Carrie Fisher

Who Was Carrie Fisher?

Carrie Fisher, an acclaimed actress and author, rose to international fame for her iconic role as Princess Leia in the Star Wars franchise. Despite facing significant challenges with substance abuse during the 1980s, Fisher experienced a remarkable resurgence in her career in 1987 with the release of her bestselling novel, Postcards from the Edge, which she later adapted into a film starring Meryl Streep. Beyond her portrayal of Leia, Fisher became known for her supporting roles in various films and her prolific writing career. She reprised her beloved character in Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens in 2015. Tragically, Fisher passed away on December 27, 2016, at the age of 60, following a major heart attack.

Early Life and ‘Star Wars’

Born on October 21, 1956, in Burbank, California, Carrie Fisher was the daughter of renowned singer Eddie Fisher and actress Debbie Reynolds. Her parents’ tumultuous relationship made headlines when her father left Reynolds for actress Elizabeth Taylor when Carrie was just two years old. From a young age, Fisher demonstrated a passion for literature and poetry, ultimately following her parents into the entertainment industry. She made her Broadway debut at 15 in Irene, a show starring her mother.

In 1975, Fisher launched her film career with a role in Shampoo, alongside stars Warren Beatty, Julie Christie, and Goldie Hawn. However, her breakthrough came when she was cast as Princess Leia in George Lucas’s groundbreaking film Star Wars (1977), opposite Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford. Her portrayal of the intelligent and witty princess transformed Fisher into a cultural icon, leading to her reprisal of the role in the sequels The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983). In 1980, she appeared in The Blues Brothers, and later returned to Broadway in Censored Scenes from King Kong and Agnes of God.

Fisher’s personal struggles became evident in the early to mid-1980s, as she faced challenges related to alcohol, drug use, and depression while starring in a series of lesser-known films, such as Under the Rainbow (1981) and Hollywood Vice Squad (1986).

Towards the end of the decade, however, Fisher experienced a resurgence in her career, both on and off-screen. In 1987, she published her debut novel, Postcards from the Edge, which drew on her own experiences as the daughter of a show business family. The novel’s success led to its adaptation into a 1990 film directed by Mike Nichols, featuring Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine.

In-Demand Screenwriter and Later Acting Career

In addition to her acting career, Fisher established herself as a talented screenwriter, contributing to notable films including Sister Act (1992), Outbreak (1995), and The Wedding Singer (1998). She also enjoyed a series of memorable supporting roles in films such as Woody Allen’s Hannah and Her Sisters (1986), When Harry Met Sally (1989), and Soap Dish (1991), where she showcased her comedic talent as a casting director.

Fisher hosted her own interview show, Conversations From the Edge With Carrie Fisher (2002-2003), and made various television appearances, voicing the character Angela on Family Guy and guest-starring on series like Sex and the City, The Big Bang Theory, 30 Rock, and Entourage. She also played a recurring role as Rob’s mother on the British sitcom Catastrophe (2015).

Fisher continued to publish books that reflected her unique experiences, including The Best Awful There Is (2004), Wishful Drinking (2009), and Shockaholic (2012).

Her return to the Star Wars franchise saw her reprising the role of Leia in Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, which premiered on December 18, 2015, breaking numerous box office records with a domestic opening weekend gross of over $247 million. Fisher completed filming for The Last Jedi, the eighth episode in the saga, which was released in December 2017.

In November 2016, she published The Princess Diarist, a memoir based on her diaries from the original Star Wars trilogy, in which she revealed a romantic relationship with co-star Harrison Ford during the filming of the first movie. Following her passing, Fisher was posthumously awarded a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album for her reading of this memoir, further cementing her legacy as a multifaceted talent in the entertainment industry.

Death and Legacy

Carrie Fisher, the outspoken author and actress, remained actively engaged in multiple projects until her sudden medical emergency on December 23, 2016. While traveling from London to California, she suffered a massive heart attack mid-flight. Upon landing in Los Angeles, she was promptly administered CPR and rushed to a nearby hospital, where her condition was reported as critical. Fans worldwide expressed their support for Fisher on social media using the hashtag #MayTheForceBeWithHer. Tragically, on December 27, 2016, Fisher passed away at the age of 60. A statement from her family, conveyed through her daughter Billie Lourd, read: “She was loved by the world and she will be missed profoundly. Our entire family thanks you for your thoughts and prayers.”

Debbie Reynolds, Fisher’s mother and a screen legend in her own right, also shared a heartfelt message 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.”

In an unforeseen turn of events, Reynolds passed away the day after her daughter’s death. Reports indicate that Reynolds was arranging Fisher’s funeral with her son, Todd Fisher, when she suffered a possible stroke. Hours before her hospitalization, she expressed her grief, stating, “I miss her so much; I want to be with Carrie.” Todd Fisher remarked, “She’s now with Carrie, and we’re all heartbroken,” shortly after Reynolds’s death.

A private memorial service for Carrie Fisher was held on January 5, 2017, at her Beverly Hills home, a property she shared with her mother. Attendees included family members—daughter Billie, brother Todd, half-sisters Joely and Tricia Leigh Fisher—and friends from the entertainment industry, such as Penny Marshall, Meg Ryan, Richard Dreyfuss, and George Lucas. Eulogies were delivered by notable figures including Meryl Streep and Tracey Ullman, with Streep honoring Fisher by performing “Happy Days Are Here Again,” one of Fisher’s favorite songs.

Following her cremation, Fisher’s ashes were placed in an urn shaped like a Prozac pill, a representation of her lifelong struggles and unique personality. Todd Fisher remarked, “Carrie’s favorite possession was a giant Prozac pill that she bought many years ago. Billie and I felt it was where she’d want to be.” Reynolds was laid to rest the following day at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles, interred with a portion of Fisher’s ashes.

The documentary Bright Lights, which chronicled the relationship between Fisher and Reynolds, premiered shortly after their memorials on January 7, 2017, having debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2016.

In June 2017, a coroner’s report revealed that Fisher had multiple substances in her system at the time of her cardiac arrest, including cocaine, methadone, MDMA, alcohol, and opiates. The report indicated that “sleep apnea and other undetermined factors” contributed to her death. Billie Lourd addressed the findings, highlighting her mother’s struggles with addiction. “My mom battled drug addiction and mental illness her entire life,” Lourd stated. “She ultimately died of it. She was purposefully open in all of her work about the social stigmas surrounding these diseases. I know my Mom would want her death to encourage people to be open about their struggles.”

Personal Life

Carrie Fisher had one daughter, Billie Catherine Lourd, from her relationship with talent agent Bryan Lourd. She was briefly married to singer-songwriter Paul Simon in the 1980s.

Fisher was candid about her diagnosis of bipolar disorder and her struggles with addiction. In 2016, she received the Annual Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award in Cultural Humanism from Harvard College, which recognized her forthright activism and advocacy for mental health and addiction issues. In her acceptance speech, Fisher remarked, “I’ve never been ashamed of my mental illness; it never occurred to me. Many people thank me for talking about it, and mothers can tell their kids when they are upset with the diagnosis that Princess Leia is bipolar too.”