It is said you can die of a broken heart and such may have been the case of singer-actress Debbie Reynolds who died today (Dec. 28) at 84, just one day after the death of her daughter Carrie Fisher. Fisher, 60, best known for her recurring role in the Star Wars movies died on Dec. 27 of cardiac arrest, just days after her in-flight medical emergency on Dec. 23 on a United Airlines flight from London to Los Angeles.
Now Reynolds, who first came to prominence as a 19-year-old in the 1952 motion picture Singin’ in the Rain, has passed after suffering a stroke earlier today at her son Todd Fisher’s Beverly Hills home. She was taken to Cedar-Sinai Hospital where she died.
“She wanted to be with Carrie,” her son Todd Fisher told Variety.
Just yesterday (Dec. 27), Reynolds wrote 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. Love Carries Mother”
Besides Singin’ in the Rain, Reynolds was known for her roles in The Unsinkable Molly Brown, How the West Was Won and Tammy. Reynolds’ song for the latter was a huge #1 hit and was 1957’s biggest single by a female vocalist.
In 2014 she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Screen Actors Guild.
Watch Reynolds sing “Good Morning” with Singin’ in the Rain co-stars Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor…
Shortly after the news broke, many of Reynolds’ friends shared their grief on social media.
Debbie Reynolds was pure class. She was loving, talented, beautiful, unsinkable. I feel sorry for anyone who never got a chance to meet her. pic.twitter.com/XrIDFuLfYU
— Larry King (@kingsthings) December 29, 2016
Debbie Reynolds, a legend and my movie mom. I can’t believe this happened one day after Carrie. My heart goes out to Billie.
— Albert Brooks (@AlbertBrooks) December 29, 2016
Debbie Reynolds was one of the last of Hollywood Royalty. It breaks my heart that she is gone. I’d hoped that my grieving was done for 2016.
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) December 29, 2016
