Carrie Fisher
October 21, 1956-December 27, 2016
2016 has been a rough year, especially when it comes to celebrity deaths. Alan Rickman, David Bowie, and Anton Yelchin all passed before their time. But the one that truly stings the most is Carrie Fisher. As of this writing, she died this morning after suffering a massive heart attack over the weekend. Her mother, Debbie Reynolds had reported that Carrie was in stable condition as of last night. Carrie had apparently gone into cardiac arrest on a flight. They had to use CPR. Her passing stings the most because she was such a trailblazer. Her breakthrough performance was that of Princess Leia Organa in Star Wars. She proved that not only could you have a strong female presence in an action movie, but also maintain a presence in a heavily male-dominated industry. Carrie Fisher paved the way for future female action stars, which includes Charlize Theron, Zoe Saldana and Sigourney Weaver. Not only did she stand tall with her male co-stars, but she stole the show at several times during the Original Trilogy. She had since starred in movies like The Blues Brothers, Scream 3, and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. She had a very commanding presence when she stepped onto the screen.
It was not just her work on the screen that garnered attention. She had since become a major advocate for mental health issues due to her own personal experiences with drug addiction and bipolar disorder. Carrie Fisher had become a symbol of hope for so many people who also suffered from mental health issues. Carrie Fisher was a mother, daughter, sister and a wonderful person to be around from all accounts. Carrie Fisher is survived by by her mother, Debbie Reynolds; her daughter, Billie Lourd, and her brother, Todd Fisher. For those of us who didn’t know her personally, we will always remember her as Princess Leia Organa. Her life and her accomplishments should be celebrated. The world is lesser for her loss, but is strengthened by what she has done. Good-bye Carrie Fisher. The Force will be with you, always.