Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Actor

Carrie Fisher

Carrie Fisher was an American actress, writer, and screenwriter best known for playing Princess Leia in the Star Wars film franchise.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Carrie Fisher was an American actress, writer, and screenwriter, best known for playing Princess Leia in Star Wars. She also wrote books, appeared in many films, and advocated for mental health awareness.

Who she was

Carrie Fisher was born in 1956 in Burbank, California, to entertainers Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds. She rose to fame as Princess Leia in the original Star Wars films and later returned for the sequel trilogy.

Key achievements

Beyond acting, Fisher was a published author and screenwriter. Her novel Postcards from the Edge was adapted into a film. She also wrote memoirs like The Princess Diarist. She was open about her bipolar disorder and advocated for mental health.

Personal life and death

Fisher was married to singer Paul Simon from 1983 to 1984. She died on December 27, 2016, at age 60 after a cardiac arrest. Later reports noted sleep apnea and other factors contributed.

In short

  • Played Princess Leia in Star Wars.
  • Wrote books and screenplays.
  • Married to Paul Simon.
  • Died in 2016 at age 60.
Canadian angle

Carrie Fisher was widely known in Canada through the Star Wars franchise, her film and television appearances, and her books, which were popular with Canadian audiences.

Quick questions

Who was Carrie Fisher?
Carrie Fisher was an American actress, writer, and screenwriter best known for playing Princess Leia in the Star Wars films.
How old was Carrie Fisher when she died?
She was 60 years old.
What did Carrie Fisher die of?
She died after a cardiac arrest in December 2016; later reports said sleep apnea and other factors contributed.

Sources

  1. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Carrie-Fisher
    Supports: Birth and death dates, age at death, nationality, and overview of her career.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrie_Fisher
    Supports: Marriage to Paul Simon and key Star Wars film credits.
  3. Biography.com — https://www.biography.com/actors/carrie-fisher
    Supports: Career overview, death date, age at death, and later reporting on contributing factors.
  4. BBC News — https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38422973
    Supports: Marriage to Paul Simon and biographical overview.
  5. People — https://www.people.com/carrie-fisher-life-in-photos-5729808
    Supports: Age at death and reporting on the cause of death.
  6. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000402/
    Supports: Filmography examples and spouse information.