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Debbie Reynolds

Date of Death: December 28, 2016 (84)

Birth Place: El Paso, TX, USA

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BIO

Debbie Reynolds was an American actress, singer, entertainer, businesswoman, film historian, humanitarian and a noted former collector of film memorabilia. Her breakout role was the portrayal of Helen Kane in the 1950 film "Three Little Words", for which she was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer.

However, it was her first leading role in 1952 at age 19, as Kathy Selden in "Singin' in the Rain," that set her on the path to fame. By the mid-1950s, she was a major star. Other notable successes include "The Affairs of Dobie Gillis," "Susan Slept Here," "Bundle of Joy," for which she received a Golden Globe nomination, "The Catered Affair," and and "Tammy and the Bachelor," in which her rendering of the song "Tammy" reached number one on the music charts.

She starred in "How the West Was Won," and "The Unsinkable Molly Brown." Her performance as Molly Brown earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress.


Her other notable films include "The Singing Nun," "Divorce American Style," "What's the Matter with Helen?," "Mother (1996 Golden Globe nomination)," and "In & Out."

Reynolds is also a noted cabaret performer. In 1979 she founded the Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio in North Hollywood, which still operates today.

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. In 1969 she starred in her own television show, "The Debbie Reynolds Show," for which she received a Golden Globe nomination. She was also nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for her performance in "A Gift of Love" and an Emmy Award for playing Grace's mother Bobbi on "Will & Grace."

In 1988 she released her autobiography titled, "Debbie: My Life." In 2013, she released an updated version titled "Unsinkable: A Memoir."

Reynolds died after suffering a stroke, one day after the passing of her daughter Carrie Fisher.

Photos

STAGE CREDITS

Woman of the Year
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1981
Tess Harding [Replacement]
Debbie
[Broadway]
Concert [Broadway], 1976
Performer
Irene
[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 1973
Irene O'Dare
Annie Get Your Gun
[US Tour]
West Coast Revival, 1977
Annie Oakley

