Debbie Reynolds, Actress, Author, Humanitarian, Legend, Dies One Day After Daughter Carrie Fisher
- Details
- Category: Celebrity News, Interviews, Pictures
- Published on Wednesday, 28 December 2016 19:47
- Written by Janet Walker
Debbie Reynolds actress and screen sweetheart of the 1950's and 1960's was rushed to the hospital after suffering a medical emergency while she planned her daughter's, actress Carrie Fisher's, funeral. Ms. Reynolds passed away. She was 84.
From media and police reports, Ms. Reynolds was at the Coldwater Canyon home of her son, Todd Fisher, when she began to feel ill and experiencing shortness of breath. She was at his home planning the funeral of daughter Carrie Fisher, who passed away just yesterday after suffering a massive heart attack as she returned to Los Angeles on a transatlantic flight from London.
Born in El Paso, Texas, Mary Frances Reynolds moved with her family moved to Burbank, California in 1939. Nine years later, in 1948 at age 16 Ms. Reynolds won the Burbank High School beauty contest and as it were in the days of contract actress her win got her noticed by Warner Bros Studios and soon she was signed and given a new name.
Her film career began in 1948 in an un-credited role and continued for seven decades with more than 60 film credits to her name. the role that catapulted her to fame was her portrayal of Kathy Selden, in Singin' in the Rain, opposite Gene Kelly. As a triple threat, Ms. Reynolds was a singer, dancer, and actress, expected in the years of studio contract actresses.
Throughout her career, she was nominated for five Golden Globe Awards, one Academy Award, two Emmy's, two American Comedy Awards which she won, a National Board of Review Award which she won, a Satellite Award which she also won.
Her career continued with The Unsinkable Molly Brown, for which she received a Golden Globe and Academy Award nomination. She was honored at Grauman's Chinese Theater in the Forecourt of Stars and a Star on Hollywood Boulevard.
Her role in the 1997 comedy film, Mother opposite Albert Brooks, and Rob Morrow, earned her both a Golden Globe Nomination and a Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress Motion Picture.
Ms. Reynolds, in 2015, was awarded the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award by The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences and Lifetime Achievement Award by the Screen Actors Guild in 2014.
Her personal life was tabloid fodder for years as she, America's Sweetheart, married singer, Eddie Fisher in 1955. They had two children Carrie and Todd. In 1959, Reynolds was jilted by Eddie Fisher who left her for Elizabeth Taylor whose husband Mike Todd had recently died.
The scandal was shocking as Reynolds and Fisher were the All-American, 1950's happily married Hollywood couple. Reynolds and Taylor, who were friends at the time, did not speak again for nearly forty years. They performed together in Ms. Taylor final film role, These Old Broads with Shirley MacLaine and Joan Collins. Ms. Reynolds remarried twice.
In one of her last social media postings, Ms. Reynolds thanked the countless fans of her daughter Carrie who expressed condolences, on facebook "Thank you to everyone who has embraced the gifts and talents of my beloved and amazing daughter. I am grateful for your thoughts and prayers that are now guiding her to her next stop. Love Carries Mother"
On the micro messaging site Twitter, Ms. Reynolds posted the below update of her daughters condition.
Ms. Reynolds passed away at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Unconfirmed reports are that she suffered a stroke and died from complications. An ambulance was called to her daughter's home and rushed the ailing Reynolds to the hospital. She was listed in fair-to-serious condition.
"She's now with Carrie and we're all heartbroken." Todd Fisher, Ms. Reynolds son, said from the hospital as reported in USAToday. He also added, the stress of his sister's death "was too much" for Reynolds.
Reynolds is survived by a granddaughter, Billie Catherine Lourd, her son Todd and daughter Joely Fisher, the half-sister of Carrie Fisher.
