Reynolds, Debbie (1932-2016), was an American actress who gained popularity for her charm and vivacity in a series of motion-picture musicals and comedies during the 1950’s and 1960’s. Reynolds was a co-star of Singin’ in the Rain (1952), often considered the greatest musical in film history. Reynolds also won acclaim for her performance in the movie musical The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964).
Mary Frances Reynolds was born on April 1, 1932, in El Paso, Texas. She signed a movie contract after winning a beauty contest as Miss Burbank in 1948. During the 1950’s, she was one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, appearing in such films as Three Little Words (1950), Skirts Ahoy (1952), The Affairs of Dobie Gillis (1953), Hit the Deck (1955), The Catered Affair (1956), Tammy and the Bachelor (1957), and This Happy Feeling (1958). Her major films of the 1960’s include The Pleasure of His Company (1961), Goodbye Charlie (1964), The Singing Nun (1966), and Divorce American Style (1967). In addition to singing in musicals, Reynolds recorded several songs, including the hits “Abba Daba Honeymoon” (1951), from the film Two Weeks with Love, and “Tammy,” the theme song from Tammy and the Bachelor. In 2013, she acted in the HBO cable television movie Behind the Candelabra (2013).
Reynolds married singer Eddie Fisher in 1955. Their daughter, Carrie Fisher, became a well-known actress and author. Their son, Todd Fisher, is a television director. In 1959, Fisher left Reynolds for actress Elizabeth Taylor, which made national headlines.
With her film career in decline, Reynolds turned to the stage in the 1970’s. She made her Broadway debut in 1973 in a revival of the musical Irene. She also toured as the singing and dancing star of a revue. In 1993, Reynolds opened the Debbie Reynolds Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. She performed there until it closed in 1997. She wrote an autobiography, Debbie: My Life (1989), and two memoirs, Unsinkable (with Dorian Hannaway, 2013) and Make ‘Em Laugh: Short-Term Memories of Longtime Friends (also with Hannaway, 2015). Reynolds died on Dec. 28, 2016.
