History of Carrie Fisher in Timeline
Carrie Fisher was an American actress and writer, most famously known for her iconic role as Princess Leia in the original Star Wars trilogy (1977-1983) and its subsequent sequels. She reprised the role in later Star Wars films, including a posthumous appearance in The Rise of Skywalker (2019) through unused footage. Beyond Star Wars, she appeared in notable films like The Blues Brothers and When Harry Met Sally.... Fisher also received Emmy nominations for her guest roles in 30 Rock and Catastrophe, highlighting her comedic talents. She was a significant figure in pop culture, remembered for her acting and writing contributions.
October 21, 1956: Carrie Fisher's Birth
On October 21, 1956, Carrie Frances Fisher was born in the United States. She later became known as an actress and writer.
1959: Parents' Divorce
In 1959, Carrie Fisher's parents, Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, divorced after it was revealed that Eddie Fisher had been having an affair with Elizabeth Taylor.
1960: Debbie Reynolds married Harry Karl
In 1960, Carrie Fisher's mother, Debbie Reynolds, married Harry Karl.
1964: Eddie Fisher and Elizabeth Taylor's Divorce
In 1964, Carrie Fisher's father, Eddie Fisher, and Elizabeth Taylor divorced.
1973: Appearance in Irene and Enrollment in Central School of Speech and Drama
In 1973, Carrie Fisher appeared in the Broadway revival Irene and enrolled at London's Central School of Speech and Drama.
1973: Debbie Reynolds and Harry Karl divorced
In 1973, Carrie Fisher's mother, Debbie Reynolds, and Harry Karl divorced when Fisher was 17 years old.
1974: Filming of Shampoo
In mid-1974, at the age of 17, Carrie Fisher filmed her role in the movie "Shampoo".
1975: Film Credit in Shampoo
In 1975, Carrie Fisher had a film credit in Shampoo.
1976: Affair with Harrison Ford
In 1976, Carrie Fisher had a three-month affair with Harrison Ford during the filming of Star Wars.
1977: Starred as Princess Leia in Star Wars
In 1977, Carrie Fisher starred as Princess Leia in George Lucas' space-fantasy film Star Wars (later retitled Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope).
April 1978: Appearance in Ringo Starr's TV Special
In April 1978, Carrie Fisher appeared as the love interest in Ringo Starr's TV special Ringo.
1978: Meeting Paul Simon
In 1978, Carrie Fisher met musician Paul Simon through her friend, actress Shelley Duvall, and they began dating.
1980: Film Credit in The Blues Brothers
In 1980, Carrie Fisher had a film credit in The Blues Brothers.
1980: Engagement to Dan Aykroyd
In 1980, Carrie Fisher was briefly engaged to Dan Aykroyd, who proposed to her on the set of their film, The Blues Brothers.
August 1983: Marriage to Paul Simon
In August 1983, Carrie Fisher married Paul Simon.
1983: Princess Leia role in Star Wars films
In 1983, Carrie Fisher continued portraying Princess Leia in the Star Wars films.
1983: Return of the Jedi and Rolling Stone Cover
In 1983, Carrie Fisher returned to the role of Princess Leia in Return of the Jedi and posed in the character's metal bikini on the cover of Rolling Stone to promote the film.
1983: Broadway Production Agnes of God
In 1983, Carrie Fisher starred as Sister Agnes in the Broadway production of Agnes of God.
July 1984: Divorce from Paul Simon
In July 1984, Carrie Fisher and Paul Simon divorced, although they dated again for a time after their divorce.
1985: Accidental Overdose
In 1985, after months of sobriety, Carrie Fisher accidentally overdosed on a combination of prescription medication and sleeping pills, leading to events that inspired her novel and screenplay, Postcards from the Edge.
1986: Film Credit in Hannah and Her Sisters
In 1986, Carrie Fisher had a film credit in Hannah and Her Sisters.
1987: Published Postcards from the Edge
In 1987, Carrie Fisher published her first novel, Postcards from the Edge, which became a bestseller and won the Los Angeles Pen Award.
1989: Film Credits in The 'Burbs and When Harry Met Sally...
In 1989, Carrie Fisher had film credits in The 'Burbs and When Harry Met Sally...
1989: Roles in When Harry Met Sally... and The 'Burbs
In 1989, Carrie Fisher played major supporting roles in When Harry Met Sally... and The 'Burbs.
1990: Film version of Postcards from the Edge
In 1990, Columbia Pictures released a film version of Postcards from the Edge, which was adapted for the screen by Carrie Fisher and starred Meryl Streep.
