ReelRifter
Debbie Reynolds

Debbie Reynolds

Acting

Born April 1, 1932 — Died December 28, 2016 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.

TV Shows(55)

The 7D

The 7D

Grandmommers Whimsical (voice)

2014

RuPaul's Drag Race

RuPaul's Drag Race

Self - Guest Judge

2009

The Penguins of Madagascar

The Penguins of Madagascar

Granny Squirrel (voice)

2008

The Reichen Show

The Reichen Show

Self - Guest

2005

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Self

2003

Kim Possible

Kim Possible

Nana Possible (voice)

2002

First Monday

First Monday

2002

Family Guy

Family Guy

Mrs. Wilson (voice)

1999

Will & Grace

Will & Grace

Bobbi Adler

1998

Hollywood Squares

Hollywood Squares

Self - Panelist

1998

Touched by an Angel

Touched by an Angel

Betty Poplovich

1994

Intimate Portrait

Intimate Portrait

Self

1993

Vicki!

Vicki!

Self

1992

Rugrats

Rugrats

Lulu Pickles (voice)

1991

Wings

Wings

Deedee Chappel

1990

Roseanne

Roseanne

1988

Sidewalks Entertainment

Sidewalks Entertainment

1988

The Golden Girls

The Golden Girls

Truby

1985

Jennifer Slept Here

Jennifer Slept Here

Alice Farrell

1983

Madame's Place

Madame's Place

Self

1982

Hotel

Hotel

1982

Late Night with David Letterman

Late Night with David Letterman

Self - Guest

1982

Entertainment Tonight

Entertainment Tonight

Self

1981

Aloha Paradise

Aloha Paradise

Sydney Chase

1981

Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters

Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters

Self

1980

The Love Boat

The Love Boat

Sheila Evans

1977

Alice

Alice

1976

The Sonny and Cher Show

The Sonny and Cher Show

1976

Dinah!

Dinah!

Self

1974

Great Performances

Great Performances

Self

1971

The Pearl Bailey Show

The Pearl Bailey Show

Self

1971

Bracken's World

Bracken's World

1969

The Debbie Reynolds Show

The Debbie Reynolds Show

Debbie Thompson

1969

The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour

The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour

Self

1969

The Dick Cavett Show

The Dick Cavett Show

Self - Guest

1968

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

Self

1968

The Carol Burnett Show

The Carol Burnett Show

Self - Guest / Various Characters

1967

The Merv Griffin Show

The Merv Griffin Show

Self

1962

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

Self

1962

The Mike Douglas Show

The Mike Douglas Show

Self

1961

The DuPont Show of the Week

The DuPont Show of the Week

Self

1961

Kraft Music Hall

Kraft Music Hall

1958

American Bandstand

American Bandstand

Self

1957

The Steve Allen Show

The Steve Allen Show

Self - Recipient

1956

Tony Awards

Tony Awards

Self - Nominee

1956

Ford Star Jubilee

Ford Star Jubilee

1955

MGM Parade

MGM Parade

1955

The George Gobel Show

The George Gobel Show

Self

1954

The Oscars

The Oscars

Self

1953

This Is Your Life

This Is Your Life

Self

1952

The Colgate Comedy Hour

The Colgate Comedy Hour

Self

1950

The Bob Hope Show

The Bob Hope Show

Self

1950

What's My Line?

What's My Line?

Self - Mystery Guest

1950

The Ed Sullivan Show

The Ed Sullivan Show

Self

1948

Golden Globe Awards

Golden Globe Awards

Self - Presenter

1944

Movies(109)

Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes

Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes

Self (archive footage)

2024

Commitment to Life

Commitment to Life

Self (archive footage)

2023

Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age

Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age

Self

2021

Sœur Sourire: Who Killed the Voice of God?

Sœur Sourire: Who Killed the Voice of God?

