Debbie Reynolds’s Stellar Style Legacy: A Retrospective
In a tragic turn of events, Hollywood legend Debbie Reynolds succumbed to a fatal stroke on Wednesday at age 84, just a day after her daughter, actress Carrie Fisher, died of complications from a heart attack. Reynolds first made a splash on the big screen when she was cast opposite Gene Kelly in the classic film Singin’ in the Rain. In a career that spanned nearly seven decades, Reynolds lent an enthusiastic flair to numerous movies, including How the West Was Won, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, and, in recent years, the HBO sensation Behind the Candelabra.
The petite Reynolds was known for her bright, wholesome image, as well as her fierce acting chops, which earned her Oscar, Emmy, and Tony nominations and a Screen Actors Guild Award, among other honors. But Reynolds’ greatest role might have been that of survivor. “I’ll keep singing and dancing until I’m too old to stand up,” she said. She also worked tirelessly to preserve Hollywood memorabilia, making sure items such as the dress Marilyn Monroe wore in The Seven-Year Itch and Charlie Chaplin’s ubiquitous hat were housed safely in museums.
Despite a prolific career and legions of adoring fans, Reynolds didn’t have an easy life. She famously battled with her late daughter Fisher (who chronicled the pair’s rocky relationship and temporary estrangement in the book-turned-movie Postcards from the Edge), was betrayed by her first husband, Eddie Fisher, and close friend Elizabeth Taylor, and lost her fortune when it was gambled away by second husband Harry Karl. Through it all, Reynolds carried herself with style and grace, and her beaming image is etched in the memories of the millions who adored her.
As we mourn the loss of another legend, let’s take a look back at some of Reynolds’ most memorable looks throughout the years.
More: 8 Things All Millennials Need to Know About Debbie Reynolds
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