BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — Actress Debbie Reynolds has died after suffering a stroke,
Her son, Todd Fisher, told Variety that “she wanted to be with Carrie.” He also confirmed the news to the Associated Press, and told the wire the stress of his sister’s death “was too much” for his mother.
Earlier in the day, the Los Angeles Times and TMZ reported that Reynolds had been hospitalized after suffering a stroke at her son Todd’s house.
Reynolds, 84, lost her daughter, actress Carrie Fisher, on Tuesday. Fisher died several days after suffering a cardiac arrest on a flight from London to Los Angeles. Fisher was 60.
Reynolds was apparently at her son’s home when she had trouble breathing. Paramedics were called, and she was rushed to the hospital with an apparent stroke. Fisher, while not confirming his mother had been hospitalized, told CNN that people should “Pray for her.” Her death was announced less than three hours later.
TMZ says Reynolds and her son were at his house planning Carrie Fisher’s funeral when she had the stroke.
Reynolds is best known for her roles in “Singin’ in the Rain” and “The Unsinkable Molly Brown,” for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for best actress, as well as her voice role as Charlotte in “Charlotte’s Web,” among dozens of other films. More recently, she was known for her role as Splendora “Aggie” Cromwell in the Disney Channel movie series “Halloweentown.”
She is also a noted singer and was nominated for a Tony Award for best lead actress in a musical for her role in the Broadway revival of “Irene” in 1973. She’s also been nominated for an Emmy and a Golden Globe, and was awarded the lifetime achievement award by the Screen Actors Guild in 2015.
Due to Carrie Fisher’s stardom, Reynolds has been known to say, “Yes, I’m Princess Leia’s mother” when referring to her daughter, who played the character in the “Star Wars” movie universe.
Born Mary Frances Reynolds, the actress married Eddie Fisher in 1955, but they divorced four years later when their daughter, Carrie, was 2. They also have a son, Todd, who is two years older than Carrie. Fisher then married Elizabeth Taylor, who he had been having an affair with. After divorcing Fisher, Reynolds later married Harry Karl and Richard Hamlett, but has been divorced for 20 years.
With reporting by CNN and the Associated Press.