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Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Birthday
April 1, 1932
Died
December 28, 2016
Place of Birth
El Paso, Texas, USA
Also Known As
- Mary Frances Reynolds
Debbie Reynolds
2.6 Popularity
Biography
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.
Known For
0.0
Self
Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age
2021
6.4
Self (archive footage)
Sœur Sourire: Who Killed the Voice of God?
2021
7.5
Self
Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds
2017
🎬
0.0
The Slippers
2016
7.3
Self
Tab Hunter Confidential
2015
6.2
Grandmommers Whimsical (voice)
The 7D
2014
0.0
Self
Committed
2014
6.6
Frances
Behind the Candelabra
2013
0.0
Aunt Lilith
In the Picture
2012
7.0
Self
Tony Curtis: Driven to Stardom
2012
Credits
Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age
as Self
2021
0.0
Sœur Sourire: Who Killed the Voice of God?
as Self (archive footage)
2021
6.4
Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds
as Self
2017
7.5
🎬
The Slippers
2016
0.0
Tab Hunter Confidential
as Self
2015
7.3
The 7D
as Grandmommers Whimsical (voice)
2014
6.2
Committed
as Self
2014
0.0
Behind the Candelabra
as Frances
2013
6.6
In the Picture
as Aunt Lilith
2012
0.0
Tony Curtis: Driven to Stardom
as Self
2012
7.0
One for the Money
as Grandma Mazur
2012
5.6
Hollywood Singing & Dancing: A Musical History - 1970's
as Self
2009
8.0
The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story
as Self
2009
7.3
RuPaul's Drag Race
as Self - Guest Judge
2009
7.5
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1930s: Dancing Away the Great Depression
as Self
2009
0.0
The Penguins of Madagascar
as Granny Squirrel (voice)
2008
7.4
The Brothers Warner
as Self
2008
6.6
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History
as Self
2008
8.0
🎬
The Jill & Tony Curtis Story
2008
1.0
Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project
as Self
2007
6.8
Return to Halloweentown
as Agatha 'Aggie' Cromwell
2006
6.7
The Reichen Show
as Self - Guest
2005
4.8
Get Aboard! 'The Band Wagon'
as Self (archive footage)
2005
0.0
Halloweentown High
as Agatha 'Aggie' Cromwell
2004
6.5
AFI's 100 Years... 100 Songs: America's Greatest Music in the Movies
as Self
2004
8.0
Connie and Carla
as Herself
2004
5.8
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
as Self
2003
5.6
Tracey Ullman in the Trailer Tales
as Herself
2003
7.2
Rugrats: Babies in Toyland
as Lulu Pickles (voice)
2002
6.0
Gene Kelly: Anatomy of a Dancer
as Self
2002
7.7
What a Glorious Feeling: The Making of 'Singin' in the Rain'
as Self
2002
0.0
Cinerama Adventure
as Self
2002
7.6
Kim Possible
as Nana Possible (voice)
2002
7.5
First Monday
2002
6.0
Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge
as Agatha 'Aggie' Cromwell
2001
6.8
Cleopatra: The Film That Changed Hollywood
as Self (archive footage)
2001
7.2
These Old Broads
as Piper Grayson
2001
6.1
Rugrats in Paris: The Movie
as Lulu Pickles (voice)
2000
6.7
Virtual Mom
as Gwen
2000
5.0
🎬
A Gift of Love: The Daniel Huffman Story
as Shirlee Allison
1999
3.0
🎬
Keepers of the Frame
as Herself
1999
10.0
Family Guy
as Mrs. Wilson (voice)
1999
7.4
The Christmas Wish
as Ruth
1998
5.2
Halloweentown
as Agatha 'Aggie' Cromwell
1998
6.8
Zack and Reba
as Beulah Blanton
1998
5.3
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie
as Mrs. Claus / Mitzi / Mrs. Prancer / School Teacher (voice)
1998
6.1
Will & Grace
as Bobbi Adler
1998
6.8
Hollywood Squares
as Self - Panelist
1998
7.3
Hollywood Squares
1998
7.3
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
as Debbie Reynolds (voice)
1998
7.2
In & Out
as Berniece Brackett
1997
6.5
Twentieth Century Fox: The First 50 Years
as Self
1997
7.2
Mother
as Beatrice Henderson
1996
6.8
Wedding Bell Blues
as Debbie Reynolds
1996
3.8
Wedding Bell Blues
as Self
1996
3.8
Touched by an Angel
as Betty Poplovich
1994
7.2
That's Entertainment! III
as Self - Co-Host / Narrator
1994
7.0
Heaven & Earth
as Eugenia
1993
6.7
Intimate Portrait
as Self
1993
4.5
Jack L. Warner: The Last Mogul
as Self
1993
6.5
The Bodyguard
as Debbie Reynolds
1992
6.7
🎬
Vicki!
as Self
1992
5.0
Battling for Baby
as Helen
1992
4.5
Rugrats
as Lulu Pickles (voice)
1991
7.6
Wings
as Deedee Chappel
1990
6.9
Perry Mason: The Case of the Musical Murder
as Amanda Cody
1989
6.5
Roseanne
1988
6.8
🎬
Sidewalks Entertainment
1988
7.5
Couples Do It Debbie's Way
1988
0.0
Sadie and Son
as Sadie
1987
4.0
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
as Self
1987
5.7
The Golden Girls
as Truby
1985
7.6
The Best of Broadway
as Herself
1985
0.0
That's Dancing!
