Carrie Fisher died Tuesday morning, the world learned via a statement from her 24-year-old daughter, Billie Lourd. People magazine was the first to circulate Lourd’s grieving words about her mother, an incisive author and beloved actress whose role as General (née Princess) Leia Organa bucked cinematic tradition and made her an icon. The brief statement thanked fans who held an online vigil since Fisher was admitted to the hospital on December 23.
It is with a very deep sadness that Billie Lourd confirms that her beloved mother Carrie Fisher passed away at 8:55 this morning. She was loved by the world and she will be missed profoundly. Our entire family thanks you for your thoughts and prayers.
Fisher was born into Hollywood royalty as the daughter of Debbie Reynolds, who starred in such classics as Singin’ In The Rain and That’s Entertainment. Reynolds had posted about Fisher’s condition over the weekend, during which time the late actress seemed to be on the mend. Reynolds responded to the outpouring of condolences earlier today, thanking fans for their support.
Many other Hollywood luminaries have also responded to Fisher’s tragic death. Her Star Wars costar, Mark Hamill, could only say he was devastated.
But Han Solo himself, Harrison Ford, described Fisher as “one-of-a-kind” and an “original” in a statement Tuesday afternoon (via Variety). Of his regal costar, Ford said: “Carrie was one-of-a-kind…brilliant, original. Funny and emotionally fearless. She lived her life, bravely. We all miss her.” Other members of her Star Wars family also shared their condolences, including Peter Mayhew, Anthony Daniels, and Billy Dee Williams.
The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences thanked Fisher for her impressive body of work, including her breakthrough performance in Star Wars.
Grand dames like Bette Miller and Joan Collins, the latter of whom costarred with Fisher in These Old Broads along with Reynolds, also mourned the star online.
Fisher had been candid about her bipolar disorder and addiction issues, which she relayed to Stephen Fry in The Secret Life Of The Manic Depressive. Fry described her as the “funniest, kindest, sweet” person, while fellow sci-fi stalwarts William Shatner and George Takei expressed their grief as well.
Fisher’s costars also include Catastrophe co-creator Sharon Horgan and Joe Mantegna, who also described having the wind knocked out of them by the news.