'Star Wars' actor Carrie Fisher dies at 60
- By Reuters -
- Dec 27, 2016
LONDON: Carrie Fisher, who rose to fame as Princess Leia in the “Star Wars” films and later endured drug addiction and stormy romances with show business heavyweights, died on Tuesday, People magazine reported, citing the family’s publicist.
“It is with a very deep sadness that Billie Lourd confirms that her beloved mother Carrie Fisher passed away at 8:55 this morning,” the statement from family spokesman Simon Halls read. Fisher was 60 years old.
Fisher, who had been in England shooting the third season of the British sitcom “Catastrophe,” suffered a heart attack during a flight on Friday from London to Los Angeles. She was met by paramedics and rushed to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.
Her death came a month after the actress and author made headlines by disclosing that she had a three-month love affair with her “Star Wars” co-star Harrison Ford 40 years ago.
Fisher revealed the secret to People magazine while promoting her new memoir, “The Princess Diarist,” just before it went on sale. The book is based on Fisher’s diaries from her time working on the first “Star Wars” movie.
Fisher said the affair started and ended in 1976 during production on the blockbuster sci-fi adventure in which she first appeared as the intrepid Princess Leia. Ford played the maverick space pilot Han Solo.
Read More: Carrie Fisher ‘stable’ after cardiac incident, says mother
“It was so intense,” Fisher told People. “It was Han and Leia during the week, and Carrie and Harrison during the weekend.” She was 19 and Ford was 33 at the time of the affair.
“How could you ask such a shining specimen of a man to be satisfied with the likes of me? I was so inexperienced, but I trusted something about him. He was kind,” she wrote of Ford in the memoir, the latest of several books Fisher authored over the years.
Fisher reprised the role in two “Star Wars” sequels. She gained sex symbol status in 1983’s “Return of the Jedi” when her Leia character wore a metallic gold bikini while enslaved by the diabolical Jabba the Hutt.
She returned last year in Disney’s reboot of the “Star Wars” franchise, “The Force Awakens,” appearing as the more matronly General Leia Organa, leader of the Resistance movement fighting the evil First Order.
We’ll never forget you, Carrie. May the Force be with you always.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) December 27, 2016
I’m deeply saddened to learn of the death of Carrie Fisher. I will miss our banterings. A wonderful talent & light has been extinguished.
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) December 27, 2016
Carrie Fisher was smart, funny, talented, surprising, and always a hell of a fun time to be around. Family Guy will miss her immensely.
— Seth MacFarlane (@SethMacFarlane) December 27, 2016
What a woman #CarrieFisher pic.twitter.com/lt4w6AFwp0
— Mayim Bialik (@missmayim) December 27, 2016
Sadness and thoughts for icons of my time. RIP #CarrieFisher #georgemichael
— Ralph Macchio (@ralphmacchio) December 27, 2016
I’m gutted. #CarrieFisher was embarking on a new phase of being a kickass, funny, feisty, older woman with stories to tell. I hate this year
— Greg Jenner (@greg_jenner) December 27, 2016
Rip #CarrieFisher ..
Leave us alone #2016 enough… :((— Gilles Marini (@GillesMarini) December 27, 2016
May the Force be with you, Carrie Fisher #CarrieFisher #StarWars #MaytheForcebeWithHer pic.twitter.com/4FcvkPAhxA
— National Days (@NationalDays) December 27, 2016
‘Did it take a lot of convincing to come back to Star Wars?’
‘No – I’m a female in Hollywood over the age of 40….’#CarrieFisher https://t.co/SoTe6L7cor— Susanna Reid (@susannareid100) December 27, 2016
As a girl, #PrincessLeia taught me to be brave.
As a woman, #CarrieFisher taught me to never give up.
Thank you for everything, Carrie.❤ pic.twitter.com/DIHDkggWzB
— Stephanie🎄⚜️🎄 (@AvalonSong) December 27, 2016
My first warrior princess. Live on in The Force, until we follow your example, and be the New Hope the galaxy needs.
RIP #CarrieFisher— Uncle Yo (@UncleYo) December 27, 2016
#CarrieFisher was so witty and provocative and unrelentingly interesting. Goddamn, I loved her. Everyone did.
— Elizabeth Banks (@ElizabethBanks) December 27, 2016
Crying on the subway. We loved you, Carrie. So much. Can’t believe it. Horrible, horrible year. #CarrieFisher
— Matt Doyle (@MattfDoyle) December 27, 2016
Such a turbulent year.. so much loss…. another iconic figure ..a huge part of my childhood #CarrieFisher RIP.
— Davina McCall (@ThisisDavina) December 27, 2016