Carrie Fisher Has Passed Away
I've got some truly awful news to share with you today as it is being reported that Carrie Fisher has passed away. I'll be honest, I'm really heartbroken and saddened by this news. As many of you know, Fisher recently had a heart attack, which put her in critical condition. We later got an update from her mother Debbie Reynolds that she was in stable condition. Now there's this. She was only 60 years old. Family spokesman Simon Halls tells People:
“It is with a very deep sadness that Billie Lourd confirms that her beloved mother Carrie Fisher passed away at 8:55 this morning. She was loved by the world and she will be missed profoundly. Our entire family thanks you for your thoughts and prayers.”
For those of you who don't know, Billie Lourd is Fisher's daughter. Fisher was a big part of my life growing up, mostly because of her role as Princess Leia in the Star Wars films. Another favorite of mine was her role opposite Tom Hanks in in the classic 80s film The Burbs. She's been in several other films over the years and was also a successful writer, a career which began with her 1987 best-selling novel Postcards From the Edge. That book told the story of an actress struggling to rebuild her career after an overdose. She adapted it for the screen in 1990. The film, directed by Mike Nichols, starred Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine. She really did have an incredible career that she and her family should be proud of.
One of my favorite memories of Fisher was when I attended her "Date With a Princessa" panel at Star Wars Celebration 2015. It was the first time I ever got to see her in person and listen to her talk about her life and career and interact with an audience. This was the one where she hilariously locked lips with a fan of hers up on stage! The actress was certainly full of life and lived it to its fullest.
Fisher was so much more than just Princess Leia, though. In her life, she was also a wife, mother, daughter, and friend. Fisher is survived by her mother Debbie Reynolds, her brother Todd Fisher, and her half-sisters, actresses Joely Fisher and Tricia Leigh Fisher.
Our hearts and prayers are with Fisher's family at this time.