Carrie Fisher obit

Carrie Fisher, Child of Hollywood and ‘Star Wars’ Royalty, Dies at 60

She was not on the list.

Carrie Fisher, the actress, author and screenwriter who brought a rare combination of nerve, grit and hopefulness to her most indelible role, as Princess Leia in the “Star Wars” movie franchise, died on Tuesday morning. She was 60.

A family spokesman, Simon Halls, said Ms. Fisher died at 8:55 a.m. She had a heart attack on a flight from London to Los Angeles on Friday and had been hospitalized in Los Angeles.

After her “Star Wars” success, Ms. Fisher, the daughter of the pop singer Eddie Fisher and the actress Debbie Reynolds, went on to use her perch among Hollywood royalty to offer wry commentary in her books on the paradoxes and absurdities of the entertainment industry.

“Star Wars,” released in 1977, turned her overnight into an international movie star. The film, written and directed by George Lucas, traveled around the world, breaking box-office records. It proved to be the first installment of a blockbuster series whose vivid, even preposterous characters — living “a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away,” as the opening sequence announced — became pop culture legends and the progenitors of a merchandising bonanza.

Ms. Fisher established Princess Leia as a damsel who could very much deal with her own distress, whether facing down the villainy of the dreaded Darth Vader or the romantic interests of the roguish smuggler Han Solo.

Celebrities and fans paid tribute to the actress Carrie Fisher, who died on Tuesday at the age of 60. Her death came days after a heart attack on a flight from London to Los Angeles. By MEGAN SPECIA on

Wielding blaster pistols, piloting futuristic vehicles and, to her occasional chagrin, wearing strange hairdos and a revealing metal bikini, she reprised the role in three more films — “The Empire Strikes Back” in 1980, “Return of the Jedi” in 1983 and, 32 years later, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” by which time Leia had become a hard-bitten general.

Lucasfilm said on Tuesday that Ms. Fisher had completed her work in an as-yet-untitled eighth episode of the main “Star Wars” saga, which is scheduled to be released in December 2017.

Winning the admiration of countless fans, Ms. Fisher never played Leia as helpless. She had the toughness to escape the clutches of the monstrous gangster Jabba the Hutt and the tenderness to tell Han Solo, as he is about to be frozen in carbonite, “I love you.” (Solo, played by Harrison Ford, caddishly replies, “I know.”)

Offscreen, Ms. Fisher was open about her diagnosis of bipolar disorder. She gave her dueling dispositions the nicknames Roy (“the wild ride of a mood,” she said) and Pam (“who stands on the shore and sobs”). She channeled her struggles with depression and substance abuse into fiercely comic works, including the semiautobiographical novel “Postcards From the Edge” and the one-woman show “Wishful Drinking,” which she turned into a memoir.

For all the attention she received for playing Princess Leia, Ms. Fisher enjoyed poking wicked fun at the character, as well as at the fantastical “Star Wars” universe. “Who wears that much lip gloss into battle?” she asked in a recent memoir, “The Princess Diarist.”

Having seen fame’s light and dark sides, Ms. Fisher did not take it too seriously, or consider it an enduring commodity.

As she wrote in “The Princess Diarist”:

“Perpetual celebrity — the kind where any mention of you will interest a significant percentage of the public until the day you die, even if that day comes decades after your last real contribution to the culture — is exceedingly rare, reserved for the likes of Muhammad Ali.”

Carrie Frances Fisher was born on Oct. 21, 1956, in Beverly Hills, Calif. She was the first child of her highly visible parents (they later had a son, Todd), and said in “Wishful Drinking” that, while her mother was under anesthetic delivering her, her father fainted.

“So when I arrived,” Ms. Fisher wrote, “I was virtually unattended! And I have been trying to make up for that fact ever since.”

In 1959, Ms. Reynolds divorced Eddie Fisher in the wake of his affair with Elizabeth Taylor, whom he married that same year. (Ms. Taylor later left him to marry Richard Burton.)

