Debbie Reynolds, an Oscar nominated actress and Hollywood starlet of the 50’s, has passed at the age of 84. The actress was at her son Todd’s home when a 911 call came in. According to several reports, Debbie was having a hard time breathing. TMZ is reporting that,”Debbie and Todd were making funeral plans for Carrie, who died Tuesday of cardiac arrest”. The reported cause of death was a stroke, but many are saying that she died of a ‘broken heart’.

Debbie Reynolds rose to fame at the age of 19 for her role as Kathy Selden in the 1952 film, ‘Singin’ In The Rain’. The role was Debbie’s first as a lead and set her on the path to stardom.

Debbie was a staple in the Hollywood film industry, appearing in over 30 films/shows from the 50’s to 70’s. She married entertainer Eddie Fisher in 1955 and they had two children together, Carrie and Todd. Debbie’s divorce with Eddie was a big scandal in Hollywood, he had been cheating on Debbie with actress Elizabeth Taylor. They divorced in 1959 and Eddie went on to marry Taylor, their marriage lasted five years.

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Other notable performances for Debbie Reynolds include, The Unsinkable Molly Brown (Oscar nomination for Best Actress), Tender Trap and Tammy And The Bachelor. Her recording of ‘Tammy’ from Tammy And The Bachelor went to number one on the Billboard pop chart and stayed there for five weeks. It was the best selling single by a female vocalist in 1957 and the song earned an Oscar nod for Best Song.

A younger audience will recognize Debbie Reynolds, of course as Carrie Fisher’s mom, from Will & Grace as she played Grace’s mom Bobbi. Another popular role was that of Aggie Cromwell in Disney’s Halloweentown film series.

Debbie Reynolds was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Screen Actor’s Guild in 2014 and at the 88th Academy Awards in 2015, she was given the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Debbie Reynolds leaves behind her son Todd and granddaughter Billie Lourd.

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