Carrie Fisher facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carrie Fisher
Carrie Fisher at the 70th Venice International Film Festival in 2013
Born	Carrie Frances Fisher (1956-10-21)October 21, 1956 Burbank, California, U.S.
Died	December 27, 2016(2016-12-27) (aged 60) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Cause of death	Cardiac arrest
Resting place	Portion of ashes entombed at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills, U.S.
Occupation	Actress writer script doctor
Years active	1973–2016
Spouse(s)	Paul Simon ​ ​ (m. 1983; div. 1984)​
Partner(s)	Bryan Lourd (1991–1994)
Children	Billie Lourd
Parent(s)	Eddie Fisher Debbie Reynolds
Relatives	Todd Fisher (brother) Joely Fisher (half-sister) Tricia Leigh Fisher (half-sister)

Carrie Frances Fisher (October 21, 1956 – December 27, 2016) was an American actress and writer. She is best known for playing Princess Leia in the original Star Wars films (1977–1983). She played Princess Leia again in Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) and The Last Jedi (2017). Her role in The Last Jedi was released after she passed away and was dedicated to her. She also appeared in The Rise of Skywalker (2019) using old footage from The Force Awakens.

Fisher also acted in other movies like The Blues Brothers (1980), Hannah and Her Sisters (1986), and When Harry Met Sally... (1989). She was nominated for an Emmy Award twice. These nominations were for her roles in the TV shows 30 Rock (2007) and Catastrophe (2017).

Carrie Fisher was also a talented writer. She wrote several books, including Postcards from the Edge. This book was later made into a movie. She also wrote and performed a one-woman play called Wishful Drinking. Fisher was also known as a "script doctor." This means she helped other writers improve their movie scripts. She worked on films like Hook (1991) and many of the Star Wars movies.

Carrie Fisher was the daughter of singer Eddie Fisher and actress Debbie Reynolds. A documentary called Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds was made about their close relationship. Fisher was also admired for speaking openly about her experiences with bipolar disorder. She passed away in December 2016 at age 60 after a medical emergency. In 2017, she was named a Disney Legend. In 2018, she won a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album after her death.

Early Life and Education

Fisher with her parents and brother in 1958

Carrie Frances Fisher was born on October 21, 1956, in Burbank, California. Her parents were actress Debbie Reynolds and singer Eddie Fisher. Her father's family came from Russia, and her mother's family had Scottish-Irish and English roots.

Carrie was two years old when her parents divorced in 1959. Her father later married actress Connie Stevens. This made Connie the stepmother to Carrie's two half-sisters, Joely Fisher and Tricia Leigh Fisher.

As a child, Carrie loved to read books and write poetry. Her family even called her "the bookworm." She went to Beverly Hills High School. At age 16, she left high school to appear in a Broadway musical called Irene (1973). Her mother, Debbie Reynolds, also starred in this show. After Broadway, Carrie studied acting at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London for 18 months. She later attended Sarah Lawrence College but left before finishing her degree.

Acting Career Highlights

Carrie Fisher made her first movie appearance in 1975. She played Lorna Karpf in the comedy film Shampoo. She was 17 years old when she filmed it.

Becoming Princess Leia

In 1977, Fisher became famous for her role as Princess Leia in George Lucas' science-fiction film Star Wars. She starred alongside Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford. The movie was a huge success, and the actors became very close.

She played Princess Leia again in the 1978 TV special Star Wars Holiday Special. She also sang in the final scene of that show.

Movies and TV in the 1980s

Fisher appeared in the film The Blues Brothers as a mysterious woman. In 1980, she returned as Princess Leia in The Empire Strikes Back. She was on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine with her Star Wars co-stars to promote the film.

Fisher with Wim Wenders in 1978

In 1983, Fisher played Princess Leia again in Return of the Jedi. She even posed in Leia's famous metal bikini for the cover of Rolling Stone. This costume later became very popular. In 1986, she starred in Woody Allen's movie Hannah and Her Sisters.

In 1989, Fisher had a big supporting role in When Harry Met Sally.... The same year, she played the wife of Tom Hanks' character in The 'Burbs.

From the 1990s to 2000s

In 1991, Fisher appeared in the fantasy comedy film Drop Dead Fred. She also played a therapist in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997).