Any semblance of a normal childhood was impossible for Ms. Fisher. At 15, she played a debutante in the Broadway musical “Irene,” which starred her mother, and appeared in Ms. Reynolds’s Las Vegas nightclub act. At 17, Ms. Fisher made her first movie, “Shampoo” (1975), Hal Ashby’s satire of Nixon-era politics and the libidinous Los Angeles culture of the time, in which she played the precocious daughter of a wealthy woman (Lee Grant) having an affair with a promiscuous hairdresser (Warren Beatty).

She was one of roughly two dozen young actresses considered for the role of Princess Leia in Mr. Lucas’s marathon casting sessions for “Star Wars.” (Cindy Williams, Amy Irving, Sissy Spacek and Jodie Foster were among those who also read for the part.)

Manohla Dargis, a film critic for The New York Times, remembers Carrie Fisher, whose career was defined — for better or for worse — by her role as Princess Leia in the “Star Wars” films. Publish Date December 27, 2016. Photo by Sara Krulwich/The New York Times. Watch in Times Video »

Many of Ms. Fisher’s line readings from that film have since become part of the cinematic canon: her repeated, almost hypnotic exhortation, “Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi, you’re my only hope”; her wryly unimpressed reaction when Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) arrives in disguise to rescue her from a detention cell: “Aren’t you a little short for a stormtrooper?”

“Star Wars” became a financial and cultural phenomenon, launching more movies and a merchandising machine that splashed Ms. Fisher’s likeness on all manner of action figures and products while casting her into an uneasy limelight.

She partied with the Rolling Stones during the making of “The Empire Strikes Back,” hosted “Saturday Night Live” and had romantic relationships with Dan Aykroyd (with whom she appeared in “The Blues Brothers”) and Paul Simon. She and Mr. Simon had a marriage that lasted less than a year, and he was inspired to write his song “Hearts and Bones” about their time together.

As its lyrics go:

Two people were married

The act was outrageous

The bride was contagious

She burned like a bride.

These events may have had some effect

On the man with the girl by his side.

In “The Princess Diarist,” she admitted what many fans had long suspected: During the filming of the first “Star Wars” movie, she and Harrison Ford (who was married at the time) had an affair.

Ms. Fisher acknowledged taking drugs like LSD and Percodan throughout the 1970s and ’80s and later said that she was using cocaine while making “The Empire Strikes Back.”

In 1985, after filming a role in Woody Allen’s “Hannah and Her Sisters,” she had a nearly fatal drug overdose. She had her stomach pumped and checked herself into a 30-day rehab program in Los Angeles. Those experiences later became grist for her caustic, comic novel “Postcards From the Edge,” whose chapters are variously presented as letters, diary entries, monologues and third-person narratives.

Ms. Fisher discussed her life and career, including the legendary Star Wars Holiday Special, with The Times's David Carr as part of the Times Talks series. By THE NEW YORK TIMES on Publish Date January 12, 2010. Photo by Chris Pizzello/Associated Press. Watch in Times Video »

As the main character, Suzanne, writes of her rehab stay: “Mom brought me some peanut butter cookies and a biography of Judy Garland. She told me she thought my problem was that I was too impatient, my fuse was too short, that I was only interested in instant gratification. I said, ‘Instant gratification takes too long.’”

The book was later made into a movie, directed by Mike Nichols from a script by Ms. Fisher. Released in 1990, it starred Meryl Streep as Suzanne and Shirley MacLaine as her movie-star mother.

On film, Ms. Fisher also played the scene-stealing best friend of Meg Ryan’s title character in the 1989 romantic comedy “When Harry Met Sally…” On television, she played satirical versions of herself on shows like “Sex and the City” and “The Big Bang Theory.” She had a recurring role on the British comedy “Catastrophe” (seen here on Amazon) as the mother of the character played by Rob Delaney, one of the show’s creators.

Her survivors include her mother; her brother, Todd; her daughter, Billie Lourd, from a relationship with the talent agent Bryan Lourd; and her half sisters, Joely Fisher and Tricia Leigh Fisher, the daughters of Eddie Fisher and Connie Stevens.

