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14 facts about Carrie Fisher

Posted at 2:17 PM, Oct 06, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-06 14:17:06-04

Here’s a look at the life of actress and writer Carrie Fisher, who is best-known for her portrayal of Princess Leia in the “Star Wars” movie franchise.

01. Personal: Birth date: October 21, 1956

02. Birth place: Beverly Hills, California

03. Birth name: Carrie Frances Fisher

04. Father: Eddie Fisher, singer

05. Mother: Debbie Reynolds, actress and singer

06. Marriages: Paul Simon (August 1983-July 1984, divorced)

07. Children: with Bryan Lourd: Billie Catherine Lourd

08. Education: Attended Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, London

09. Other Facts: Nominated for two Emmy Awards.

10. Has acted in film, plays, and television, and written a number of best-selling books.

11. Fisher has lobbied as an advocate for mental health awareness and treatment and has spoken before the California State Senate.

12. She was diagnosed as suffering from bipolar disorder at the age of 24, “I was diagnosed at 24, but I had been seeing a therapist since I was about 15. I didn’t like the diagnosis….Then I overdosed at 28, at which point I began to accept the bipolar diagnosis.”

13. She credits the psychiatric hospital Silver Hill in New Canaan, Connecticut, with helping her get her life back together after treatment for alcohol addiction and bipolar disorder. “It was one of the best places I was ever institutionalized.”

14. Fisher is a well-respected script-doctor of such movies as “The Wedding Singer” and “Sister Act.”

Timeline: 1972 – Drops out of high school at age 15 to appear on Broadway in the musical “Irene,” starring her mother, Debbie Reynolds.

1975 – Film debut in the movie “Shampoo,” starring Warren Beatty.

1977 – Stars as Princess Leia in the first “Star Wars” film.

1980 – Stars in “Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back.”

1983 – Stars in “Star Wars: Episode VI – The Return of the Jedi.”

1990 – Release of the film adaptation of Fisher’s novel, “Postcards from the Edge,” starring Meryl Streep. The screenplay is also written by Fisher.

February 26, 2005 – Friend and Republican media adviser R. Gregory “Greg” Stevens is found dead in Fisher’s home.

November 15, 2006 – Her one-woman biographical play, “Wishful Drinking,” is produced in Los Angeles.

December 2008 – Publishes the memoir, “Wishful Drinking,” based on her 2006 one-woman play.

December 12, 2010 – Fisher’s documentary, “Wishful Drinking,” airs on HBO.

November 2011 – Her memoir, “Shockaholic,” is published.

December 14, 2015 – Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens premieres, with Fisher, along with Mark Hamill (“Luke Skywalker”) and Harrison Ford (“Han Solo”) reprising their original 1977 roles.