Carrie Fisher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carrie Fisher
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Fisher in 2013
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Born |
Carrie Frances Fisher
October 21, 1956 Burbank, California, U.S.
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Died | December 27, 2016 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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(aged 60)
Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills, U.S. |
Occupation | Actress, writer, humorist |
Years active | 1969–2016 |
Spouse(s) | |
Partner(s) | Bryan Lourd (1991–1994) |
Children | Billie Lourd |
Parent(s) | |
Relatives |
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Carrie Frances Fisher (October 21, 1956 – December 27, 2016) was an American actress, writer and humorist who was best known for playing Princess Leia in the Star Wars film series. Her other film roles included Shampoo (1975), The Blues Brothers (1980), Hannah and Her Sisters (1986), The 'Burbs (1989), and When Harry Met Sally... (1989).
Fisher wrote several semi-autobiographical novels, including Postcards from the Edge and the screenplay for the film of the book, as well as an autobiographical one-woman play, and its non-fiction book, Wishful Drinking, based on the play. She worked on other writers' screenplays as a script doctor. In later years, she earned praise for speaking publicly about her experiences with bipolar disorder and drug addiction.
Fisher was the daughter of singer Eddie Fisher and actress Debbie Reynolds. Her mother and she appear in Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, a documentary about their relationship. It premiered at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival. Fisher died of a sudden cardiac arrest on December 27, 2016, at age 60, four days after experiencing a medical emergency during a transatlantic flight from London to Los Angeles. One of her final films, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, was released on December 15, 2017 and is dedicated to her. Fisher will appear in Star Wars: Episode IX through the use of unreleased footage from The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi.
Contents
Early life
Carrie Frances Fisher was born on October 21, 1956, in Burbank, California, to actors and singers Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds.
Fisher was two years old when her parents divorced in 1959. Her father's third marriage, to actress Connie Stevens, resulted in the births of Fisher's two half-sisters, Joely Fisher and Tricia Leigh Fisher. In 1960, her mother married Harry Karl, owner of a chain of shoe stores. Reynolds and Karl divorced in 1973, when Fisher was 17 years old.
Fisher "hid in books" as a child, becoming known in her family as "the bookworm". She spent her earliest years reading classic literature, and writing poetry. She attended Beverly Hills High School until age 15, when she appeared as a debutante and singer in the hit Broadway revival Irene (1973), starring her mother. Her time on Broadway interfered with her education, resulting in Fisher's dropping out of high school. In 1973, Fisher enrolled at London's Central School of Speech and Drama, which she attended for 18 months. Following her time there, Fisher applied to and was accepted at Sarah Lawrence College, where she planned to study the arts. She later left without graduating.
Death
After finishing the European leg of her book tour, Fisher was on a December 23, 2016 commercial flight from London to Los Angeles when she suffered a medical emergency around fifteen minutes before the aircraft landed. A passenger seated near Fisher reported that she had stopped breathing; another passenger performed CPR on Fisher until paramedics arrived at the scene. Emergency services in Los Angeles were contacted when the flight crew reported a passenger in distress prior to landing. Fisher was taken by ambulance to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, where she was placed on a ventilator.
Following four days in intensive care at UCLA Medical Center, Fisher died on December 27, 2016, at 8:55 a.m. (PST); she was 60 years old. Fisher's daughter, Billie Lourd, confirmed her mother's death in a statement to the press. Many of her costars and directors from Star Wars and other works also shared their thoughts on her death.
On January 9, 2017, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued a death certificate that stated "cardiac arrest/deferred" as the cause of death. More tests were expected. In a June 16, 2017 news release, the Los Angeles County coroner's office said that the exact cause of death could not be determined, but sleep apnea was among the contributing factors.
The day after Fisher's death, her mother Debbie Reynolds suffered a stroke at the home of son Todd, where the family was planning Fisher's burial arrangements. She was taken to hospital, where she died later that afternoon. According to Todd Fisher, Reynolds had said, "I really want to be with Carrie" immediately prior to suffering the stroke. On January 5, 2017, a joint private memorial was held for Fisher and Reynolds. A portion of Fisher's ashes were laid to rest beside Reynolds in a crypt at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills. The remainder of her ashes are held in a giant, novelty pill.