Self (archive footage)

2021

Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds

Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds

Self

2017

The Slippers

The Slippers

2016

Tab Hunter Confidential

Tab Hunter Confidential

Self

2015

Committed

Committed

Self

2014

Behind the Candelabra

Behind the Candelabra

Frances

2013

In the Picture

In the Picture

Aunt Lilith

2012

Tony Curtis: Driven to Stardom

Tony Curtis: Driven to Stardom

Self

2012

One for the Money

One for the Money

Grandma Mazur

2012

Hollywood Singing & Dancing: A Musical History - 1970's

Hollywood Singing & Dancing: A Musical History - 1970's

Self

2009

The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story

The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story

Self

2009

Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1930s: Dancing Away the Great Depression

Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1930s: Dancing Away the Great Depression

Self

2009

The Brothers Warner

The Brothers Warner

Self

2008

Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History

Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History

Self

2008

The Jill & Tony Curtis Story

The Jill & Tony Curtis Story

2008

Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project

Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project

Self

2007

Return to Halloweentown

Return to Halloweentown

Agatha 'Aggie' Cromwell

2006

Get Aboard! 'The Band Wagon'

Get Aboard! 'The Band Wagon'

Self (archive footage)

2005

Halloweentown High

Halloweentown High

Agatha 'Aggie' Cromwell

2004

AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs: America's Greatest Music in the Movies

AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs: America's Greatest Music in the Movies

Self

2004

Connie and Carla

Connie and Carla

Herself

2004

Tracey Ullman in the Trailer Tales

Tracey Ullman in the Trailer Tales

Herself

2003

Rugrats: Babies in Toyland

Rugrats: Babies in Toyland

Lulu Pickles (voice)

2002

Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer

Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer

Self

2002

What a Glorious Feeling: The Making of 'Singin' in the Rain'

What a Glorious Feeling: The Making of 'Singin' in the Rain'

Self

2002

Cinerama Adventure

Cinerama Adventure

Self

2002

Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge

Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge

Agatha 'Aggie' Cromwell

2001

Cleopatra: The Film That Changed Hollywood

Cleopatra: The Film That Changed Hollywood

Self (archive footage)

2001

These Old Broads

These Old Broads

Piper Grayson

2001

Rugrats in Paris: The Movie

Rugrats in Paris: The Movie

Lulu Pickles (voice)

2000

Virtual Mom

Virtual Mom

Gwen

2000

A Gift of Love: The Daniel Huffman Story

A Gift of Love: The Daniel Huffman Story

Shirlee Allison

1999

Keepers of the Frame

Keepers of the Frame

Herself

1999

The Christmas Wish

The Christmas Wish

Ruth

1998

Halloweentown

Halloweentown

Agatha 'Aggie' Cromwell

1998

Zack and Reba

Zack and Reba

Beulah Blanton

1998

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie

Mrs. Claus / Mitzi / Mrs. Prancer / School Teacher (voice)

1998

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Debbie Reynolds (voice)

1998

In & Out

In & Out

Berniece Brackett

1997

Twentieth Century Fox: The First 50 Years

Twentieth Century Fox: The First 50 Years

Self

1997

Mother

Mother

Beatrice Henderson

1996

Wedding Bell Blues

Wedding Bell Blues

Debbie Reynolds

1996

That's Entertainment! III

That's Entertainment! III

Self - Co-Host / Narrator

1994

Heaven & Earth

Heaven & Earth

Eugenia

1993

Jack L. Warner: The Last Mogul

Jack L. Warner: The Last Mogul

Self

1993

The Bodyguard

The Bodyguard

Debbie Reynolds

1992

Battling for Baby

Battling for Baby

Helen

1992

Perry Mason: The Case of the Musical Murder

Perry Mason: The Case of the Musical Murder

Amanda Cody

1989

Couples Do It Debbie's Way

Couples Do It Debbie's Way

1988

Sadie and Son

Sadie and Son

Sadie

1987

Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood

Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood

Self

1987

The Best of Broadway

The Best of Broadway

Herself

1985

That's Dancing!

That's Dancing!