In the 2000 movie Scream 3, Fisher played an actress who joked about looking like Carrie Fisher. In 2001, she played a nun in the comedy Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. She also helped write and produce the TV movie These Old Broads (2001). This movie starred her mother, Debbie Reynolds, along with Elizabeth Taylor and Joan Collins. In 2003, Fisher played another nun, Mother Superior, in Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle.

Fisher was also a well-known "script doctor" in Hollywood. She helped improve movie scripts for other writers. She worked on films like Lethal Weapon 3 and The Wedding Singer. She also helped George Lucas with the dialogue for the Star Wars prequel scripts.

From 2007 to 2010, Fisher voiced Peter Griffin's boss, Angela, on the animated TV show Family Guy. In 2007, she guest-starred on the TV show 30 Rock, which earned her an Emmy Award nomination.

Later Career and Star Wars Return

Fisher at the film premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens in London, UK

In 2010, HBO aired a documentary based on Fisher's one-woman stage show, Wishful Drinking. She also appeared on the TV show Entourage in 2010. In 2014, she appeared on the UK comedy show QI.

Fisher starred in the British comedy series Catastrophe, which started in 2015. Her last appearance on Catastrophe aired in 2017 and earned her another Emmy Award nomination after her death.

Fisher with Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford at the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con promoting Star Wars: The Force Awakens

In 2013, it was announced that Carrie Fisher would return as Princess Leia in a new Star Wars movie. She joked that Leia would be "Elderly" and "slower." On April 29, 2014, the cast for the new movie was officially announced. Fisher, along with Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill, would play their original roles. Star Wars Episode VII, called The Force Awakens, was released on December 18, 2015. Fisher was nominated for an award for her role.

Fisher finished filming her role as Leia in Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) before she passed away. The director, Rian Johnson, said that many of Fisher's own ideas were used in the film. Fisher also appeared after her death in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019). This was done using old footage from The Force Awakens.

Writing and Advocacy

In 1987, Fisher published her first novel, Postcards from the Edge. This book was partly based on her own life. It became a bestseller and won an award. In 1990, a movie version of Postcards from the Edge was released. Fisher wrote the screenplay for the film.

She also wrote other novels, including Surrender the Pink (1990) and Delusions of Grandma (1993). In 2004, she published The Best Awful There Is, which was a sequel to Postcards.

Fisher wrote and performed her one-woman play Wishful Drinking in Los Angeles in 2006. The show was very popular and played in many cities. In 2008, she published an autobiographical book also called Wishful Drinking, based on her play. Her audiobook recording of Wishful Drinking was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2009.

Her memoir, The Princess Diarist, was released in November 2016. This book was based on diaries she kept while filming the original Star Wars movies. Her audiobook recording of this memoir won a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album in 2018, after her death.

Carrie Fisher was a strong supporter of many causes. She spoke openly about her experiences with bipolar disorder. She also supported women's rights, animal rights, and LGBT causes. She was an honorary board member for the International Bipolar Foundation. In 2014, she received an award for her work with The Midnight Mission.

Personal Life

Carrie Fisher had one child, a daughter named Billie Lourd, who was born in 1992.

In her later years, Fisher had an emotional support animal, a French Bulldog named Gary. She often brought Gary with her to interviews and appearances. After her passing, her daughter Billie Lourd took care of Gary.

Passing and Legacy

Fisher's fan-made star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

On December 23, 2016, Carrie Fisher had a medical emergency on a flight from London to Los Angeles. She was taken to the hospital. On the morning of December 27, 2016, Carrie Fisher passed away at the age of 60. Her daughter, Billie Lourd, shared the sad news.

Fans created their own memorial for Fisher on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. They used a blank star and wrote "Carrie Fisher / May The Force Be With You Always / Hope." In April 2017, Mark Hamill held a special tribute to Fisher at the Star Wars Celebration in Orlando, Florida. The 2017 film Star Wars: The Last Jedi was dedicated to her memory.

In June 2021, it was announced that Carrie Fisher would receive an official star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2022.

Awards and Nominations

Images for kids

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  Carrie Fisher at the Venice International Film Festival in 2013

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  Fisher with her parents and brother in 1958

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  Fisher with Wim Wenders in 1978

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  Fisher at the film premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens in London, UK

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  Fisher with Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford at the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con

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  Fisher's fan-made star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

See also

In Spanish: Carrie Fisher para niños