Eddie Fisher, 1928-2010

Elizabeth Taylor, Eddie Fisher, and Debbie Reynolds in happier times

Eddie Fisher, the sometimes actor who is more famous as a singer and for his celebrity relatives, has died at the age of 82. Fisher was the father of Princess Leia (er, Carrie Fisher), and also the "bad guy" in one of the more sordid Hollywood love scandals. Carrie Fisher was Eddie's daughter by actress Debbie Reynolds. As you can see in the picture above, they were friends with Elizabeth Taylor, who at the time would have been married to Mike Todd. When Todd died in a plane crash, Eddie Fisher consoled widow Elizabeth, apparenlty so much so that she fell in love with him, and he left Debbie Reynolds for her. Of course, Debbie Reynolds got to see karma. Not only did she get a lot of sympathy as the wronged woman, she got to see Fisher get jilted in a similar way when Taylor fell in love with Richard Burton and left Fisher for him.

Ironically, the two wives are responsible for Fisher's acting career, what little of it there is. Fisher appeared opposite Debbie Reynolds in Bundle of Joy, a pale remake of Bachelor Mother. As for Taylor, she got Fisher a supporting role in Butterfield 8, which of course won Taylor her first Oscar.