Movies

The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady
[ 1950 ] Maureen O'Grady
Three Little Words
[ 1950 ] Helen Kane
Two Weeks with Love
[ 1950 ] Melba Robinson
You Belong to My Heart
[ 1951 ] Gwen
24th Annual Academy Awards
[ 1952 ] Self - Audience Member
Singin' in the Rain
[ 1952 ] Kathy Selden
Give a Girl a Break
[ 1953 ] Suzy Doolittle
I Love Melvin
[ 1953 ] Judy Schneider / Judy LeRoy
The Affairs of Dobie Gillis
[ 1953 ] Pansy Hammer
A Star Is Born World Premiere
[ 1954 ]
Athena
[ 1954 ] Minerva Mulvain
Susan Slept Here
[ 1954 ] Susan Beaurgard Landis
Hit the Deck
[ 1955 ] Carol Pace
The Tender Trap
[ 1955 ] Julie Gillis
Atlantic City Holiday
[ 1956 ]
Bundle of Joy
[ 1956 ] Polly Parish
The Catered Affair
[ 1956 ] Jane Hurley
Tammy
[ 1957 ] Tammy
This Happy Feeling
[ 1958 ] Janet Blake
It Started with a Kiss
[ 1959 ] Maggie Putnam
Say One for Me
[ 1959 ] Holly LeMaise aka Conroy
The Gazebo
[ 1959 ] Nell Nash
The Mating Game
[ 1959 ] Mariette Larkin
A Date with Debbie
[ 1960 ] Self - Host
Pepe
[ 1960 ] Debbie Reynolds
The Rat Race
[ 1960 ] Peggy Brown
The Pleasure of His Company
[ 1961 ] Jessica Poole
The Second Time Around
[ 1961 ] Lucretia 'Lu' Rogers
How the West Was Won
[ 1962 ] Lilith Prescott
Mary, Mary
[ 1963 ] Mary McKellaway
My Six Loves
[ 1963 ] Janice Courtney
Goodbye Charlie
[ 1964 ] Charlie Sorel / Virginia Mason
The Unsinkable Molly Brown
[ 1964 ] Molly Brown
The Singing Nun
[ 1966 ] Sister Ann
Divorce American Style
[ 1967 ] Barbara Harmon
How Sweet It Is!
[ 1968 ] Jenny
Debbie Reynolds and the Sound of Children
[ 1969 ] Debbie Reynolds
What's the Matter with Helen?
[ 1971 ] Adelle
Charlotte's Web
[ 1973 ] Charlotte - Voice
Leapin' Lizards, It's Liberace!
[ 1978 ]
Sadie and Son
[ 1987 ] Sadie
Kiki's Delivery Service
[ 1989 ] Madame - Voice
Perry Mason: The Case of the Musical Murder
[ 1989 ] Amanda Cody
The Malibu Beach Vampires
[ 1991 ]
Battling for Baby
[ 1992 ] Helen
The Bodyguard
[ 1992 ] Debbie Reynolds
Heaven & Earth
[ 1993 ] Eugenia
Mother
[ 1996 ] Beatrice Henderson
Wedding Bell Blues
[ 1996 ] Debbie Reynolds
In & Out
[ 1997 ] Berniece Brackett
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
[ 1998 ] Debbie Reynolds
Halloweentown
[ 1998 ] Aggie Cromwell
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie
[ 1998 ] Mrs. Claus / Mitzi - Rudolph's Mother / Mrs. Prancer - School Teacher - Voice
The Christmas Wish
[ 1998 ] Ruth
Zack and Reba
[ 1998 ] Beulah Blanton
A Gift of Love: The Daniel Huffman Story
[ 1999 ] Shirlee Allison
Rugrats in Paris
[ 2000 ] Lulu Pickles - Voice
Rugrats: Acorn Nuts & Diapey Butts
[ 2000 ] Lulu Johnson - Voice
Virtual Mom
[ 2000 ] Gwen
Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge
[ 2001 ] Aggie Cromwell
These Old Broads
[ 2001 ] Piper Grayson
Generation Gap
[ 2002 ]
Tracey Ullman in the Trailer Tales
[ 2003 ]
Connie and Carla
[ 2004 ]
Halloweentown High
[ 2004 ] Aggie Cromwell
Pryor Offenses
[ 2004 ]
Return to Halloweentown
[ 2005 ] Agatha Cromwell
Light of Olympia
[ 2008 ] Queen - Voice
One for the Money
[ 2012 ] Grandma Mazur
Behind the Candelabra
[ 2013 ] Frances Liberace

TV Shows

Pat Paulsen's Half a Comedy Hour
Machine Gun Reynolds
The Debbie Reynolds Show
[ 1969-1970 ] Debbie Thompson
Aloha Paradise
Sydney Chase
Alice
Felicia Blake
Jennifer Slept Here
Alice Farrell
The Love Boat
[ 1980-1983 ] Sheila Evans, Doris Talbot
Hotel
Barbara Farrell
The Golden Girls
Truby
Wings
Deedee Chappel
Roseanne
Audrey Conner
Touched by an Angel
Betty Poplovich
First Monday
Katherine Seldes
Rugrats
[ 2000-2002 ] Lulu Pickles, Lulu Johnston
Will & Grace
[ 1999-2006 ] Bobbi Adler
Kim Possible
[ 2003-2007 ] Nana Possible
Family Guy
Mrs. Wilson
The Penguins of Madagascar Snort About Mort
Granny Squirrel
Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil
Mary Van Der Deth
The 7D
Great-Great-Grandmommers Whimsical

Awards and Nominations


winner
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 1973 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical

Debbie Reynolds, Irene

Tony Awards - 1973 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Debbie Reynolds, Irene

Videos

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Debbie Reynolds been in?

Debbie Reynolds has appeared on Broadway in 3 shows.

How many West End shows has Debbie Reynolds been in?

Debbie Reynolds has not appeared in the West End

What awards has Debbie Reynolds been nominated for?

Debbie Reynolds has been nominated for several awards throughout her career. She was nominated for Outstanding Actress in a Musical at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for her role in "Irene". Additionally, she received a nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical at the Tony Awards, also for her performance in "Irene". These nominations highlight her talent and recognition in the Broadway community.

What awards has Debbie Reynolds won?

Debbie Reynolds has won several awards for her performances in the Broadway musical "Irene." She received the Outstanding Actress in a Musical award from the Outer Critics Circle Awards and the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical award from the Tony Awards for her role in "Irene."

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