Debbie Reynolds
Born
April 1, 1932
Died
December 28, 2016 (84 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
El Paso, Texas, USA
Mary Frances "Debbie" Reynolds (April 1, 1932 – December 28, 2016) was an American actress, singer, businesswoman, film historian, and humanitarian. She was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer for her portrayal of Helen Kane in the 1950 film Three Little Words, and her breakout role was her first leading role, as Kathy Selden in Singin' in the Rain (1952). Other successes include The Affairs of Dobie Gillis (1953), Susan Slept Here (1954), Bundle of Joy (1956 Golden Globe nomination), The Catered Affair (1956 National Board of Review Best Supporting Actress Winner), and Tammy and the Bachelor (1957), in which her performance of the song "Tammy" reached number one on the Billboard music charts. In 1959, she released her first pop music album, titled Debbie.
She starred in How the West Was Won (1963), and The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964), a biographical film about the famously boisterous Molly Brown. Her performance as Brown earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress. Her other films include The Singing Nun (1966), Divorce American Style (1967), What's the Matter with Helen? (1971), Charlotte's Web (1973), Mother (1996) (Golden Globe nomination), and In & Out (1997). Reynolds was also a cabaret performer. In 1979 she founded the Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio in North Hollywood, which still operates today.
In 1969 she starred on television in the eponymous The Debbie Reynolds Show, for which she received a Golden Globe nomination. In 1973 Reynolds starred in a Broadway revival of the musical Irene and was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical. She was also nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for her performance in A Gift of Love (1999) and an Emmy Award for playing Grace's mother Bobbi on Will & Grace. At the turn of the millennium, Reynolds reached a new younger generation with her role as Aggie Cromwell in Disney's Halloweentown series. In 1988 she released her autobiography titled, Debbie: My Life. In 2013, she released a second autobiography, Unsinkable: A Memoir.
Reynolds also had several business ventures, including ownership of a dance studio and a Las Vegas hotel and casino, and she was an avid collector of film memorabilia, beginning with items purchased at the landmark 1970 MGM auction. She served as president of The Thalians, an organization dedicated to mental health causes. Reynolds continued to perform successfully on stage, television, and film into her eighties. In January 2015, Reynolds received the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award. In 2016 she received the Academy Awards Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. In the same year, a documentary about her life was released titled Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds; the film premiered on HBO on January 7, 2017.
On December 28, 2016, Reynolds was hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center following a medical emergency, which her son Todd Fisher later described as a "severe stroke". She died that afternoon, one day after the death of her daughter Carrie Fisher.
Known For
Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes
Self (archive footage)
2024
Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes
Self (archive photos/voice)
2024
Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age
Self
2021
Sœur Sourire: Who Killed the Voice of God?
Self (archive footage)
2021
Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds
Self
2017
The Slippers
2016
Tab Hunter Confidential
Self
2015
The 7D
Grandmommers Whimsical (voice) · (1 episode)
2014
Committed
Self
2014
And the Oscar Goes To...
Self (archive footage)
2014
Behind the Candelabra
Frances
2013
In the Picture
Aunt Lilith
2012
Tony Curtis: Driven to Stardom
Self
2012
One for the Money
Grandma Mazur
2012
Hollywood Singing & Dancing: A Musical History - 1970's
Self
2009
The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story
Self
2009
RuPaul's Drag Race
Self - Guest Judge · (1 episode)
2009
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1930s: Dancing Away the Great Depression
Self
2009
The Penguins of Madagascar
Granny Squirrel (voice) · (1 episode)
2008
The Brothers Warner
Self
2008
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History
Self
2008
Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project
Self
2007
Return to Halloweentown
Agatha 'Aggie' Cromwell
2006
The One Show
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2006
The Reichen Show
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2005
Get Aboard! 'The Band Wagon'
Self (archive footage)
2005
Halloweentown High
Agatha 'Aggie' Cromwell
2004
AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs: America's Greatest Music in the Movies
Self
2004
Connie and Carla
Herself
2004
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self · (1 episode)
2003
Tracey Ullman in the Trailer Tales
Herself
2003
Rugrats: Babies in Toyland
Lulu Pickles (voice)
2002
Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer
Self
2002
What a Glorious Feeling: The Making of 'Singin' in the Rain'
Self
2002
Cinerama Adventure
Self
2002
Kim Possible
Nana Possible (voice) · (4 episodes)
2002
First Monday
(1 episode)
2002
Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge
Agatha 'Aggie' Cromwell
2001
Cleopatra: The Film That Changed Hollywood
Self (archive footage)
2001
These Old Broads
Piper Grayson
2001
Rugrats in Paris: The Movie
Lulu Pickles (voice)
2000
Virtual Mom
Gwen
2000
A Gift of Love: The Daniel Huffman Story
Shirlee Allison
1999
Keepers of the Frame
Herself
1999
Family Guy
Mrs. Wilson (voice) · (1 episode)
1999
The Christmas Wish
Ruth
1998
Halloweentown
Agatha 'Aggie' Cromwell
1998
Zack and Reba
Beulah Blanton
1998
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie
Mrs. Claus / Mitzi / Mrs. Prancer / School Teacher (voice)
1998
Will & Grace
Bobbi Adler · (12 episodes)
1998
Hollywood Squares
Self - Panelist · (5 episodes)
1998
Hollywood Squares
(5 episodes)
1998
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Debbie Reynolds (voice)
1998
In & Out
Berniece Brackett
1997
Twentieth Century Fox: The First 50 Years
Self
1997
Mother
Beatrice Henderson
1996
Wedding Bell Blues
Debbie Reynolds
1996
Wedding Bell Blues
Self
1996
Touched by an Angel
Betty Poplovich · (1 episode)
1994
That's Entertainment! III
Self - Co-Host / Narrator
1994
Heaven & Earth
Eugenia
1993
Intimate Portrait
Self · (1 episode)
1993
Jack L. Warner: The Last Mogul
Self
1993
The Bodyguard
Debbie Reynolds
1992
Vicki!
