Carrie Fisher was an American actress and writer born on 21 October, 1956 and died on 27 December, 2016. She was best known for her role as Princess Leia in the original Star Wars movies from the late 1970s to early 1980s. She also appeared in later Star Wars films through clever use of earlier footage. Besides Star Wars Fisher starred in films like Shampoo The Blues Brothers and When Harry Met Sally…
In addition to acting Fisher wrote several books based on her own life such as Postcards from the Edge and Wishful Drinking. She even adapted Postcards from the Edge into a screenplay. Fisher also worked behind the scenes as a script doctor on movies like Hook and Sister Act.
Born into a showbiz family Fisher was the daughter of singer Eddie Fisher and actress Debbie Reynolds. Her close relationship with her mother was the subject of the documentary Bright Lights.
Fisher was also known for openly discussing her struggles with bipolar disorder and drug addiction. She passed away suddenly from cardiac arrest in 2016 at the age of 60 shortly after a medical emergency on a flight.
Since her death, Carrie Fisher has been honored with various awards including becoming a Disney Legend and receiving a posthumous Grammy Award. In 2023, she was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
| Full Name | Carrie Fisher |
| Date of Birth | October 21, 1956 |
| Died | December 27, 2016 |
| Place of Birth | Beverly Hills, California, USA |
| Occupation | Actress, writer |
| Height | 5’1″ (155 cm) |
| Spouse | Paul Simon (m. 1983–1984) |
| Children | Billie Lourd (daughter) |
| Net Worth | $25 million |
Carrie Fisher Early Life and Education
Carrie Frances Fisher was born on October 21, 1956, at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank California. Her mother Debbie Reynolds was an actress and her father Eddie Fisher was a singer. Eddie Fisher’s parents came to the United States from Russia while Debbie Reynolds originally of English descent was raised in the Nazarene faith.
When Carrie Fisher was two years old her parents divorced. Her father later married actress Connie Stevens and Carrie gained two half-sisters Joely Fisher and Tricia Leigh Fisher. Her mother married Harry Karl who owned a chain of shoe stores in 1960. They divorced in 1973 when Carrie was 17 years old.
As a child, Carrie immersed herself in books and was nicknamed “the bookworm” by her family. She loved reading classic literature and writing poetry. She attended Beverly Hills High School until she was 16 when she made her Broadway debut in Irene (1973) alongside her mother. This experience cut her high school education short and she eventually left school.
In 1973, Carrie Fisher moved to London to study at the Central School of Speech and Drama for about a year and a half. Afterward, she was admitted to Sarah Lawrence College with plans to study the arts but she left without completing her degree.
Career
Carrie Fisher began her acting career in 1975 starring as Lorna Karpf in the movie “Shampoo.” She was only 17 at the time. In 1977, she gained worldwide fame as Princess Leia in “Star Wars.” Her role in the franchise made her a household name alongside actors like Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford.
During her career, Fisher appeared in various films and TV shows. In 1978, she played a love interest in Ringo Starr’s TV special and starred in other TV films like “Leave Yesterday Behind.” She also performed in a TV adaptation of the play “Come Back Little Sheba.”
Fisher’s career continued to flourish throughout the 1980s and 1990s. She reprised her role as Princess Leia in “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi.” She wrote her first novel “Postcards from the Edge” which became a bestseller and earned her critical acclaim.
Aside from acting Fisher was also known for her writing skills. She adapted “Postcards from the Edge” into a movie starring Meryl Streep. Fisher was a talented script doctor in Hollywood contributing to many films over the years. She even voiced a character on the TV show “Family Guy” and wrote several books.
In the 2000s, Carrie Fisher continued acting and writing. She performed in films like “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” and “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle.” Her one-woman play “Wishful Drinking” was a success and later became a book.
Throughout her life, Fisher was celebrated not only for her acting but also for her wit and writing prowess. She left a lasting legacy in Hollywood and beyond.
In 2010, HBO showed a long documentary about Carrie Fisher’s stage show “Wishful Drinking”. When she passed away she was getting ready to make a sequel to that one-woman play.
In the summer of 2010, Carrie Fisher was on the seventh season of Entourage. She also took part in the Comedy Central Roast of Roseanne in August 2012 where she joked about her mental health struggles and teased other comedians for relying on weight and menopause jokes.
