The RetroZap team gathers to remember Carrie Fisher.
Yesterday, the world lost a light. Carrie Fisher embodied the fearlessness, talent, creativity and unabashed wit most all of her fans wished to see in themselves, and never apologized for who she was, faults and strengths alike. Born in Beverly Hills and amidst the glitz and glamor few ever experience, she learned to be incisive at an extremely early age, seeing through the BS most others would be caught up in.
In a way, she set out to conduct her life as an antithesis to the celebrity culture embodied today with the Kardashians and Kanyes of the world. Though strikingly beautiful, Fisher believed that beauty is not an accomplishment, and used her voice to advocate for mental health issues, addiction, positive body image, and animal rights, to name a few. Whether through her mistakes or through her successes, Fisher shared her life on the public stage.
Perhaps that’s why it feels like our princess was stolen, why the world connected with her so strongly, and why people who never met her felt as if a long-time friend has passed.
It always seemed that Carrie had so much more to do, so much more to say, and so much more to offer the world. There was no stopping her, and no way to control her. She was, perhaps, one of the most fearlessly independent and free people of our lifetime.
-Joe Tavano
Courtney Martin
More than anything, Carrie Fisher would be categorized as a complete badass. That may be an odd way to start this tribute to her, but I think she would have like it.
When I was young and saw Star Wars for the first time, I was hooked. But it wasn’t because of the spaceships, laser weapons, or the story of good vs. evil. It was because, for the first time, I saw a princess that didn’t need to be rescued. She recused herself. She took control of the situation and lead fighters. She was awesome, and no one could have played that part better than Carrie Fisher. She had the fire, the commanding presence, to be a hero, not a damsel in distress. And that was how she lived her life as well.
While many know Carrie as the heroine from Star Wars, she was also in many other films–including one of my favorites, When Harry Met Sally. She was also an extremely talented writer (eight novels), and she wrote for television and the stage, as well as earning a reputation as a well-known script doctor in Hollywood. She broke boundaries on screen, script, and in real-life. She was an original feminist in a male-dominated Hollywood.
But, to me, one of the most important things about Carrie Fisher was that she was an outspoken advocate on mental health issues. She struggled with bipolar disorder, which led to her addiction issues but wasn’t ashamed of it. I struggle with mental health concerns, and Carrie helped me come to terms with it. I saw how outspoken she was and realized it isn’t anything to be ashamed of. And because of her strength, I slowly gained my own. As a Star Wars fan, she was already so influential in my life, but as a mental health champion, she became my hero–and always will be.
“I am mentally ill. I can say that. I am not ashamed of that. I survived that, am still surviving it, but bring it on.”
–Carrie Fisher
I am truly heartbroken over her passing. But she wouldn’t want anyone to be overly sad, I think she would want her fans to celebrate her life, her work. She’ll always be a princess, but also so much more.
Andrew McAvoy
My experience of Carrie Fisher wasn’t unique but it was special. Like many kids that grew up in the 1980s, Carrie Fisher was just always there. Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill. Three actors that embodied their characters so well; alongside George Lucas, they created a world that was perfectly formed for escape. We had their pictures on our t-shirts, had the action figures in our hands everywhere we went.
Carrie Fisher is the first of those three icons to pass away, and it’s very hard to come to terms with. One note of solace comes from the fact that she was uniquely immortalized within a global, universal, modern mythology at the height of her youth. That was a burden that she eventually came to terms with but it can’t have been easy at first. She was a talented writer, and anyone I know that met her has had nothing but praise for her as a person. She will be deeply missed.
At Celebration London this year, among all the hundreds and thousands of pieces of Star Wars items on the stalls that weekend, I came away with two modest movie stills – one was of Leia, the other was of Luke. They weren’t signed photographs or framed. They weren’t fancy in any way – but they encapsulated my fandom. After all these years the small boy inside just wanted to take home some photos of the Skywalker twins. The photos are tucked away within an old but loved Ralph McQuarrie book.
That’s the memory of Carrie that I’ll carry with me. I didn’t need to meet her in person. She’ll always have a little piece of my heart, and she’ll always walk with the small boy that I once was. God bless Carrie, rest in peace. You’ll always be royalty to me.
Taxus
This is a sad day for fans. A wonderful, fun person has passed on. I’m not exactly sure why the death of a celebrity affects people so much. For example, I never met Carrie and even if I had, I would not have had a personal relationship with her. So why am I especially dismayed by the news of her death?