1991: Appeared in Drop Dead Fred
In 1991, Carrie Fisher appeared in the fantasy comedy film Drop Dead Fred.
1991: Script Doctor Work Begins
In 1991, Carrie Fisher began her 15-year stretch of uncredited script doctoring work in Hollywood.
1991: Film Credit in Soapdish
In 1991, Carrie Fisher had a film credit in Soapdish.
May 1992: Entertainment Weekly article
In May 1992, an Entertainment Weekly article described Carrie Fisher as "one of the most sought-after doctors in town."
1992: Birth of Billie Lourd
In 1992, Carrie Fisher and Bryan Lourd had their only child, Billie Lourd.
1992: Polished Scripts for The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles
In 1992, Carrie Fisher was hired by George Lucas to polish scripts for his TV series The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.
1993: Published Delusions of Grandma
In 1993, Carrie Fisher published the novel Delusions of Grandma.
1997: Played a therapist in Austin Powers
In 1997, Carrie Fisher played a therapist in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.
1998: Script Doctor Work on The Wedding Singer
In 1998, Carrie Fisher worked as a script doctor, tightening the scripts for The Wedding Singer.
2000: Appeared in Scream 3
In 2000, Carrie Fisher played a former actress who acknowledges she looks like Fisher in the film Scream 3.
2001: Discussed Drug Use in Psychology Today
In 2001, Carrie Fisher discussed her diagnosis of bipolar disorder and drug use as a form of self-medication in Psychology Today, explaining that "Drugs made me feel more normal."
2001: Role in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
In 2001, Carrie Fisher played a nun in the Kevin Smith comedy Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. She also co-wrote and co-executive produced the TV comedy film These Old Broads.
2001: Published Hollywood Moms and voiced Angela on Family Guy
In 2001, Carrie Fisher wrote the introduction for Hollywood Moms, and voiced Peter Griffin's boss, Angela, on Family Guy.
2003: Relationship with James Blunt
In 2003, Carrie Fisher developed a close, platonic relationship with James Blunt, becoming his therapist while he worked on his album Back to Bedlam at her residence.
2003: Role in Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle
In 2003, Carrie Fisher played Mother Superior in Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle.
2004: Published The Best Awful There Is
In 2004, Carrie Fisher published a sequel to Postcards, The Best Awful There Is.
2004: Fisher no longer did much script doctoring.
In 2004, Carrie Fisher stated that she no longer did much script doctoring.
2004: Relationship Status Clarification
In 2004, a profile revealed that Carrie Fisher and Bryan Lourd were never legally married, despite Fisher referring to him as her second husband.
February 26, 2005: Death of R. Gregory Stevens
On February 26, 2005, R. Gregory Stevens was found dead in Carrie Fisher's California home, with the cause of death listed as "cocaine and oxycodone use" and heart disease as a contributing factor.
2005: End of Script Doctoring
In 2005, Carrie Fisher ended her 15-year stretch of uncredited script doctoring work in Hollywood.
2005: Women of Vision Award
In 2005, Women in Film & Video – DC recognized Carrie Fisher with the Women of Vision Award.
November 2006: Wishful Drinking at the Geffen Playhouse
In November 2006, Carrie Fisher began writing and performing in her one-woman play Wishful Drinking at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, running until January 2007.
January 2007: Wishful Drinking at the Geffen Playhouse
In January 2007, Carrie Fisher completed writing and performing in her one-woman play Wishful Drinking at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, running from November 2006.
October 25, 2007: Guest Starred on 30 Rock
On October 25, 2007, Carrie Fisher guest-starred as Rosemary Howard on the second-season episode of 30 Rock called "Rosemary's Baby", for which she received an Emmy Award nomination.
2007: Interviewed for Dreams on Spec
In 2007, Carrie Fisher was chosen as one of the interviewers for the screenwriting documentary Dreams on Spec.
2007: Primetime Emmy Award Nomination
In 2007, Carrie Fisher was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her performances in the NBC sitcom 30 Rock.
April 28, 2008: Guest on Deal or No Deal
On April 28, 2008, Carrie Fisher was a guest on Deal or No Deal.
December 12, 2008: Late Late Show Appearance
On December 12, 2008, Carrie Fisher discussed her electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) treatments on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.
December 2008: Published Wishful Drinking
In December 2008, Carrie Fisher published her autobiographical book, also titled Wishful Drinking, based on her successful play, and embarked on a media tour.
December 2008: Reflected on Script Doctoring
In December 2008, Carrie Fisher reflected on her past work as a script doctor, noting changes in the industry and the challenges of getting rewrite jobs.