Self · (1 episode)
1992
Battling for Baby
Helen
1992
Rugrats
Lulu Pickles (voice) · (2 episodes)
1991
Wings
Deedee Chappel · (1 episode)
1990
Perry Mason: The Case of the Musical Murder
Amanda Cody
1989
Roseanne
(1 episode)
1988
Sidewalks Entertainment
(1 episode)
1988
Couples Do It Debbie's Way
1988
Sadie and Son
Sadie
1987
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
Self
1987
The Golden Girls
Truby · (1 episode)
1985
The Best of Broadway
Herself
1985
That's Dancing!
1985
Jennifer Slept Here
Alice Farrell · (1 episode)
1983
Do It Debbie's Way
Self
1983
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1983
Madame's Place
Self · (1 episode)
1982
Hotel
(1 episode)
1982
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
Self (archive footage)
1982
Entertainment Tonight
Self · (1 episode)
1981
Aloha Paradise
Sydney Chase · (8 episodes)
1981
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Alice (voice)
1981
Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters
Self · (1 episode)
1980
Leapin' Lizards, It's Liberace!
Herself
1978
The Love Boat
Sheila Evans · (2 episodes)
1977
The Love Boat
Doris Talbert · (1 episode)
1977
The People's Command Performance: '77
Self
1977
Alice
(1 episode)
1976
That's Entertainment, Part II
(archive footage)
1976
The Sonny and Cher Show
(2 episodes)
1976
Dinah!
Self · (1 episode)
1974
That's Entertainment!
Self - Host / Narrator
1974
Charlotte's Web
Charlotte (voice)
1973
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
Self (archive footage)
1972
What's the Matter with Helen?
Adelle Bruckner
1971
Great Performances
Self · (1 episode)
1971
The Pearl Bailey Show
Self · (1 episode)
1971
Debbie Reynolds and the Sound of Children
Self
1969
Bracken's World
(1 episode)
1969
The Debbie Reynolds Show
Debbie Thompson · (26 episodes)
1969
The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour
Self · (2 episodes)
1969
How Sweet It Is!
Jenny
1968
The Dick Cavett Show
Self - Guest · (3 episodes)
1968
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Self · (4 episodes)
1968
The Carol Burnett Show
Self - Guest / Various Characters · (1 episode)
1967
Divorce American Style
Barbara Harmon
1967
The Singing Nun
Sister Ann
1966
Goodbye Charlie
Charlie Sorel / Virginia Mason
1964
The Unsinkable Molly Brown
Molly Brown
1964
The Story of a Dress
Self
1964
Mary, Mary
Mary McKellaway
1963
My Six Loves
Janice Courtney
1963
The Andy Williams Christmas Show
1962
How the West Was Won
Lilith Prescott
1962
The Merv Griffin Show
Self · (1 episode)
1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self · (10 episodes)
1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self - Guest Host · (1 episode)
1962
The Second Time Around
Lu Rogers
1961
The Mike Douglas Show
Self · (1 episode)
1961
The DuPont Show of the Week
Self · (1 episode)
1961
The Pleasure of His Company
Jessica Poole
1961
Pepe
Debbie Reynolds
1960
The Rat Race
Peggy Brown
1960
The Gazebo
Nell Nash
1960
Hedda Hopper's Hollywood
Self
1960
Startime
(1 episode)
1959
It Started with a Kiss
Maggie Putnam
1959
Say One for Me
Holly LeMaise
1959
The Mating Game
Mariette Larkin
1959
Kraft Music Hall
(1 episode)
1958
This Happy Feeling
Janet Blake
1958
American Bandstand
Self · (2 episodes)
1957
Tammy and the Bachelor
Tammy Tyree
1957
Bundle of Joy
Polly Parish
1956
The Steve Allen Show
Self - Recipient · (1 episode)
1956
The Catered Affair
Jane Hurley
1956
Tony Awards
Self - Nominee · (1 episode)
1956
Tony Awards
Self - Memoriam (archive footage) · (1 episode)
1956
Meet Me in Las Vegas
Debbie Reynolds (uncredited)
1956
The Tender Trap
Julie Gillis
1955
Ford Star Jubilee
(1 episode)
1955
Hit the Deck
Carol Pace
1955
Athena
Minerva Mulvain
1954
The George Gobel Show
Self · (1 episode)
1954
A Star Is Born World Premiere
Self
1954
Susan Slept Here
Susan Beaurgard Landis
1954
Give a Girl a Break
Suzy Doolittle
1953
The Affairs of Dobie Gillis
Pansy Hammer
1953
I Love Melvin
Judy Schneider / Judy LeRoy
1953
The Oscars
Self · (7 episodes)
1953
This Is Your Life
Self · (1 episode)
1952
Skirts Ahoy!
Debbie Reynolds (uncredited)
1952
Singin' in the Rain
Kathy Selden
1952
Challenge the Wilderness
Narrator (uncredited)
1951
Mr. Imperium
Gwen
1951
Two Weeks with Love
Melba Robinson
1950
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Self · (1 episode)
1950
Three Little Words
Helen Kane
1950
The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady
Maureen O'Grady
1950
The Bob Hope Show
Self · (6 episodes)
1950
What's My Line?
Self - Mystery Guest · (4 episodes)
1950
June Bride
Boo's Girlfriend at Wedding
1948
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self · (6 episodes)
1948
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Presenter · (2 episodes)
1944
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Hostess · (1 episode)
1944