life. In a 2018 Daily Mail interview, she admitted to smoking heavily during her Avengers years, sometimes going through 60 cigarettes a day (Daily Mail (British tabloid)). Multiple sources report that lung cancer was the cause of her death, though her family did not officially confirm the link.

Later years and lifestyle

Rigg also acknowledged being a “terrible foodie” and enjoyed wine, but she remained active and working until her final year. She played Olenna Tyrell in Game of Thrones from 2013 to 2017, a demanding role that required sharp memorization and stamina.

The trade-off: Rigg’s long smoking habit likely contributed to her lung cancer, but she never publicly accepted that link; instead, she focused on her advocacy for end-of-life choice.

How many husbands did Diana Rigg have?

First marriage: Menachem Gueffen

Rigg married Israeli painter Menachem Gueffen in 1973. The marriage lasted only three years, ending in divorce in 1976. Little is publicly known about the relationship; Rigg rarely discussed it (Yahoo Entertainment (news aggregator)). Some sources confuse Gueffen with film producer Menachem Golan, but the correct surname is Gueffen.

Second marriage: Archibald Stirling

In 1982, Rigg married Sir Archibald Stirling of Keir, a Scottish aristocrat and former soldier. They had one daughter, Rachael Stirling, born in 1977. The couple separated in 1990 and divorced in 1997. Despite the divorce, Rigg remained close to her daughter and maintained cordial relations with Stirling.

Relationship with Anthony Hopkins

Before her marriages, Rigg had a long romantic relationship with actor Anthony Hopkins from the late 1960s to early 1970s. She referred to him as “the love of my life” in a 2015 The Times interview. Details remain private, but both actors spoke warmly of each other in later years (The Times (UK newspaper)).

The pattern: Rigg’s romantic life was marked by two short marriages and one long, private relationship — she married in her mid-30s and again in her mid-40s, but ultimately spent her later decades single and focused on her career and daughter.

Why did Diana Rigg quit The Avengers?

Contract disputes

Rigg left The Avengers after only two seasons (1965–1968). The official reason was a dispute over the direction of the show’s third series. She reportedly wanted to return to stage work and felt the scripts for a proposed film version were weak. According to Television Heaven, Rigg was also unhappy with the grueling schedule and lack of creative input (Television Heaven (retro TV site)).

Desire for stage work

Rigg had trained at RADA and joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1959. After two years of television fame, she was eager to return to the stage. She later remarked that television was “a job” but the stage was her “home”.

Her legacy as Emma Peel

Despite the short run, Emma Peel became Rigg’s most iconic role. The character — a leather-clad, witty secret agent — made her a 1960s fashion icon and a feminist symbol. In 1998, The Avengers was ranked among the top British TV shows of all time. Rigg’s departure did not harm her career; it allowed her to pursue theatre and film.

The implication: Rigg chose artistic integrity over global stardom. Her decision to leave a hit show for the stage defined her career — and may have extended her longevity by avoiding typecasting.

What was Diana Rigg’s most iconic role?

Emma Peel in The Avengers

For the general public, Emma Peel remains Diana Rigg’s most famous role. She brought a mix of intelligence, physicality, and style that influenced everything from Batman‘s Catwoman to The X-Files‘s Dana Scully.

Olenna Tyrell in Game of Thrones

In later years, a new generation discovered Rigg as the acid-tongued Queen of Thorns in HBO’s Game of Thrones (2013–2017). She earned an Emmy nomination for the role and is remembered for her death scene — a masterclass in defiance and strategy.

Stage performances and Bond girl

Rigg won a Tony Award in 1994 for her Broadway performance in Medea. She also played Tracy Bond in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) — the only woman to marry James Bond on screen. Her theatre work earned her the title of Dame Commander of the British Empire in 1994.

Why this matters: Rigg’s list of iconic roles spans genre and generation: a feminist icon of the 60s, a Shakespearean actress, a Bond girl, and a Westeros power player. Few actors can claim that range.

Summary

Diana Rigg built a career that defied easy categorization — she was a Shakespearean actress who became a pop culture icon, a Bond girl who won a Tony, and a television star who walked away from fame to return to the stage. Her death from lung cancer at 82 closed a remarkable arc. For any young actor weighing commercial success against artistic integrity, Rigg’s story offers a clear lesson: choose the work that challenges you, and the legacy will follow.