I think it has to do more with the feelings that she and the others in the iconic cast evoke from me. Much like an old song, just hearing her name takes me back to a time I will remember as more innocent, at least in my childhood kind, and the good feelings those memories bring. And when this mnemonic goes, it’s like a part of my childhood dies.
All I know is that Carrie Fisher left us with a legacy and is immortalized in some ways tangible and some ways not.
Dennis Keithly
It is impossible for me to separate Carrie Fisher from her most iconic role of Princess Leia. Star Wars was the first film I ever had the chance to see in a theater back in 1977. Therefore, Princess Leia was the first princess I ever saw on screen. Carrie filled Princess Leia with determination, force of will, and bravery.
The fiercest princess in the galaxy could only have been played by Carrie Fisher. She was bold enough to stand up to Darth Vader. She expertly traded barbs with Governor Tarkin. Carrie Fischer had that presence. She could be tough and physical in one scene and then believably sympathetic and tender in the next.
I feel fortunate to have had the chance to see her play General Organa in The Force Awakens. More than that, I also feel fortunate that the first princess I saw on screen was not a damsel in distress, but a confident woman that could keep up with the boys. So long, Princess. We’ll miss you, General. You were one of a kind and a wonderful human being.
Dan Lizotte
Carrie Fisher passing has my head twisted like a pretzel. Unfortunately, being a paramedic brings me face to face with situations that took place on that airplane on Friday. I admittedly am jaded and almost dull to these types of situations at this point in my life and with the reports coming out, the paramedic side of my brain began to tell the side that still had faith and hope to prepare for the worse. I was still unprepared as to how I was going to feel today.
Princess Leia was my first crush. Well, Leia and Jessica Rabbit. Since Jessica was a cartoon character I will give the nod to Leia. When I first saw the princess in Star Wars, I couldn’t believe it. A beautiful princess that was also funny and kicked ass. What was there not to fall in love with? Looking back on it, it was probably a huge reason that I wanted to be Han Solo when I played Star Wars with all my friends in the neighborhood, Han got the girl in the end.
It wasn’t until I was much older and had some years of living under my belt until I realized that Princess Leia and Carrie Fisher were much more that a damsel in distress. My heart aches for the girls and women who just lost their lifelong role model. Fans who grew up with Leia and inspired them to become more. Leia was much more than just a princess, she was a fierce, brave, and independent woman that was one of a kind at the time.
I will never truly understand how important Carrie/Leia was for women in this fandom, but I know her role for me was a driving force behind understanding that all heroes aren’t big strong men.
With Carrie’s passing, I find myself wishing I had learned more about her and wish I hadn’t taken her existence and career for granted. I send my deepest condolences to her family and friends and fans across the world. Carrie will be missed greatly, and watching the end of Rogue One and the upcoming Episode VIII will be quite difficult from this point on. One thing is for sure, she leaves behind an unmatched legacy that will carry on for generations.
Michael Harris
After a few days of relative calm and hope, we have lost the incredible Carrie Fisher today at the age of 60.
I first saw Carrie as Princess Leia when I was 10 years old and watched A New Hope for the first time, and the rest is pretty much history. She has inspired so many over the years not only with her ability as an actress, author, and screenwriter but with her unwavering courage in the face of mental illness. Never ashamed of herself, she gave a loud voice to something that most people do not want to talk about it and exuded nothing but strength and hope.
Carrie was always known for being unpredictable and brutally honest during interviews and stage presentations, which is what I enjoyed most about her. She was always heartfelt and intensely honest with everyone she met.
Unfortunately, I never met her, which leaves me with a deep sadness of knowing that now I will not get the chance. It’s hard to ever imagine that these stars that shine so brightly will not always be around. She leaves behind an amazing legacy and millions of adoring fans who will never let her memory fade.
Lastly, but most importantly, I would like to send positive thoughts to Carrie’s mother Debbie Reynolds and her daughter Billie Lourd.
Swara Salih
I’m in real shock right now. Carrie Fisher has been one of my all time heroes since childhood, starting with her performance as a courageous princess stretching to her extraordinary career as a writer and advocate for mental health recognition.
She lived an extraordinary life and leaves an amazing legacy in her family and in her exceptional body of work.
She will always be remembered as a feminist icon, a consistent fighter, and proof that perseverance can overcome the darkest moments of our lives.
Rest in peace Princess.