May the 4th: Carrie Fisher gets Hollywood Walk of Fame star
Published May 4, 2023last updated May 4, 2023
Six years after her death, Carrie Fisher has been inducted into Hollywood's Walk of Fame. The ceremony came as Star Wars fans celebrate the saga's unofficial holiday of May the Fourth.
Carrie Fisher, who died in 2016, was digitally recreated for a later Star Wars filmImage: Dave Bedrosian/Geisler-Fotopress/picture alliance
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Carrie Fisher, perhaps best known for her role as Princess Leia in the Star Wars original trilogy, was posthumously commemorated on Hollywood Boulevard on Thursday with her own Walk of Fame star.
Fisher, who died in 2016, is being added to the famous Hollywood tourist attraction on the unofficial Star Wars holiday May the Fourth — an allusion to the oft-quoted line from the films, "May the force be with you."
Her daughter, Billie Lourd, will accept the star, which is being placed alongside Fisher's co-stars Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford on the 6800 block of the boulevard, close to the location of the original film's premiere back in 1977.
Fisher's daughter, Billie Lourd, took part in ceremony on behalf of her late mother — but was flanked by Star Wars icons Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) and the franchise's two most famous droidsImage: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP/picture alliance
Lourd wore metallic dress bearing her mother's portrait at the ceremony.
"My mom used to say you weren't actually famous until you became a Pez dispenser," she said, referencing a type of novelty candy dispenser that ejects small sweets from the heads of famous characters or cartoons.
"Well, people eat candy out of her neck every day. I say you aren't actually famous until you get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame," Lourd added.
"My mom is a double-whammy — a Pez dispenser and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame now. Mama, you've made it," she added.
Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars franchise, honored the role she played in his life and remembered her feisty spirit.
"She played such a crucial role in my personal and professional life and both would have been far emptier without her. Was she a handful? Was she high-maintenance? No doubt! But everything would have been drabber and less interesting if she hadn't been the friend that she was," Hamill said.
Carrie Fisher was awarded her own star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame, several years after the actor passed awayImage: Mario Anzuoni/REUTERS
Devotees celebrate Fisher's induction to Walk of Fame
Fans had campaigned for Fisher's inclusion in the Walk of Fame for years after Ford received his star in 2003 and Hamill got his in 2018.
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Several people in the crowd dressed up as Star Wars characters, donning the costumes of famous droids like C-3P0 and R2-D2. Others wore Fisher's iconic braided, twin bun hairstyle that Princess Leia donned.
Performers can be given a Walk of Fame star if they are nominated, but they require a fee of $75,000 (€67,600) to make and maintain the actual star.
A number of events were planned to mark the occasion, with retailers also offering discounts on Star Wars merchandise. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce also livestreamed Fisher's induction ceremony to the Walk of Fame at 11:30 a.m. Pacific Time (1830 UTC).
Carrie Fisher, here playing her role as Princess Leia, is to join co-stars Harrison Ford (left) and Mark Hamill (right) on the Hollywood Boulevard Walk of FameImage: 20th Century-Fox Film Corporation/AP/picture alliance
Not just Princess Leia
Fisher became a worldwide star when she took up the role of Leia Organa at just 19.
The actor also appeared in other cult movies such as "The Blues Brothers" and "When Harry Met Sally."
Fisher had bipolar disorder and drug addiction, which she talked about publicly. In 2016, Harvard University presented her with the "Lifetime Achievement Award in Cultural Humanism" for her public engagement.
Goodbye Princess Leia: A tribute to 'Star Wars' actress Carrie Fisher
To moviegoers around the world, she is forever known as Princess Leia. But Carrie Fisher also appeared in several other cult movies, such as "Blues Brothers" and "When Harry Met Sally." DW looks back at her roles.
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Iconic role: Princess Leia
This is how we knew her, and it's how we will always remember her - as Leia Organa, leader of the rebellion against the Empire. Fisher played the role for the first time when she was just 19. In six "Star Wars" segments (including "Rogue One") she filled the role of the courageous Princess with life.