1985

Do It Debbie's Way

Do It Debbie's Way

Self

1983

Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

1983

Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!

Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!

Self (archive footage)

1982

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Alice

1981

Leapin' Lizards, It's Liberace!

Leapin' Lizards, It's Liberace!

Herself

1978

The People's Command Performance: '77

The People's Command Performance: '77

Self

1977

Bob Hope's World of Comedy

Bob Hope's World of Comedy

Self (archive footage)

1976

That's Entertainment, Part II

That's Entertainment, Part II

(archive footage)

1976

That's Entertainment!

That's Entertainment!

Self - Host / Narrator

1974

Charlotte's Web

Charlotte's Web

Charlotte (voice)

1973

Hollywood: The Dream Factory

Hollywood: The Dream Factory

Self (archive footage)

1972

What's the Matter with Helen?

What's the Matter with Helen?

Adelle Bruckner

1971

Debbie Reynolds and the Sound of Children

Debbie Reynolds and the Sound of Children

Self

1969

How Sweet It Is!

How Sweet It Is!

Jenny

1968

Mondo Hollywood

Mondo Hollywood

1967

Divorce American Style

Divorce American Style

Barbara Harmon

1967

The Singing Nun

The Singing Nun

Sister Ann

1966

Goodbye Charlie

Goodbye Charlie

Charlie Sorel / Virginia Mason

1964

The Unsinkable Molly Brown

The Unsinkable Molly Brown

Molly Brown

1964

The Story of a Dress

The Story of a Dress

Self

1964

Mary, Mary

Mary, Mary

Mary McKellaway

1963

My Six Loves

My Six Loves

Janice Courtney

1963

How the West Was Won

How the West Was Won

Lilith Prescott

1962

The Second Time Around

The Second Time Around

Lu Rogers

1961

The Pleasure of His Company

The Pleasure of His Company

Jessica Poole

1961

Pepe

Pepe

Debbie Reynolds

1960

The Rat Race

The Rat Race

Peggy Brown

1960

The Gazebo

The Gazebo

Nell Nash

1960

Hedda Hopper's Hollywood

Hedda Hopper's Hollywood

Self

1960

It Started with a Kiss

It Started with a Kiss

Maggie Putnam

1959

Say One for Me

Say One for Me

Holly LeMaise

1959

The Mating Game

The Mating Game

Mariette Larkin

1959

This Happy Feeling

This Happy Feeling

Janet Blake

1958

Tammy and the Bachelor

Tammy and the Bachelor

Tammy Tyree

1957

Bundle of Joy

Bundle of Joy

Polly Parish

1956

The Catered Affair

The Catered Affair

Jane Hurley

1956

Meet Me in Las Vegas

Meet Me in Las Vegas

Debbie Reynolds (uncredited)

1956

The Tender Trap

The Tender Trap

Julie Gillis

1955

Hit the Deck

Hit the Deck

Carol Pace

1955

Athena

Athena

Minerva Mulvain

1954

A Star Is Born World Premiere

A Star Is Born World Premiere

Self

1954

Susan Slept Here

Susan Slept Here

Susan Beaurgard Landis

1954

Give a Girl a Break

Give a Girl a Break

Suzy Doolittle

1953

The Affairs of Dobie Gillis

The Affairs of Dobie Gillis

Pansy Hammer

1953

I Love Melvin

I Love Melvin

Judy Schneider / Judy LeRoy

1953

Skirts Ahoy!

Skirts Ahoy!

Debbie Reynolds (uncredited)

1952

Singin' in the Rain

Singin' in the Rain

Kathy Selden

1952

Challenge the Wilderness

Challenge the Wilderness

Narrator (uncredited)

1951

Mr. Imperium

Mr. Imperium

Gwen

1951

Two Weeks with Love

Two Weeks with Love

Melba Robinson

1950

Three Little Words

Three Little Words

Helen Kane

1950

The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady

The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady

Maureen O'Grady

1950

June Bride

June Bride

Boo's Girlfriend at Wedding

1948