1985
7.0
Jennifer Slept Here
as Alice Farrell
1983
5.0
Do It Debbie's Way
as Self
1983
0.0
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1983
6.5
Madame's Place
as Self
1982
7.3
Hotel
1982
6.8
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
as Self (archive footage)
1982
6.0
Entertainment Tonight
as Self
1981
4.1
Aloha Paradise
as Sydney Chase
1981
5.0
Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters
as Self
1980
5.0
Leapin' Lizards, It's Liberace!
as Herself
1978
0.0
The Love Boat
as Sheila Evans
1977
6.3
The Love Boat
as Doris Talbert
1977
6.3
The People's Command Performance: '77
as Self
1977
0.0
Alice
1976
7.1
That's Entertainment, Part II
as (archive footage)
1976
6.9
The Sonny and Cher Show
1976
6.8
Dinah!
as Self
1974
6.7
That's Entertainment!
as Self - Host / Narrator
1974
7.4
Charlotte's Web
as Charlotte (voice)
1973
6.8
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
as Self (archive footage)
1972
6.0
What's the Matter with Helen?
as Adelle Bruckner
1971
5.8
Great Performances
as Self
1971
5.8
🎬
The Pearl Bailey Show
as Self
1971
0.0
Debbie Reynolds and the Sound of Children
as Self
1969
0.0
Bracken's World
1969
5.0
🎬
The Debbie Reynolds Show
as Debbie Thompson
1969
8.0
The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour
as Self
1969
5.8
How Sweet It Is!
as Jenny
1968
7.4
The Dick Cavett Show
as Self - Guest
1968
6.8
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
as Self
1968
6.6
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
as Self (uncredited)
1968
6.6
The Carol Burnett Show
as Self - Guest / Various Characters
1967
7.7
Divorce American Style
as Barbara Harmon
1967
5.6
The Singing Nun
as Sister Ann
1966
5.8
Goodbye Charlie
as Charlie Sorel / Virginia Mason
1964
5.8
The Unsinkable Molly Brown
as Molly Brown
1964
5.5
The Story of a Dress
as Self
1964
0.0
Mary, Mary
as Mary McKellaway
1963
4.4
My Six Loves
as Janice Courtney
1963
5.6
The Andy Williams Christmas Show
1962
6.0
How the West Was Won
as Lilith Prescott
1962
7.0
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
as Self
1962
7.5
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
as Self - Guest Host
1962
7.5
The Merv Griffin Show
as Self
1962
6.2
The Second Time Around
as Lu Rogers
1961
6.2
The Mike Douglas Show
as Self
1961
5.4
The DuPont Show of the Week
as Self
1961
6.0
The Pleasure of His Company
as Jessica Poole
1961
6.2
Pepe
as Debbie Reynolds
1960
6.3
The Rat Race
as Peggy Brown
1960
6.6
The Gazebo
as Nell Nash
1960
6.9
Hedda Hopper's Hollywood
as Self
1960
6.0
Startime
1959
6.0
It Started with a Kiss
as Maggie Putnam
1959
5.2
Say One for Me
as Holly LeMaise
1959
4.5
The Mating Game
as Mariette Larkin
1959
6.2
Kraft Music Hall
1958
4.7
This Happy Feeling
as Janet Blake
1958
4.0
American Bandstand
as Self
1957
8.4
Tammy and the Bachelor
as Tammy Tyree
1957
7.0
Bundle of Joy
as Polly Parish
1956
6.2
The Steve Allen Show
as Self - Recipient
1956
5.6
The Catered Affair
as Jane Hurley
1956
7.1
Tony Awards
as Self - Nominee
1956
5.9
Meet Me in Las Vegas
as Debbie Reynolds (uncredited)
1956
4.2
The Tender Trap
as Julie Gillis
1955
6.1
🎬
Ford Star Jubilee
1955
7.0
Hit the Deck
as Carol Pace
1955
4.6
Athena
as Minerva Mulvain
1954
5.6
🎬
The George Gobel Show
as Self
1954
7.3
A Star Is Born World Premiere
as Self
1954
8.0
Susan Slept Here
as Susan Beaurgard Landis
1954
6.0
Give a Girl a Break
as Suzy Doolittle
1953
5.3
The Affairs of Dobie Gillis
as Pansy Hammer
1953
5.5
I Love Melvin
as Judy Schneider / Judy LeRoy
1953
6.0
The Oscars
as Self
1953
7.0
This Is Your Life
as Self
1952
6.4
Skirts Ahoy!
as Debbie Reynolds (uncredited)
1952
5.0
Singin' in the Rain
as Kathy Selden
1952
8.1
Challenge the Wilderness
as Narrator (uncredited)
1951
0.0
Mr. Imperium
as Gwen
1951
4.9
Two Weeks with Love
as Melba Robinson
1950
6.2
The Colgate Comedy Hour
as Self
1950
6.8
Three Little Words
as Helen Kane
1950
6.1
The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady
as Maureen O'Grady
1950
5.0
The Bob Hope Show
as Self
1950
7.0
What's My Line?
as Self - Mystery Guest
1950
6.9
June Bride
as Boo's Girlfriend at Wedding
1948
7.2
The Ed Sullivan Show
as Self
1948
6.8
Golden Globe Awards
as Self - Presenter
1944
7.2
Golden Globe Awards
as Self - Hostess
1944
7.2
Golden Globe Awards
as Self - Nominee
1944
7.2