2008: Discussed Wishful Drinking on Today
In 2008, Carrie Fisher discussed her memoir Wishful Drinking and various topics in it with Matt Lauer on NBC's Today, also revealing she would have turned down the role of Princess Leia if she knew it would give her celebrity status.
2008: Film Credit in The Women
In 2008, Carrie Fisher had a film credit in The Women.
October 2009: Wishful Drinking Opened on Broadway
In October 2009, Carrie Fisher's play Wishful Drinking opened on Broadway in New York at Studio 54 and played an extended run until January 2010.
December 2009: Grammy Nomination for Wishful Drinking Audiobook
In December 2009, Carrie Fisher's audiobook recording of Wishful Drinking earned her a nomination for a 2009 Grammy Award in the Best Spoken Word Album category.
January 2010: Wishful Drinking Ended on Broadway
In January 2010, Carrie Fisher's play Wishful Drinking ended its run on Broadway in New York at Studio 54 after an extended run from October 2009.
2010: Appeared on Entourage
In 2010, Carrie Fisher appeared on the seventh season of Entourage.
2010: HBO aired Wishful Drinking documentary
In 2010, HBO aired a feature-length documentary based on a special live performance of Carrie Fisher's Wishful Drinking stage production.
January 2011: Jenny Craig Spokesperson
In January 2011, Carrie Fisher became a spokesperson for Jenny Craig weight loss television ads.
2011: Publication of Shockaholic
In 2011, Carrie Fisher's book Shockaholic, which describes her experiences with electroconvulsive therapy, was published.
August 2012: Comedy Central Roast of Roseanne
In August 2012, Carrie Fisher was among the featured performers at the Comedy Central Roast of Roseanne, where she joked about her mental illness and fellow roasters' jokes.
March 6, 2013: Representative Clarifies Fisher's Comments
On March 6, 2013, after media outlets reported Carrie Fisher's comments about reprising her role as Princess Leia in Episode VII, her representative stated that Fisher was joking and nothing was announced.
March 2013: Fisher Comments on Returning as Leia
In March 2013, Carrie Fisher confirmed she would reprise her role as Princess Leia in Episode VII of Star Wars, humorously describing Leia as "Elderly" and in an "intergalactic old folks' home."
2013: Member of the Main Competition Jury at the Venice Film Festival
In 2013, Carrie Fisher was selected as a member of the main competition jury at the Venice Film Festival.
January 2014: Fisher Confirms Original Cast Involvement in Star Wars Sequels
In January 2014, Carrie Fisher confirmed that she, Harrison Ford, and Mark Hamill were expected to begin work on the upcoming Star Wars sequels in March or April, expressing her desire to revive her iconic cinnamon buns hairstyle with white hair.
March 2014: Fisher Moves to London for Filming
In March 2014, Carrie Fisher announced that she was moving to London for six months to film Star Wars Episode VII.
April 29, 2014: Cast of Star Wars: The Force Awakens Officially Announced
On April 29, 2014, the official cast announcement confirmed Carrie Fisher's return, along with Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, and other original cast members, for Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens.
December 25, 2014: QI Broadcast
On December 25, 2014, Carrie Fisher's filmed appearance on the UK comedy panel show QI was broadcast.
2014: Golden Heart Award
In 2014, Carrie Fisher received the Golden Heart Award for her work with The Midnight Mission.
2014: Stops ECT treatments
In 2014, Carrie Fisher stated that she was no longer receiving electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) treatments.
January 19, 2015: Catastrophe Broadcast
On January 19, 2015, Carrie Fisher starred in the British comedy series Catastrophe, which was first broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK.
December 18, 2015: Release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens
On December 18, 2015, Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens was released worldwide, featuring Carrie Fisher reprising her role as Leia.
2015: Reprised Role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens
In 2015, Carrie Fisher reprised her role as Princess Leia in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
November 2016: Release of The Princess Diarist
In November 2016, Carrie Fisher's memoir, The Princess Diarist, based on her diaries from filming the original Star Wars trilogy, was released.
December 2016: Death from Cardiac Arrest
In December 2016, Carrie Fisher died of a sudden cardiac arrest at age 60, four days after experiencing a medical emergency during a transatlantic flight from London to Los Angeles.
December 21, 2016: Last TV Appearance
On December 21, 2016, Carrie Fisher made her last TV appearance on an episode of 8 Out of 10 Cats in the United Kingdom.
December 23, 2016: Medical Emergency on Flight
On December 23, 2016, Carrie Fisher experienced a medical emergency on a commercial flight from London to Los Angeles, approximately fifteen minutes before landing. She received CPR from a passenger until paramedics arrived and was then placed on a ventilator at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.
