Early Life and Education of Carrie Fisher: A Complete Timeline

Discover the defining moments in the early life of Carrie Fisher. From birth to education, explore key events.

Carrie Fisher was an American actress and writer best known for her iconic role as Princess Leia in the Star Wars saga (1977-1983, 2015, 2017, 2019). Beyond Star Wars, she appeared in films like Shampoo, The Blues Brothers, and When Harry Met Sally.... She received Primetime Emmy nominations for her guest appearances in 30 Rock and Catastrophe. The Last Jedi (2017) was dedicated to her after her death, and The Rise of Skywalker (2019) featured unreleased footage of her.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Legacy & Impact

1976: Affair with Harrison Ford

In 1976, during the filming of Star Wars, Carrie Fisher had a three-month affair with Harrison Ford. The affair was later disclosed in her 2016 autobiography, The Princess Diarist.

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1978: Meeting Paul Simon

In 1978, Carrie Fisher met musician Paul Simon through her friend, actress Shelley Duvall, and they began dating.

1980: Engagement to Dan Aykroyd

In 1980, Carrie Fisher was briefly engaged to Canadian actor and comedian Dan Aykroyd, who proposed to her on the set of their film The Blues Brothers.

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August 1983: Marriage to Paul Simon

In August 1983, Carrie Fisher married Paul Simon.

July 1984: Divorce from Paul Simon

In July 1984, Carrie Fisher and Paul Simon divorced, although they dated again for a time after.

1985: Drug Overdose

In 1985, after months of sobriety, Carrie Fisher accidentally overdosed on a combination of prescription medication and sleeping pills, leading to the material in her novel and screenplay, Postcards from the Edge.

Postcards from the Edge

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1988: Support for Michael Dukakis

During the 1988 presidential election, Carrie Fisher was supportive of Democratic presidential nominee Michael Dukakis.

1992: Birth of Billie Lourd

In 1992, Carrie Fisher and Bryan Lourd had their only child, Billie Lourd.

2001: Discussion of Drug Use

In 2001, Carrie Fisher told Psychology Today that drugs made her feel more normal and contained her bipolar disorder symptoms.

2003: Relationship with James Blunt

In 2003, while James Blunt was working on his album Back to Bedlam, he spent much of his time at Carrie Fisher's residence, where she became his therapist.

2004: Relationship Status with Bryan Lourd

A 2004 profile revealed that Carrie Fisher and Bryan Lourd were never legally married, despite Fisher's descriptions of him as her second husband.

February 26, 2005: Death of Greg Stevens in Fisher's Home

On February 26, 2005, R. Gregory "Greg" Stevens was found dead in Carrie Fisher's California home. The cause of death was listed as "cocaine and oxycodone use" with heart disease as a contributing factor.

December 12, 2008: Appearance on The Late Late Show

On December 12, 2008, Carrie Fisher discussed her electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) treatments on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.

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2008: Inclusion in Wishful Drinking

In her 2008 work Wishful Drinking, Carrie Fisher wrote that "no matter how I go, I want it reported that I drowned in moonlight, strangled by my own bra."

Wishful Drinking

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2011: Release of Shockaholic

In 2011, Carrie Fisher's book Shockaholic, which describes her electroconvulsive therapy treatments, was released.

Shockaholic

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March 2014: Fisher moves to London for filming

In March 2014, Carrie Fisher stated that she was moving to London for six months for the filming of Star Wars Episode VII.

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2014: Cessation of ECT Treatments

In 2014, Carrie Fisher stated that she was no longer receiving electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) treatments.

December 21, 2016: Last TV appearance

On December 21, 2016, Carrie Fisher's last TV appearance was on an episode of 8 Out of 10 Cats in the United Kingdom.

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December 23, 2016: Medical Emergency on Flight

On December 23, 2016, Carrie Fisher had a medical emergency on a commercial flight from London to Los Angeles, around fifteen minutes before landing. She was taken to the hospital and placed on a ventilator.

December 28, 2016: Debbie Reynolds' Stroke and Death

On December 28, 2016, the day after her daughter Carrie Fisher's death, Debbie Reynolds suffered a stroke at her son Todd's home while they were planning Carrie's funeral. She was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and died later that day.

2016: Premiere of Bright Lights

In 2016, Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, a documentary about their relationship, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.

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2016: Disclosure of affair with Harrison Ford

In her 2016 autobiography The Princess Diarist, Carrie Fisher wrote that she and Harrison Ford had a three-month affair during the filming of Star Wars in 1976.

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The Princess Diarist

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January 5, 2017: Joint Memorial Service

On January 5, 2017, a joint private memorial service was held for Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds. Fisher was cremated, and a portion of her ashes was placed beside Reynolds in a crypt at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills.

January 6, 2017: Broadway Lights Darkened

On January 6, 2017, the lights on Broadway in Manhattan were darkened for one minute in honor of Carrie Fisher and her mother, Debbie Reynolds.

January 7, 2017: Broadcast of Bright Lights documentary

On January 7, 2017, the documentary Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, about Carrie Fisher and her mother, was broadcast.

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March 25, 2017: Public Memorial Service

On March 25, 2017, a public memorial for Carrie Fisher and her mother Debbie Reynolds was held at the Hall of Liberty theater in Forest Lawn Memorial Park. The event was streamed live on Reynolds' website.