In "Shampoo" (1975) Fisher appeared on the big screen for the first time. In this comedy, she seduces Beverly Hills hairdresser George Roundy (played by Warren Beatty). "Shampoo" received one Academy Award along with several more Oscar and Golden Globe nominations. Later, Fisher decried that Beatty had asked her to act in front of the camera without a bra.
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A breakthrough: Star Wars
A mere two years later, Fisher plays Princess Leia for the first time. In "Star Wars episode IV: A New Hope" she and droid R2-D2 (pictured) try to neutralize the devastating Death Star (a moon-shaped space station). That film received a whopping six Oscars - and Carrie Fisher would be part of a highly successful ensemble cast from now on.
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Famous siblings
Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill shared screentime in three "Star Wars" installments, playing twins Leia Organa and Luke Skywalker, respectively. Their last collaboration was "Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi," which was released in 2017. Hamill has expressed deep sadness over the loss of his colleague.
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A powerful trio: Han Solo, Leia, Luke Skywalker
Han Solo (played by Harrison Ford) is not a volunteer but is rather dragged into the mission of saving the galaxy. However, Luke, Leia and the smuggler-turned-rebel leader develop into a powerful alliance. This "Star Wars" episode also marked Harrison Ford's breakthrough in Hollywood.
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Carrie Fisher and Paul Simon
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Fisher had an on-and-off relationship with Paul Simon (of Simon & Garfunkel fame). They were even married for two years (1983-4). Simon's song "Hearts and Bones" is a tribute to his relationship with the actress.
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New terrain
In 1980, Fisher switched from the "Star Wars" set to that of "Blues Brothers." In this legendary comedy, Fisher played the ex-girlfriend of protagonist Jake (John Belushi). She fires at him with an assault rifle for walking out on her. Allegedly, there was a cocaine bar on the set, and Fisher's job was to keep Belushi away from the drugs.
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Return of the Jedi (1983)
In several "Star Wars" segments, the droid C-3PO - a human robot - acted as Princess Leia's companion - including her imprisonment as a slave to evil Jabba the Hutt. The talkative robot was brought to life by actor Anthony Daniels.
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War against the Galactic Empire
Another member of the "Star Wars" combat team led by Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia was Chewbacca. The furry Chewie, a member of the Wookiee species, is played by Peter Mayhew, an actor who is 2,21m (over seven feet) tall. When Fisher had suffered her heart attack, Mayhew posted a tweet headlined, "Thoughts and prayers for our friend and everyone's favorite princess right now."
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"When Harry Met Sally" (1989)
1989 saw Fisher appearing in another comedy: "When Harry Met Sally." She played Marie, the best friend of heroine Sally (Meg Ryan). In the movie, she has a brief relationship with Harry (Billy Crystal) before eventually marrying his friend Jess (Bruno Kirby).
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"Episode VII: The Force Awakens" (2015)
Han Solo and Princess Leia have a son, Kylo Ren, who has deserted to the other side and become a dark warrior of the Force. She continues to lead the rebellion, including the one against the New Order. Fisher and Harrison Ford were not just close as film characters. In her autobiography, "The Princess Diarist" (2016) she mentions details of the affair they had during the 1976 filming.
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Carrie Fisher as writer
In addition to her acting career, Fisher published a total of eight books, including five novels. Lately, she published her autobiography, "The Princess Diarist" - her third memoir after "Wishful Drinking" and "Shockaholic."
Image: picture-alliance/Newscom/D. Edwards
The fight against drugs
Suffering from a bipolar disorder and drug addiction herself, Fisher kept adressing psychic illnesses and addictions. In 2016 she received a Harvard University "Lifetime Achievement Award in Cultural Humanism" for her public engagement. On 27 December, she passed away after complications arising from a massive heart attack.
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Death of an Actress
Carrie Fisher passed away on the morning of 27 December, 2016, as a result of a severe heart attack suffered a few days before. She had collapsed on a long-distance flight from London prior to touchdown in Los Angeles and had received treatment at UCLA Medical Center. According to media reports she had just finished work on the British sitcom "Catastrophe."
