Debbie Reynolds was born Mary Frances Reynolds in El Paso, Texas, the second child of Maxine N. (Harmon) and Raymond Francis Reynolds, a carpenter for the Southern Pacific Railroad. Her film career began at MGM after she won a beauty contest at age 16 impersonating Betty Hutton. Reynolds wasn't a dancer until she was selected to be Gene Kelly&...
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Debbie Reynolds was born Mary Frances Reynolds in El Paso, Texas, the second child of Maxine N. (Harmon) and Raymond Francis Reynolds, a carpenter for the Southern Pacific Railroad. Her film career began at MGM after she won a beauty contest at age 16 impersonating Betty Hutton. Reynolds wasn't a dancer until she was selected to be Gene Kelly's partner in Singin' in the Rain (1952). Not yet twenty, she was a quick study. Twelve years later, it seemed like she had been around forever. Most of her early film work was in MGM musicals, as perky, wholesome young women. She continued to use her dancing skills with stage work.She was 31 when she gave an Academy Award-nominated performance in The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964). She survived losing first husband Eddie Fisher to Elizabeth Taylor following the tragic death of Michael Todd. Her second husband, shoe magnate Harry Karl, gambled away his fortune as well as hers. With her children as well as Karl's, she had to keep working and turned to the stage. She had her own casino in Las Vegas with a home for her collection of Hollywood memorabilia until its closure in 1997. She took the time to personally write a long letter that is on display in the Judy Garland museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota and to provide that museum with replicas of Garland's costumes. The originals are in her newly-opened museum in Hollywood.Nearly all the money she makes is spent toward her goal of creating a Hollywood museum. Her collection numbers more than 3000 costumes and 46,000 square-feet worth of props and equipment.With musician/actor Eddie Fisher, she was the mother of filmmaker Todd Fisher and actress Carrie Fisher. Debbie died of a stroke on December 28, 2016, one day after the death of her daughter Carrie. She was survived by her son and granddaughter, up-and-coming actress Billie Lourd. Show less «
[asked what her favorite film is] I think one of my favorite films is Dark Victory (1939) with Bette...Show more »
[asked what her favorite film is] I think one of my favorite films is Dark Victory (1939) with Bette Davis. Why? She was so wonderful in that film. And . . . maybe I just want a good cry once in a while without having to go through a divorce. Show less «
I only had radio growing up, so I loved going to the movies. I always had a thing for a fairy-tale e...Show more »
I only had radio growing up, so I loved going to the movies. I always had a thing for a fairy-tale ending. Show less «
I stopped making movies because I don't like taking my clothes off. Maybe it's realism but, in my op...Show more »
I stopped making movies because I don't like taking my clothes off. Maybe it's realism but, in my opinion, it's utter filth. Show less «
Upon the death of her daughter Carrie Fisher one day earlier while planning her funeral at her son T...Show more »
Upon the death of her daughter Carrie Fisher one day earlier while planning her funeral at her son Todd Fisher's house, Debbie Reynolds said to her son, "I miss her so much, I want to be with Carrie". Show less «
[on the death of Tony Curtis] Nobody had a better time than Tony. He loved the ladies. He loved art....Show more »
[on the death of Tony Curtis] Nobody had a better time than Tony. He loved the ladies. He loved art. He loved this business more than anything. He was a great looking guy, handsome. We were all very close friends when we were young, a long, long time ago. But he had a wonderful life. He had a full life. He was a great, marvellous actor. Show less «
[on the announcement that daughter Carrie Fisher is in Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2...Show more »
[on the announcement that daughter Carrie Fisher is in Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)] She's very excited about it . . . she's been on a diet ever since, because you know they have to be up to par, so she looks terrific, she's lost 40 pounds. Show less «
Daddy had got us rooms in a motel until he could find us a house. There were not a lot of places ava...Show more »
Daddy had got us rooms in a motel until he could find us a house. There were not a lot of places available for a young family on our budget. Daddy went around to dozens of places. Nobody wanted kids. Finally, he found one in the hills south of Glendale. As usual, the landlady asked if he had kids. "Yep,' he replied. "A boy and a girl". "Well, whatta you going to do about them?" she wanted to know, implying that she didn't allow children. "I'm gonna take 'em out and drown them in the Los Angeles River, and come back tomorrow". That was my father--ask a silly question and just wait. She must have had the same sense of humor--we moved in the next day. Show less «
I do 20 minutes every time the refrigerator door opens and the light comes on.
I do 20 minutes every time the refrigerator door opens and the light comes on.
[on Carrie Fisher] People used to call her "Debbie Reynolds' daughter," now they call me "Princess L...Show more »
[on Carrie Fisher] People used to call her "Debbie Reynolds' daughter," now they call me "Princess Leia's mother!" Show less «
Singin' in the Rain (1952) and childbirth were the two hardest things I ever had to do in my life.
Singin' in the Rain (1952) and childbirth were the two hardest things I ever had to do in my life.