Debra Messing, Ariana Grande, Ellen DeGeneres mourn death of entertainer Debbie Reynolds
By Karen Butler
1 of 5 | (L-R) Carrie Fisher, Debbie Reynolds, winner of the Screen Actors Guild lifetime award, and Billie Lourd pose backstage at the 21st annual SAG Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on January 25, 2015. Mother-daughter actresses Fisher and Reynolds both died this week. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Hollywood is reeling from the sudden, mother-daughter deaths of Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds this week.
Fisher, an author and actress best known for her portrayal of Princess Leia in the Star Wars franchise, died Tuesday after having a mid-flight heart attack Friday. She was 60.
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Her mother, an icon for her performances in the classic movies Singin' in the Rain and The Unsinkable Molly Brown, had a stroke, reportedly while planning Fisher's funeral, and died Wednesday at the age of 84.
"I can't imagine what Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds' family are going through this week. I send all of my love," Ellen DeGeneres tweeted.
"i love you billie. so so much. rest in peace, debbie reynolds," singer Ariana Grande offered her condolences to actress Billie Lourd, Fisher's daughter and only child.
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"Sweetest Picture ever of Carrie Fisher watching her mother Debbie Reynolds on stage! Hug Your mother today! Then Hug your daughter!" Madonna captioned an old photo of Fisher and Reynolds in her Twitter post.
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Sweetest Picture ever of Carrie Fisher watching her mother Debbie Reynolds on stage! Hug Your mother today! Then Hug your daughter! đđ»đ pic.twitter.com/5ZLCYcStLY
"You've opened heaven's portal here on earth for this poor mortal. You are my lucky star... Sad farewell to the incomparable Debbie Reynolds," wrote Mark Gatiss, Sherlock screenwriter and cast-member.
Debra Messingshared on Instagram her thoughts regarding the death of Reynolds, who played her mother, Bobbie Addler, on the sitcom Will & Grace. The message accompanied a photo of her with Reynolds.
"Debbie went to be with Carrie. She always worried about her. Carrie left too soon and now they are together again. My heart is literally broken," Messing wrote. "For 8 years she was my mom. She was pure energy & light when she came on stage. She was loving, and bawdy, and playful -- a consummate pro -- old school and yet had the work ethic and investment in her craft of a new fiery up and comer. She was always running off to Vegas or somewhere else 'on the road' to be a hoofer, to sing and dance and make people laugh. She performed 340 days out of the year. An inspiration on every level. A Legend of course, the epitome of clean cut American optimism, dancing with Gene Kelly as an equal, a warrior woman who never stopped working. A devoted mother and grandmother, and aunt and great aunt, and friend. I lost my mom a few years ago. She loved that Debbie was my TV mom. I hope they find each other and hug and kiss and my mom says, 'I got you, Debbie. Carrie's waiting for you.' RIP Bobbie Adler."
A photo posted by Debra Messing (@therealdebramessing) on
"SAG-AFTRA mourns the passing of Debbie Reynolds, whose six-decade career made her a star of both the big and small screens. Reynolds, a recipient of SAG-AFTRA's SAG Life Achievement Award, died today at the age of 84," Gabrielle Carteris, president of the Screen Actors Guild, said in a press release Wednesday.
"I was deeply saddened to learn of Debbie Reynold's passing. We have lost a unique talent and a national treasure. Coming so close to the death of her daughter, Carrie Fisher, this is truly a double tragedy. Their imprint on our culture is profound and they both will live on. On behalf of the SAG-AFTRA membership, our hearts go out to their family and loved ones."