The Force around the world has been shocked by the sudden death of Carrie Fisher, who passed away just days after a heart attack while on board a flight from London to Los Angeles.
Once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far, away, Carrie Fisher brought girl power onto the big screen as Princess Leia in George Lucas’ original “Star Wars” trilogy. The twin sister of Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), the soulmate of lovable rogue pilot/smuggler Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Princess Leia isn’t a damsel in distress but both a warrior and heroine in her own right: helping lead the Rebel Alliance in the good fight for peace and freedom against the evil Empire and Darth Vader, the biological father of Luke and Leia: Anakin Skywalker, a former Jedi Knight who fell into the Dark Side of the Force.
After reprising the role of Leia in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”, Carrie completed production on “Episode VIII” just months before her death. Set for a December 15, 2017 release, the film will help celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first “Star Wars”.
Thanks to Princess Leia, Carrie Fisher became an icon with her hair buns from 1977’s “A New Hope”, along with this message: “Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You’re my only hope.” Carrie also became a sex symbol thanks to 1983’s “Return of the Jedi”, where Leia was once enslaved by Jabba the Hut, who received his comeuppance from the strong-willed Princess.
An accomplished author (her semi-autobiographical book Postcards from the Edge became a 1990 film starring Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine), screenwriter, mental health champion, and Hollywood survivor and legend, Carrie is survive by her mother Debbie Reynolds, her daughter Billie Lourd, her brother Todd, and her half-sisters Joely and Tricia Leigh Fisher.
Carrie Fisher was 60 years old.