Debbie Reynolds

In 1955, Debbie Reynolds married singer Eddie Fisher. The couple had two children, Carrie Fisher, who went on to become an actress and writer, and Todd Fisher, who grew up to pursue acting, cinematography, direction and production of television films and documentaries. The couple separated in 1959, following Eddie Fisher’s extra-marital affair with actress Elizabeth Taylor.

In 1960, Reynolds married businessman Harry Karl. She had a step daughter from the marriage named Tina Karl. She later faced issues with her finances owing to her husband’s bad investments and gambling habits. The marriage lasted until 1973, after which they parted ways.

Between 1984 and 1996, she was married to real estate developer Richard Hamlett.

Debbie Reynolds was born as Mary Frances Reynolds on 1 April 1932 at El Paso, Texas. Her father Raymond Francis Reynolds was a carpenter employed with the Southern Pacific railroad and her mother’s name was Maxene Reynolds. She had an older brother.

She lived with her family in a shack on Magnolia Street, El Paso. In 1939, they shifted to Burbank in California. She attended the Burbank high school and while still studying, she won the Miss Burbank beauty contest in 1948.

Soon after winning the Miss Burbank beauty contest at the age of sixteen, Debbie Reynolds received offers from MGM and Warner Bros. At the time, she accepted the offer from Warner Bros and was associated with the studio for two years. She was then assigned the screen name ‘Debbie’ by Jack L. Warner. During this period, she acted in minor roles in the feature film ‘June Bride’ (1948) and the musical ‘The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady’ (1950).

Later, when Warner Bros stopped producing musicals, she accepted an offer from MGM. During the 1950s she appeared in several movie musicals. Some memorable performances include ‘Two Weeks with Love’ (1950), ‘Skirt Ahoy!’ (1952), ‘Give a Girl a Break’ (1953),’ The Affairs of Dobie Gillis’ (1953), ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ (1952) and ‘Bundle of Joy’ (1956). She showcased her talent for singing in ‘Three Little Words’ (1950), in which she portrayed vocalist Helen Kane.

In 1957, she starred in the romantic comedy film ‘Tammy and The Bachelor’. Her recording of the sentimental ballad ‘Tammy’ in the film reached the topmost position in the Billboard music charts. Over the following years, she recorded other songs that went on to be Billboard hits like ‘A Very Special Love’ (1958) and ‘Am I That Easy to Forget’ (1960).

In 1964, Debbie Reynolds played the lead role in the feature film ’The Unsinkable Molly Brown’, based on the fictionalized account of the survivor of the Titanic disaster. Her performance earned immense critical appreciation. In 1966 she played the titular role in the feature film ‘The Singing Nun’.

In 1973, she made her Broadway debut with the revival of the musical ‘Irene’. Her performance was well received and she was nominated for awards for the same. A few years later, in 1976, she starred in a self titled play ‘Debbie’. Other Broadway acts that she was part of include ‘Annie Get Your Gun’ (1977), ‘Woman of the Year’ (1982), and ‘The Unsinkable Molly Brown’ (1989).

Debbie Reynolds was an actress best known for her performances in musicals and theatre productions. Her best known works include her roles in the 1952 classic ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ and ‘The Unsinkable Molly Brown’ (1964).