Debbie Reynolds, American actress, Died at 84

Mary Frances “Debbie” Reynolds was born on April 1, 1932, and died on December 28, 2016.

She was an American actress, singer, businesswoman, film historian, and humanitarian.

Reynolds’ breakout role was the portrayal of Helen Kane in the 1950 film Three Little Words, for which she was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer.

But, that was her first leading role in 1952 at age 19, as Kathy Selden in Singin’ in the Rain, that set her on the path to fame.

From the mid-1950s, she was a major star.

Her other notable successes include The Affairs of Dobie Gillis (1953), Susan Slept Here (1954), Bundle of Joy (1956 Golden Globe nomination), The Catered Affair (1956 National Board of Review Best Supporting Actress Winner), and Tammy and the Bachelor (1957), in which her performance of the song “Tammy” reached number one on the music charts.

During 1959, Reynolds released her first pop music album, entitled Debbie.

She starred in How the West Was Won (1963), and The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964), a biographical film about the famously boisterous Molly Brown.

During 1969, Reynolds starred in her own television show The Debbie Reynolds Show, for which she received a Golden Globe nomination.

She was a noted businesswoman, having operated her own hotel in Las Vegas.

Reynolds was also a collector of film memorabilia, beginning with items purchased at the landmark 1970 MGM auction.

She was the daughter of Maxine “Minnie” (née Harman; 1912–1999) and Raymond Francis “Ray” Reynolds (1903–1986), a carpenter for the Southern Pacific Railroad

Her daughter, actress, and writer Carrie Fisher, suffered a heart attack on a transatlantic flight from London to Los Angeles, and died at the age of 60 on December 27.

Then on December 28, Reynolds was hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, in fair-to-serious condition after a stroke at her son’s home.

Debbie Reynolds passed away at 84 years old.