Whoopi Goldberg pays tribute to 'Sister Act' co-star Maggie Smith following her death at age 89

Whoopi Goldberg is honoring her late “Sister Act” co-star Maggie Smith following her death on Friday at the age of 89.

“Maggie Smith was a great woman and a brilliant actress. “I still can't believe I was lucky enough to work with the 'one of a kind,'” the 68-year-old wrote on Instagram. “My sincere condolences to the family… RIP.”

Along with her sweet words, Goldberg shared a photo of herself and Smith from the 1992 hit comedy Sister Act.

The film follows Deloris Wilson (Goldberg), a lounge singer who was placed in witness protection after witnessing a violent murder. She poses as Sister Mary Clarence after being transferred to a convent in San Francisco and is constantly at odds with Smith's mother superior.

The actresses reprized their roles in the film's 1993 sequel, “Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit.” In 2020, Disney announced that the franchise would continue with a third installment of Sister Act, releasing on Disney+.

Over the past few years, Goldberg and her castmates, including Tanya Trotter, Wendy Makkena and Kathy Najimy, have shared news about the project with fans.

In June, Trotter announced that the script for “Sister Act 3” had been completed.

Although she wasn't sure if she would appear in the third film, the 47-year-old told Entertainment Tonight at the time that she “knows the script is finished.”

And yes, the actress wants to take part.

“Anything that involves Whoopi Goldberg — because she’s a legend, she’s an icon, she’s my mentor, hero — yeah, I would say yes.”

Meanwhile, Goldberg has stated that she would only reprise her role in a potential threequel if Smith did too.

During an appearance on the British talk show “Loose Women” in 2023, Goldberg noted that she “occupies the role of Mother Superior” to the “Downton Abbey” star.

“One of the things I really want to do while I'm here is I want to let Maggie Smith know that I'm taking on the role of Mother Superior for you,” the “View” co-host said. looked directly into the camera. “Because I just can’t do it with anyone but you.”

Goldberg added that she would do whatever it took to get Smith on board.

“So if you want me to come here and shoot it and do whatever we need to do, then we'll do whatever you ask us to do,” she continued. “But we don’t want to do it without you, Maggie.”

The couple's friendship extended far beyond the screen, as Goldberg noted in her 2024 memoir “Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me.”

In the book, the EGOT winner recalls how, after being devastated by the news of her mother's death, Smith stayed with her until she could catch a flight home from London the next morning.

“For the next five hours, Maggie sat with me and listened to me talk while she told stories about my mother, my childhood and my brother. We laughed a lot,” Goldberg wrote. “I don’t know if I was in shock. I had never had shock before. I don't think I cried. I felt nothing but a big, friendly wave from Maggie.”

The author added: “I have to say, she is one of those people that I would do anything for. Anything Maggie Smith needs, I’ll get her everything.”