Debbie Reynolds: biography, filmography and personal life

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:47

Debbie Reynolds is a Hollywood golden-era actress, singer and dancer remembered by audiences for light comedies from the 1950s and 60s. Unfortunately, at the end of December 2016, the great woman passed away. Consider her life path, career and personal life.

Career start

Debbie's real name is Mary Frances Reynolds. The girl was born on the first day of April 1932. Her mother, Maxine, was a housewife who raised her daughter, and her father, Raymond, worked as a carpenter on the railroad. As a child, Debbie Reynolds was fond of Scouting, loved hiking and nature. Later, she will even be chosen as the leader of her squad. When she was 6 years old, the family moved to California, to the small town of Burbank. Here, the future actress studied at a regular school, played musical instruments and was actively involved in sports.

Glory to Debbie Reynolds came by chance. At the age of sixteen, the girl participated in a local beauty contest, in which she won first place. Debbiefilm producers noticed and immediately offered her a one-year contract inviting her to act in films. Debbie did not miss her chance and agreed. Her debut project was the film "Rosie O'Grandee's Daughter". However, her first success came when she played the small role of Helen Kane in the musical film Three Little Words (1950). Following him, Debbie gets the lead role in the musical "Two Weeks of Love" (1950), which was very fond of the audience. In it, Reynolds performed several songs, and the song Abba Dabba Honeymoon sold a multimillion-dollar circulation and took a high place in the music charts of that time.

Peak of creativity

The actress did not think to miss her moment of glory. Debbie Reynolds, whose films were very popular in the 50s, starred in a huge number of light comedies and musicals. In 1952, the musical picture "Singing in the Rain" was released, which is still considered one of the most striking works of the actress. And although most of the songs of the heroine Debbie were performed by another singer, Reynolds still becomes a star in the United States, because the musical was a huge box office success. The 50s were marked by her participation in the films "I Love Melvin" (1953), "Athena" (1954), "Tender Trap" (1955), "Package for Joy" (1956), "Tommy and the Bachelor" (1957). The composition "Tommy" from the last film performed by Debbie became the hit of the year in America. The singer and actress cemented her musical success. A Very Special Love was number one on the US hit parade in 1958.year. Thus, by the end of the 50s, Debbie became one of the most famous actresses in North America.

60s also brought Reynolds a lot of bright roles. In 1964, the musical "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" was released, where the actress played the role of Molly. For her excellent performance, she was nominated for an Oscar, but she could not win it. This was followed by the iconic paintings "The Singing Nun" (1966), "American Divorce" (1967). In the late 60s, Debbie creates her own television show, and also begins to get involved in theater. In the 70s, she played a lot in musicals on Broadway, and several series appear on television, where she plays minor roles.

Late period

In 1996, the actress received her first Golden Globe for her role as Beatrice in the film Mother. In 2000, Debbie Reynolds, whose filmography includes more than 200 projects, was one of the few actresses of the golden era of Hollywood, continuing to act in films. In 1999, she landed a leading role in the TV series Will & Grace, in which she played until 2006. The actress worked for a long time with the Disney company, playing Agatha Cromwell in the series of children's films "Halloween Town". Debbie also took part in the filming of many documentaries. In 2006, the actress received an award from the University of California for her contribution to the film industry, and in 2007 she was presented with a similar award by the University of Nevada. In early 2015, Debbiereceives the first and only honorary "Oscar" for a huge contribution to the development of cinema. Her last works were the films "A Very Dangerous Thing" and "Behind the Candelabra", released in 2012.

Private life

Debbie Reynolds has been married three times in her long life. In 1955, she decided to tie the knot with popular musician Eddie Fisher. From him, Debbie gave birth to two children: daughter Carrie, who also became an actress, and son Todd. The marriage ended in 1959 after a widely discussed scandal involving her husband's infidelity. In 1960, Debbie remarried, this time to we althy Harry Carl. Debbie filed for divorce when the man went bankrupt and dragged the family into serious debt. The actress concluded her third marriage in 1984. She chose Richard Hamlett, who was engaged in the sale of real estate, as her chosen one. Together they were engaged in the construction of their hotel, and also opened their own casino. The joint business failed, which led to the couple's divorce in 1996.

Death

Reports of the death of the actress appeared in the press on December 28, 2016. She was reported to have died suddenly from a massive stroke she suffered from the shock of her daughter's sudden death. Carrie Fisher died the day before her mother, having suffered a heart attack a few days earlier. A vivid biography of Debbie Reynolds has inspired many people. The family business is now continued by granddaughter Debbie and daughter CarrieFisher - Billie Lourd, who also decided to become an actress.