Tributes flood in for Hollywood icon Debbie Reynolds
● ‘She said I want to be with Carrie. And then she was gone’ says son
Stars have paid tribute to actress Debbie Reynolds, star of the classic musical Singin’ in the Rain, following her death from a suspected stroke at the age of 84. Her daughter, Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher, died two days ago aged 60.
Hollywood star Debbie Reynolds has died of a suspected stroke barely a day after the death of her daughter Carrie Fisher.
The 84-year-old Singin’ In The Rain star died on Wednesday, her son Todd Fisher announced, saying: “She’s now with Carrie and we’re all heartbroken.”
“She said, ‘I want to be with Carrie’,” he added. “And then she was gone.”
Reynolds is said to have suffered a stroke. Emergency services were called at 1pm local time on Wednesday to her son’s Beverly Hills home, where they were making plans for Fisher’s funeral.
Actor and director Mr Fisher, 58, speaking outside Cedarssinai Medical Centre where Reynolds was taken by ambulance, said the stress of his sister’s death on Tuesday at 60 “was too much” for their mother.
Carrie Fisher, who rose to fame for her role playing Princess Leia in Star Wars, died in hospital days after suffering a heart attack on a transatlan- tic flight from London to Los Angeles.
Fisher’s daughter, actress Billie Lourd, 24, was photographed on Wednesday in California with Scream Queens co-star Taylor Lautner just before her grandmother fell ill.
Earlier this year Reynolds was said to be “frail” by her family and had reportedly suffered two previous separate strokes in 2013 and 2015.
Reynolds was just a teenager when she landed a role in the 1950 film Three Little Words, for which she was nominated for a most promising newcomer Golden Globe. She was perhaps most famous for playing Kathy Selden in 1952 musical Singin’ In The Rain alongside Gene Kelly.
Her first of three marriages was to musician Eddie Fisher in 1955 and with him she had Carrie and Todd.
But their relationship ended sourly after news emerged of his affair with film star Elizabeth Taylor.
Reynolds continued to have a loving relationship with her ex-husband’s children, including Joely Fisher, 49, who tweeted: “Some of the magic people have left the tribe ... for the moment I am inconsolable ... “
Reynolds had paid an emotional tribute to her daughter on Facebook.
She wrote: “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. Love Carrie’s Mother.”
The actresses had a tumultuous relationship, particularly during Fisher’s early forays into show business as she battled drug and alcohol addiction. Their bond grew stronger in later years.