Carrie Fisher: 'Star Wars' heroine, author, script doctor
Actress Carrie Fisher, best known for her portrayal of Princess Leia in the "Star Wars" films, died on Tuesday at age 60 after suffering a heart attack.
Fisher -- who struggled with addiction in the 1980s -- was also a screenwriter, author and speaker who had enjoyed something of a career a comeback in recent years.
Here is a summary of her career highlights:
- Actress -
Fisher became a household name after starring in the original trilogy of the "Star Wars" sci-fi franchise in which she played the beloved Princess Leia Organa.
Her other film credits include small roles in "The Blues Brothers," "The Man with One Red Shoe," Woody Allen's "Hannah and Her Sisters," "Appointment with Death," "Soapdish" and "When Harry Met Sally."
She also had roles in a number of television movies including "These Old Broads," and "Wright vs. Wrong," as well as TV series including "The Big Bang Theory," "Entourage," "Sex and the City" and "Weeds."
Most recently, she had joined the cast of the Amazon series "Catastrophe," playing Mia, the heinous mother of her co-star Rob Delaney.
- Script doctor -
Though many will remember her as Princess Leia, Fisher was one of the film industry's most sought-after script doctors.
She was the unsung hero behind many movies that went on to box office success including "Hook," "Lethal Weapon 3," "Sister Act," "Scream 3," "Outbreak," and the "Star Wars" prequels.
Fisher was also hired by "Star Wars" creator George Lucas as a script doctor for the short-lived television series "Young Indiana Jones."
- Author -
Beyond her acting career and success as a script doctor, Fisher was a best-selling author known for her semi-autobiographical novels in which she wrote about her struggles with drug abuse, mental illness and her complicated family history.
In "Postcards from the Edge," first published in 1987 and later adapted into an Oscar-nominated movie, she satirized her own acting career, her battle with drug abuse and her relationship with mother Debbie Reynolds.
Fisher wrote several other novels, including "Delusions of Grandma" and "Surrender the Pink."
"Wishful Drinking," which addresses with humor and candor her mental illness and drug abuse, was turned into a documentary.
Most recently, she was on a tour promoting her latest book "The Princess Diarist," based on diaries she kept while filming "Star Wars."
She revealed in the book that she had an affair with co-star Harrison Ford while on the set of 'Star Wars."