In the video game Star Wars: The Old Republic, thousands of fans paid tribute to Fisher by gathering at House Organa on the planet Alderaan where Fisher's character in Star Wars resided. Lightsaber vigils and similar events in Fisher's honor were held at various Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas theaters and other sites. On January 6, 2017, the lights on Broadway in Manhattan were darkened for one minute in honor of Fisher and her mother. Fisher and Reynolds were also both featured in the 89th Academy Awards In Memoriam segment. On March 25, 2017, a public memorial for mother and daughter was held at the Hall of Liberty theater in Forest Lawn Memorial Park. The event was streamed live on Reynolds' website. On April 14, a special tribute to Fisher was held by Mark Hamill during the Star Wars Celebration in Orlando.
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Refs |
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1975 | Shampoo | Lorna Karpf | ||
1977 | Star Wars | Princess Leia Organa | ||
1980 | The Empire Strikes Back | Princess Leia Organa | ||
The Blues Brothers | Mystery Woman | |||
1981 | Under the Rainbow | Annie Clark | ||
1983 | Return of the Jedi | Princess Leia Organa | ||
1984 | Garbo Talks | Lisa Rolfe | ||
1985 | The Man with One Red Shoe | Paula | ||
1986 | Hannah and Her Sisters | April | ||
Hollywood Vice Squad | Betty Melton | |||
1987 | Amazon Women on the Moon | Mary Brown | Segment: "Reckless Youth" | |
The Time Guardian | Petra | |||
1988 | Appointment with Death | Nadine Boynton | ||
1989 | The 'Burbs | Carol Peterson | ||
Loverboy | Monica Delancy | |||
She's Back | Beatrice | |||
When Harry Met Sally... | Marie | |||
1990 | Sweet Revenge | Linda | ||
Sibling Rivalry | Iris Turner-Hunter | |||
1991 | Drop Dead Fred | Janie | ||
Soapdish | Betsy Faye Sharon | |||
Hook | Woman kissing on bridge | Uncredited | ||
1992 | This Is My Life | Claudia Curtis | ||
1997 | Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery | Therapist | Uncredited | |
1998 | The Emperor's New Clothes: An All-Star Illustrated Retelling of the Classic Fairy Tale | The Imperial Lady-in-Waiting #1 | Voice | |
2000 | Scream 3 | Bianca | ||
Lisa Picard Is Famous | Herself | |||
2001 | Heartbreakers | Ms. Surpin | ||
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back | Nun | |||
2002 | A Midsummer Night's Rave | Mia's Mom | ||
2003 | Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle | Mother Superior | ||
Wonderland | Sally Hansen | |||
2004 | Stateside | Mrs. Dubois | ||
2005 | Undiscovered | Carrie | ||
2007 | Suffering Man's Charity | Reporter | Cameo role | |
Cougar Club | Glady Goodbey | |||
2008 | The Women | Bailey Smith | ||
2009 | White Lightnin' | Cilla | ||
Fanboys | Doctor | |||
Sorority Row | Mrs. Crenshaw | |||
2010 | Wishful Drinking | Herself | Documentary | |
2014 | Maps to the Stars | Herself | ||
2015 | Star Wars: The Force Awakens | General Leia Organa | ||
2016 | Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds | Herself | Documentary | |
Rogue One | Princess Leia Organa | Archival audio and likeness | ||
2017 | Star Wars: The Last Jedi | General Leia Organa | Post-production; Posthumous release | |
Wonderwell | Hazel | Post-production; Posthumous release |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Refs |
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1969 | Debbie Reynolds and the Sound of Children | Girl Scout | Television film | |
1977 | Come Back, Little Sheba | Marie | Television film | |
1978 | Ringo | Marquine | Television film | |
1978 | Leave Yesterday Behind | Marnie Clarkson | Television film | |
1978 | Saturday Night Live | Herself (host) | Episode: "Carrie Fisher/The Blues Brothers" | |
1978 | Star Wars Holiday Special | Princess Leia Organa | Television special | |
1982 | Laverne & Shirley | Cathy | Episode: "The Playboy Show" | |