Ms. Fisher had a Dorothy Parker-like presence on Twitter, where she ruminated on the inexplicable mania surrounding “Star Wars” and on her French bulldog, Gary, in playful messages filled with emoji.

Last year, after the release of “The Force Awakens,” she wrote, in part: “Please stop debating about whether OR not  aged well. unfortunately it hurts all 3 of my feelings. My BODY hasn’t aged as well as I have.”

Her filmography:

Film

Year       Title       Role      

1975      Shampoo             Lorna Karpf                        

1977      Star Wars             Princess Leia Organa                      

1980      The Empire Strikes Back                               

The Blues Brothers          Mystery Woman                              

1981      Under the Rainbow         Annie Clark                        

1983      Return of the Jedi             Princess Leia Organa                      

1984      Garbo Talks         Lisa Rolfe                            

1985-1989          Alida      Alice                     

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                           

Postcards from the Edge               N/A        Screenwriter, based on her novel             

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 cameo          

2000      Scream 3              Bianca   Cameo

Lisa Picard Is Famous      Herself Cameo

2001      Heartbreakers   Ms. Surpin                          

Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back     Nun        Cameo

2002      A Midsummer Night's Rave          Mia's Mom         Cameo

2003      Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle      Mother Superior               Cameo

Wonderland       Sally Hansen                      

2004      Stateside             Mrs. Dubois                       

2005      Undiscovered    Carrie                   

2006      The Wubbulous LIVE       Alexis La Sound                

2007      Suffering Man's Charity Reporter              Cameo

Cougar Club        Glady Goodbey                

2008      The Women       Bailey Smith                      

2009      White Lightnin' Cilla                       

Fanboys               Doctor Cameo

Sorority Row      Mrs. Crenshaw                 

2010      Wishful Drinking               Herself Documentary    

2014      Maps to the Stars             Herself Cameo

2015      Star Wars: The Force Awakens   General Leia Organa                      

2016      Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds                Herself Documentary    

2017      Star Wars: The Last Jedi                 General Leia Organa       Posthumous release      

2019      Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker               Post-production; archive footage; posthumous release  

Wonderwell       Hazel     Post-production; posthumous release   

Television

Year       Title       Role      

1969      Debbie Reynolds and the Sound of Children         Girl Scout             TV Movie            

1977      Come Back, Little Sheba                Marie    TV Movie            

1978      Ringo     Marquine            TV Movie            

1978      Leave Yesterday Behind                Marnie Clarkson               TV Movie            

1978      Saturday Night Live         Herself / Host    Episode: "Carrie Fisher/The Blues Brothers"        

1978      Star Wars Holiday Special             Princess Leia Organa       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"    

1985      A Girl Named Alida          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      Alida's Problem                 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"               

1999      It's Like, You Know...       Carrie Fisher       Episode: "Arthur 2: On The Rocks"           

2000      Sex and the City                Herself Episode: "Sex and Another City"               

2000      The Outer Limits               Serena Episode: "Revival"

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  

2006      Friendly Fire       Chanteuse          Television film  

2005–2017          Family Guy          Angela (voice)    25 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) 11 episodes       

2007      Side Order of Life             Dr. Gilbert           Episode: "Funeral for a Phone"  

2007      30 Rock                Rosemary Howard           Episode: "Rosemary's Baby"       

2008      Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II         Princess Leia Organa / Additional voices                 Television special                

2008      Bring Back ... Star Wars Herself Documentary    

2010      Wright vs. Wrong             Joan Harrington                Pilot      

2010      Entourage           Anna Fowler       Episode: "Tequila and Coke"       

2012      Comedy Central Roast of Roseanne          Herself (roaster)               Television special            

2012      It's Christmas, Carol!       Eve         Television film  

2014      The Big Bang Theory       Herself Episode: "The Convention Conundrum"

2014      QI           Herself Series L Christmas Special "No-L"              

2014      Legit      Angela McKinnon             Episode: "Licked"            

2014–2016          Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce       Cat         2 episodes         

2015–2017          Catastrophe       Mia Norris           5 episodes