In Memory
Carrie Fisher
October 21, 1968 - December 27, 2016
Carrie Fisher has died today. She was 60 years old. The daughter Eddie Fisher and Debbie
Reynolds, Fisher had a long and successful Hollywood career, though she will
most likely always be remembered for her role as Princess Leia in the original ‘Star
Wars’ trilogy (she was promoted to General in the new one). Before she graced the screens with her cinnamon
bun style haircut though, she was in “Shampoo,” the Hal Ashby directed classic
that made Warren Beatty a star. He was
not the only actor who got noticed, as the film also helped launch the career
of Fisher herself. Right afterword’s she
starred in that little film known as “Star Wars” (at the time), and became the
first crush of many young boys as well as the first real role model for young
girls who were forced to watched science fiction films because their dads liked
to.
She appeared in five of those movies herself (with one of
those yet to be released), and her character appeared in many other spin-offs,
video games, and comic books. You might
think that Fisher was a one hit wonder, who didn’t do much beyond her ‘Star
Wars’ work. This, many people are
shocked to discover, is not the truth.
In fact, for someone who flew under the radar so much, her accomplishments
in Hollywood were considerable. She worked
with Woody Allen on his classic film “Hannah and Her Sisters,” which is
considered to be one of the auteurs best work.
She had a small part in the romantic comedy “When Harry Met Sally,”
which is considered a staple of the genre.
She is one of the few actors to have made movies with both John AND Jim
Belushi (“The Blues Brothers” and “The Man with One Red Shoe”)! She published a novel called “Postcards from
the Edge,” which became a best seller that was turned into a movie starring
Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine (with Fisher writing the screenplay herself).
In 2005 she ended up rejoining nerd culture by giving voice
to Angela, the bemused boss of Peter Griffin on “Family Guy.” Life wasn’t always easy for the actress though. She struggled with drugs early in her career
and her love life was turbulous at best.
At one point she did take on roles that were likely beneath her, with
her most infamous being her involvement in the movie “Drop Dead Fred,” which
has become a popular film to make fun of on YouTube. Since she was a cultural icon though, she
could always depend on lucrative cameo appearances to find work, and took
advantage of that fact to have walk on roles in movies like “Scream 3,” “Jay
and Silent Bob Strike Back,” “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle,” and “Hook.” She
would take on supporting roles in movies like “Cougar Club” and “The Women”
later on in life, but fittingly, she never really appeared in the limelight in
full again until she returned to her famous role in “Star Wars Episode VII: The
Force Awakens.”
It is fitting, I think, that her career should begin and end
with same character. Some might consider
what happened to her to be a disappointment.
Some will say she wasn’t very successful for largely being associated
with one part. The thing people seem to
forget though is that the movie can make people immortal. The right part can do that. Carrie Fisher may not have been a star of
many movies, but more people will remember her than some legendary actors who
played several big roles of the time.
Princess Leia will be inspiring young girls for years. Princess Leia will be teaching boys about
love for years. Princess Leia is as
recognizable as Indiana Jones, Humphrey Bogart in “Casablanca,” and
Batman. That is one heck of a legacy to
leave behind, so whether her career was all people thought it should be, it has
left a lasting impression and will continue to do so for years to come. And may the force be with her. Always.