Carrie Fisher was a jury member at the 2013 Venice Film Festival and appeared on the UK comedy panel show QI on Christmas Day 2014. Fisher starred in the British comedy series Catastrophe starting in January 2015 and her final appearance on the show in April 2017 earned her a posthumous Emmy nomination.
In March 2013, Fisher confirmed she would reprise her role as Princess Leia in the new Star Wars trilogy. She joked Leia would be in an “intergalactic old folks’ home” but clarified later it was just a joke.
She confirmed her involvement in the Star Wars sequels in January 2014 planning to bring back Leia with her iconic hairstyle but with white hair this time.
Carrie Fisher moved to London for six months in 2014 for filming Star Wars Episode VII. The film was released in 2015 and Fisher was nominated for a Saturn Award for her role.
In Rogue One (2016) a young version of Leia appeared through computer animation. Fisher completed her role as Leia in Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) before her death contributing some of Leia’s lines herself.
Her memoir “The Princess Diarist” came out in November 2016 based on diaries she wrote while filming the original Star Wars trilogy. The audiobook won a Grammy in 2018.
Fisher and her mother starred in Bright Lights a documentary about their close relationship which premiered at Cannes in 2016.
She was in the film “Wonderwell” in mid-2016 and appeared in Urban Myths in 2017 though that episode was never broadcast due to objections from the Jackson family.
Net Worth
Carrie Fisher had an estimated net worth of $25 Million at the time of her death, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Personal life
In her 2016, book “The Princess Diarist” Carrie Fisher mentioned that she had a romantic relationship with Harrison Ford while they were filming Star Wars in 1976.
During the filming of Star Wars Fisher also met musician Paul Simon and they were a couple from 1977 until 1983.
In 1980, Fisher briefly got engaged to Dan Aykroyd who proposed on the set of their movie The Blues Brothers. However, she reconciled with Paul Simon ending their engagement.
Carrie Fisher and Paul Simon married in August 1983 but divorced by July 1984. They continued to have an on-and-off relationship afterward. Fisher appeared in Simon’s music video and inspired some of his songs.
After her marriage to Simon ended Fisher was in a relationship with Bryan Lourd with whom she had a daughter named Billie Lourd in 1992. Their relationship ended when Lourd left her for another man. Despite referring to Lourd as her second husband in interviews they were never legally married.
Fisher was close to singer-songwriter James Blunt and supported him emotionally during the making of his album in 2003 though their relationship was not romantic.
In 2005, a lobbyist named R. Gregory Stevens was found dead in Fisher’s home due to drug use and heart disease complications.
Later in life, Fisher had a French Bulldog named Gary as her emotional support animal which she brought to many public events.
Fisher described herself as an “enthusiastic agnostic” and was raised Protestant but often attended Jewish services.
Harvard College recognized Fisher in 2016 for her advocacy work on issues like addiction mental illness and agnosticism.
Throughout her life, Fisher supported causes such as women’s rights animal welfare, and LGBT rights. She was also vocal about her struggles with bipolar disorder addiction to drugs and her use of electroconvulsive therapy.
Fisher’s openness about her personal challenges and advocacy work made her a respected figure in public discourse.
Death
After finishing her book tour in Europe Carrie Fisher flew from London to Los Angeles on December 23, 2016. During the flight, she experienced a medical emergency and stopped breathing just before landing. Passengers on board tried to help her and paramedics met the plane upon arrival. She was rushed to UCLA Medical Center and put on a ventilator. Despite intensive care, she passed away on December 27, 2016, at the age of 60.
Her daughter Billie Lourd confirmed her death and many of her Star Wars co-stars and directors mourned her loss. The exact cause of death was initially unclear but it was later linked to cardiac arrest and other health factors. Toxicology reports found drugs in her system though it couldn’t be determined if they contributed to her death. Fisher had been candid about her struggles with addiction and mental illness throughout her life.
Following her death tributes poured in from fans and the entertainment industry. A day after Fisher passed away her mother Debbie Reynolds also tragically died. A joint memorial was held for both mother and daughter and Fisher’s ashes were placed in a unique urn shaped like a Prozac pill.
Fans created makeshift memorials and Carrie Fisher was later honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2023. Her legacy continues to be celebrated including through tributes in music and at events like the Star Wars Celebration.
James Blunt a friend of Fisher’s released a song titled “Dark Thought” in October 2023 that reflects on her passing.