1984 | Faerie Tale Theatre | Thumbelina | Episode: "Thumbelina" | |
1984 | Frankenstein | Elizabeth | Television film | |
1985 | From Here to Maternity | Veronica | Television short | |
1985 | George Burns Comedy Week | Mitzi | Episode: "The Couch"; pilot for the series Leo & Liz in Beverly Hills | |
1985 | Happily Ever After | Alice Conway (voice) | Television film | |
1986 | Liberty | Emma Lazarus | Television film | |
1986 | Sunday Drive | Franny Jessup | Television film | |
1987 | Amazing Stories | Laurie McNamara | Episode: "Gershwin's Trunk" | |
1989 | Two Daddies | Alice Conway (voice) | Television film | |
1989 | Trying Times | Enid | Episode: "Hunger Chic" | |
1993 | The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles | N/A | Co-wrote episode: "Paris, October 1916" | |
1995 | Present Tense, Past Perfect | Television short | ||
1995 | Frasier | Phyllis (voice) | Episode: "She's the Boss" | |
1995 | Ellen | Herself | Episode: "The Movie Show" | |
1997 | Gun | Nancy | Episode: "The Hole" | |
1997 | Roseanne | N/A | Wrote episode: "Arsenic and Old Mom" | |
1998 | Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist | Roz Katz (voice) | Episode: "Thanksgiving" | |
2000 | Sex and the City | Herself | Episode: "Sex and Another City" | |
2001 | These Old Broads | Hooker | Television film; also writer and co-executive producer | |
2002 | A Nero Wolfe Mystery | Ellen Tenzer | Episode: "Motherhunt" | |
2003 | Good Morning, Miami | Judy Silver | Episode: "A Kiss Before Lying" | |
2004 | Jack & Bobby | Madison Skutcher | Episode: "The First Lady" | |
2005 | Smallville | Pauline Kahn | Episode: "Thirst" | |
2005 | Romancing the Bride | Edwina | Television film | |
2005–2017 | Family Guy | Angela (voice) | 23 episodes | |
2007 | Odd Job Jack | Dr. Finch | Episode: "The Beauty Beast" | |
2007 | Weeds | Celia's attorney | Episode: "The Brick Dance" | |
2007 | On the Lot | Herself | Judge | |
2007 | Side Order of Life | Dr. Gilbert | Episode: "Funeral for a Phone" | |
2007 | 30 Rock | Rosemary Howard | Episode: "Rosemary's Baby" Nomination—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series (2008) |
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2008 | Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II | Princess Leia Organa / Additional voices | Television special | |
2008 | Bring Back ... Star Wars | Herself | Television documentary | |
2009 | Celebrity Ghost Stories | Herself | ||
2010 | Wright vs. Wrong | Joan Harrington | Television film | |
2010 | Entourage | Anna Fowler | Episode: "Tequila and Coke" | |
2012 | Comedy Central Roast of Roseanne | Herself (roaster) | Comedy special | |
2012 | It's Christmas, Carol! | Eve | Television film | |
2014 | The Big Bang Theory | Herself | Episode: "The Convention Conundrum" | |
2014 | Legit | Angela McKinnon | Episode: "Licked" | |
2014–2016 | Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce | Cat | 2 episodes | |
2015–2017 | Catastrophe | Mia Norris | 5 episodes Pending—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series (2017) |
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2016 | 8 Out of 10 Cats | Herself | Episode 20x07 |
Images for kids
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Fisher with Wim Wenders at a private party after the premiere of the movie F.I.S.T. in 1978
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Fisher at the film premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens at Leicester Square, London, UK
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Fisher with Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford at the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con promoting Star Wars: The Force Awakens
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Fisher's fan-made star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
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