Mary Frances "Debbie" Reynolds (April
1, 1932 – December 28, 2016) was an American actress, singer, businesswoman,
film historian, humanitarian, and mother of the actress and writer Carrie Fisher.
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"
became the first song by a female solo artist to reach number one on the Billboard music charts.[1] 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.