December 27, 2016: Carrie Fisher's Death
On December 27, 2016, Carrie Fisher died. She was an American actress and writer, best known for her role as Princess Leia in the Star Wars films.
December 28, 2016: Death of Debbie Reynolds
On December 28, 2016, the day after Carrie Fisher's death, her mother, Debbie Reynolds, had a stroke and died, reportedly saying "I want to be with Carrie" immediately before.
2016: Saturn Award Nomination
In 2016, Carrie Fisher received a nomination for a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
2016: The Princess Diarist Revelation
In 2016, Carrie Fisher revealed in her autobiography, The Princess Diarist, that she had a three-month affair with Harrison Ford in 1976 during the filming of Star Wars.
2016: Harvard Award
In 2016, Harvard College presented Carrie Fisher with the Annual Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award in Cultural Humanism for her advocacy and outspokenness about addiction, mental illness, and agnosticism.
2016: Appearance in Rogue One
In 2016, a young version of Princess Leia, played by Carrie Fisher, appeared in Rogue One through computer animation.
2016: Premiere of Bright Lights
In 2016, the documentary Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, about Carrie Fisher and her mother's close relationship, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.
2016: Filming of Wonderwell
In mid-2016, Carrie Fisher filmed her role in the film Wonderwell in Italy.
January 5, 2017: Joint Memorial Held
On January 5, 2017, a joint private memorial was held for Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds. Fisher was cremated, and her mother was entombed, with a portion of Fisher's ashes placed beside Reynolds.
January 6, 2017: Broadway Lights Darkened in Honor of Fisher
On January 6, 2017, the lights on Broadway in Manhattan were darkened for one minute to honor Carrie Fisher and her mother, Debbie Reynolds.
January 7, 2017: Broadcast of Bright Lights Documentary
On January 7, 2017, Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, a documentary featuring Carrie Fisher and her mother, Debbie Reynolds, was broadcast.
January 9, 2017: Death Certificate Issued
On January 9, 2017, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued Carrie Fisher's death certificate, stating the cause of death as "cardiac arrest/deferred."
March 25, 2017: Public Memorial Held for Fisher and Reynolds
On March 25, 2017, a public memorial service was held for Carrie Fisher and her mother, Debbie Reynolds, at the Hall of Liberty theater in Forest Lawn Memorial Park. The event was streamed live.
April 4, 2017: Last Appearance on Catastrophe
On April 4, 2017, Carrie Fisher's last appearance on Catastrophe aired in the UK, earning her a posthumous Primetime Emmy Award nomination.
June 16, 2017: Cause of Death Report Released
On June 16, 2017, the Los Angeles County coroner's office released a report stating that the exact cause of Carrie Fisher's death could not be determined, but sleep apnea and buildup of fatty tissue on artery walls were contributing factors.
June 19, 2017: Full Coroner's Report Released
On June 19, 2017, a full report stated that Carrie Fisher had cocaine, heroin, other opiates, and MDMA in her system at the time of her death, though it was not determined if they contributed to it.
2017: Urban Myths Appearance
In 2017, Carrie Fisher appeared as herself in the final episode of series 1 of Urban Myths, but the episode was never broadcast due to objections from the Jackson family.
2017: Star Wars: The Last Jedi Release
In 2017, Carrie Fisher posthumously appeared as Leia in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Director Rian Johnson included many of Fisher's ideas in the film.
2017: Posthumous Disney Legend Award
In 2017, Carrie Fisher was posthumously made a Disney Legend.
2018: Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album
In 2018, 13 months after her death, Carrie Fisher posthumously won the Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for her audiobook recording of The Princess Diarist.
2019: Appearance in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
In 2019, Carrie Fisher appeared in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker through the use of unreleased footage from The Force Awakens.
June 2021: Announcement of Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
In June 2021, it was announced that Carrie Fisher would receive an official star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2022.
2022: Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
In 2022, Carrie Fisher was scheduled to receive an official star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
June 23, 2023: Theatrical Release of Wonderwell
On June 23, 2023, the film Wonderwell, featuring Carrie Fisher, received a limited theatrical release followed by a digital release.
October 27, 2023: James Blunt Releases "Dark Thought"
On October 27, 2023, James Blunt released an album featuring a track called "Dark Thought," which is about the death of his friend, Carrie Fisher.
2023: Posthumous Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
In 2023, Carrie Fisher posthumously received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
2023: Carrie Fisher Receives Star Wars Day Star
In 2023, Carrie Fisher received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Star Wars Day.
