Tribute to CARRIE FISHER and DEBBIE REYNOLDS

I was originally prepared to write my film review of the new Star Wars release ROGUE ONE, but feel it pales inlight of the passing of two Hollywood icons, actress Carrie Fisher, and legendary actress Debbie  Reynolds, the latter being the mother of Carrie Fisher. Sadly they passed within 24 hours of one another just last week.

It seems 2016 will go down in history as one of the years we lost many many wonderful and amazing talents, not only in film, but television, and music. David Bowie, Prince, Leonard Cohen, George Michael, and Gene Wilder, just to name a few. However, we lost two, that had been considered “Hollywood Royalty”, for decades.

On December 27, 2016, the world lost a “Princess”, actress Carrie Fisher, best known as “Princess Leia”, from the STAR WARS films. The very next day, December 28, her mother, the legendary actress, Debbie Reynolds also passed. This was incredibly sad that a mother and daughter should pass within just hours of one another, but not so to their remaining family, who knew that Debbie and Carrie were inseparable in life, and that bond was one that transcended even death itself. I dedicate this article to both Carrie Fisher, and Debbie Reynolds, two amazing and beautiful souls.

Carrie Fisher was born October 21, 1956, daughter of icons, actress Debbie Reynolds, and singer Eddie Fisher. Carrie grew up in the film industry since day one because of her famous parents, so it was inevitable she too would carry on the entertaining tradition. She attended Beverly Hills High, and even though known as a “bookworm”, she dropped out of school to perform with her famous mother on Broadway. In 1975, she made her film debut in SHAMPOO, co-starring with actor Warren Beatty. However, in 1977, life for Carrie was about to change, and so did the world. The science fiction mega-hit film, STAR WARS, hit movie theaters in May of 1977, and the world of sci-fi/fantasy films has never been the same!

STAR WARS took the world by storm, becoming the biggest franchise in film history! Everyone around the world would come to know actress Carrie Fisher, as “Princess Leia”, and she soon became many a fanboys dream girl. She played this character again in the sequel’s, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK(1980), and RETURN OF THE JEDI (1983). Carrie also starred in other films outside the Star Wars franchise, such as, THE BLUES BROTHERS (1980), HANNAH & HER SISTERS (1986), THE BURBS (1989), and WHEN HARRY MET SALLY (1989), to mention a few.

In 1987, Carrie turned her talents from the big screen to the written page. She wrote her first best-selling novel, POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE, which was based on her life, up to that point. It later went on to become a mega hit film, starring Meryl Streep, as Carrie. Carrie went on to write other novels, such as, Surrender the Pink, Delusions of Grandma, Shockaholic, The Best Awful, and Wishful Drinking. Her latest, and now her last novel, which was released in November 2016, “The Princess Diarist”, is a memoir about her time during the filming of the STAR WARS trilogy, and it was already a best-seller, before her sad passing just several weeks later. Carrie’s life wasn’t an easy one. She grew up with Hollywood industry parents, fame came at a young age, and the drugs and alcohol lifestyle got the best of her. She fought the battle of not just drugs and alcohol, but being bi-polar as well. She spent time in and out of medical centers, and it was a long battle that would haunt her for many years. However, she did beat her demons, and all that knew her say she kept her humor intact through it all.

Carrie made her come back with her books, and films, such as 2016′s STAR WARS:THE FORCE AWAKENS, where she once again brought the famed character of Princess Leia back to life. There will be one final installment in Star Wars films featuring Carrie though, as she had just finished her role in the new episode which will be released later this year, December 2017. The news of her heart attack shocked the world, and her death created a storm of sadness beyond words. I have been a fan of Carrie Fisher, and her work since 1977, and yes, I had a fanboy crush, like many others. Her memory will live on, and she will be loved by many for generations to come. Each time someone new discovers that Star Wars magic, they will inevitably fall in love with Princess Leia. She is now, and always will be etched in time as a, “Princess”. “May the Force Be With You”, Princess…Carrie Fisher….

Behind every talented daughter, there’s generally a strong and talented mother, and in Carrie Fisher’s case, that mother was Debbie Reynolds. Debbie was born April 1 1932, in El Paso, Texas. Debbie moved to California in 1948. She had  already worked on stage, and later did smallroles, but it was at the age of 19 years old (same age Carrie was when she landed the role in STAR WARS), that Debbie had her first lead role in a film, 1952′s classic musical, SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN.

Debbie rose to instant stardom, and landed many film roles such as, THE AFFAIRS OF DOBIE GILLIS (1953), SUSAN SLEPT HERE (1954), BUNDLE OF JOY (1956), THE CATERED AFFAIR (1956), TAMMY & THE BACHELOR (1957), HOW THE WEST WAS WON (1963), THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN (1964), THE SINGING NUN (1966), MOTHER (1996), and IN & OUT (1997). Debbie starred in many many other films, and she won countless awards and nominations such as, number one on the Billboard charts with her hit song “Tammy”, was nominated for a, Best Actress Academy Award, in 1964 for, THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN.

Debbie did many things during her career such as, a cabaret dancer, founded the Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio, in North Hollywood in 1979, owned her own hotel/casino in Las Vegas in 1982, wrote her autobiography,” Debbie:My Life”, starred in Disney’s HALLOWEEN TOWN series, and has been a lifelong collector of Hollywood memorabilia and props. She was married 3 times, and also has a son, Todd Fisher. In 2015, Debbie was awarded the Screen Actors Guild, “Lifetime Achievement Award”, and in 2016, was awarded the Academy Awards, Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award”.

Sadly, Debbie passed away on December 28, 2016, one day after her daughter Carrie. Some say, and I personally believe, it was of a broken heart. These two amazing, beautiful, talented, and iconic figures were inseparable, and will never be forgotten. Their work in the entertainment industry, and lives, will be celebrated for many years, as they both left their historic mark on both the film industry, and on the world. However, they haven’t left us quite yet. On January 7, 2017, HBO will air a documentary film called, BRIGHT LIGHTS: STARRING CARRIE FISHER AND DEBBIE REYNOLDS, a film they made together earlier on in 2016, about their lives as mother and daughter, and their work. I don’t think there will ever be another mother/daughter team like Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds. After all, you can’t duplicate perfection.

Tags: Tribute to CARRIE FISHER and DEBBIE REYNOLDS