As if 2016 couldn't get any sadder, news broke that Debbie Reynolds has died at age 84, according to TMZ. This upsetting update comes a day after the actor's daughter, Carrie Fisher, died in the wake of a heart attack. In light of this news, you may be wondering whether Reynolds was in good health. TMZ reported that the Singin' in the Rain star was rushed to the hospital for a "possible stroke" on Wednesday. Prior to that, it was reported that the 84-year-old had been struggling with her health a bit. But from the sound of it, she always was a fighter.
In a May 2016 Facebook Live interview with People and Entertainment Weekly, Fisher commented on her mother's health, and how despite some struggles, Reynolds still was "resilient." Fisher said:
“It’s a lot of times terrifying, but watching my mother, who’s incredibly resilient, coping with certain health issues that she’s had. We were really lucky we got really what probably could be her last [big project]."
The Star Wars alum was speaking of the documentary she filmed with Reynolds. Called Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher & Debbie Reynolds, the doc is scheduled to air on HBO in March 2017. It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year.
Based on Fisher's previous statements, it appears that Reynolds' health may have not been the best, but it didn't slow her down during shooting the documentary. Fisher told the Washington Post in May:
"I didn’t know how much longer she would be performing. It’s the thing that gives her life, but it was also pulling it out of her, because she’d perform and then she’d have to recover. But this is someone who wants to go back and do it now. She became very ill and now she’s bouncing back."
In that same interview, the Washington Post reported that Fisher said her mother's health had begun to "decline, physically and cognitively." It's unclear what Reynolds was battling, but this mother-daughter duo was known for fighting back against anything life threw their way. And when Bright Lights does premiere, it's bound to be all the more bittersweet.
It goes without saying that both ladies are already sorely missed. May they rest in peace.
