Carrie Fisher was born in Beverly Hills, California on October 21, 1956 into Hollywood royalty, her parents being Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds. As a young girl, she loved to read and write poetry. She left Hollywood at the age of 17 to attend the Central School of Speech and Drama in London for a year and a half. However, as we all know, Hollywood called her back to portray one of the most unforgettable roles in the history of cinema.
In 1975, Ms. Fisher was featured in Shampoo starring Warren Beatty, Goldie Hawn and Julie Christie. With an all-star cast, her debut film was incredibly successful in the box office and generally successful with critics. Two years later, in 1977, Ms. Fisher was cast as the witty, strong and beautiful Princess Leia in George Lucas’ Star Wars (later titled Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope). She would reprise the role in Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983). Her signature gold bikini and cinnamon bun hair style have become pop culture icons.
Ms. Fisher returned in 2015’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens as General Leia Organa, leader of the Resistance. Despite her passing, her character will also be featured in Star Wars: Episode VIII, set to release December 15, 2017.
Although she has been associated with the role for almost four decades, Ms. Fisher has taken on many other roles, as well as written novels, screenplays and plays. Her semi-autobiographical novel, Postcards from the Edge, was adapted to a motion picture starring Meryl Streep, Shirley MacLaine and Dennis Quaid. She had starring roles in The Blues Brothers (1980), The Man with One Red Shoe (1985), The ‘Burbs (1989), When Harry Met Sally… (1989), Scream 3 (2000) and the documentary Wishful Drinking (2010). One of her last projects was her third memoir, The Princess Diarist (2016).
With such an amazing career that meant so much, HorrorGeekLife would like to pay tribute in our own words:
Melissa (Owner/Editor-in-Chief): The Star Wars films have been a comfort to me most of my life, with Princess Leia being my favorite warrior princess. Although that was the role that introduced me to Carrie Fisher, I adored her even more through her interviews and writing. She was a strong, intelligent, take no shit kinda gal and a role model for women everywhere. She had her demons, as we’ll soon read in headlines, no doubt. But everyone does. It is how we deal and overcome that matters. Thank you, Carrie, for fighting the good fight in fiction and real life. You will be missed greatly.
Curt (Head Editor/Head Writer): There is beauty, and then there is Carrie Fisher. You have been the defining woman in my love for film and someone I have admired from afar my entire life. You are one with the force, and the force is with you. Rest in peace, Princess.
Tori (Writer): Carrie Fisher is one of the most iconic people to ever grace the galaxy with her glorious presence. I love her work in the film industry from Star Wars to Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, her characters always leave a lasting impression. Above all, I respect and admire the strength and passion she had not only in her films, but her life. She’s an inspiration to us all and as a woman, a true role model. RIP Carrie, may the stars in the galaxy shine even brighter now.
Joseph (Writer): Princess Leia was my first love and that feeling never left me. Beyond her obvious beauty and the obsession with her slave bikini outfit, she was a leader and a fighter striking out for the Action Girls and giving us a strong female icon who would endure across the decades and doubtless will for generations to come. For this, and much more, we have the wonderful Carrie Fisher to thank. Despite the heartbreaking news, Carrie, and the beloved part she played in Star Wars’ legacy, will stand immortal. If I could speak to her now I would thank her for Leia. For everything she means and has done for me and countless others. May the Force be with you, Carrie. Always x.
Landon (Writer): The first time I saw Carrie Fisher in the slave Leia costume, I was mesmerized by beauty. As I matured, her perspective on that outfit’s symbolism opened my eyes to something far more striking. Fisher was a strong, intelligent, outspoken, funny and talented woman. Those qualities were far more breathtaking than any bikini could ever be, and Fisher passed them down to generations of girls turned women in her likeness. We can never repay her for that. Rest well, Princess, and thank you.
Lee (Writer): Carrie Fisher was more than just Princess Leia, not just referring to her many other roles. I remember first watching the original trilogy with my family and having the childhood crush on everyone’s favorite princess. Recently, my fondness has grown for fighting against stereotypes within Hollywood. A strong woman, leaving a stronger legacy.
Amy (Writer): The first time I watched Star Wars I was nine years old and, even though it’s been fourteen years, I still remember the feeling of falling in love with how strong, beautiful and caring Princess Leia was and growing to treasure the incredible woman who brought her to life. As the years went by, I grew to love Carrie Fisher more and more with each role I saw her in; from Marie in When Harry Met Sally, to Janie in Drop Dead Fred, and even her meta-style cameo as Bianca, the woman who lost the role of Princess Leia to Carrie Fisher, in Scream 3. There are so many things to say about how devastating her passing is, but I could never say them aptly enough. So, what I will say is that Carrie Fisher is, was and always will be, the only princess I have room for in my heart.
Chip (Writer): Princess Leia was one of my movie crushes as a kid, and not because of the “Slave” bikini like most, I thought she was beautiful in the gown in Episode IV. Carrie Fisher was smart, beautiful, tough, and real. Breaking my no-more-pop-vinyls rule for her. We miss you, Carrie
Mark (Writer): I love that Carrie Fisher refused to let one role define her, as well she shouldn’t, by forging a path of her own, on her own, via her God-given talent for witty writing and conversation. To the very end, she was uncompromising in who she was and always spoke her mind, which is something that should definitely be celebrated. Just take a quick look on YouTube at her last glorious round of making the talk show circuits for Star Wars: The Force Awakens if you want to see how it SHOULD be done, young Hollywood. Fisher was one of a kind and she will definitely be missed.
Justin (Contributing Editor/Writer)- As a little kid, whenever I saw a new cartoon or movie, I would always ask my mom which character was her favorite and why. She told me that for Star Wars, it was definitely Princess Leia, because of how strong she is. She holds her own in a universe full of magic and monsters, and she doesn’t take crap from anybody, even the scariest guy in the galaxy. I really respected that, and Princess Leia instantly became one of my favorite characters too. She was the first female character that I fell in love with, and I’ve never stopped loving her through 30 years of countless viewings. Carrie Fisher is and will always be Princess Leia to me, and she will forever be loved and missed.
