Debbie Reynolds
Date of Birth: April 01, 1932
Date of Death: December 28, 2016 (84)
Birth Place: El Paso, TX, USA
Latest News on Debbie Reynolds:
BIO
Debbie Reynolds was an American actress, singer, entertainer, businesswoman, film historian, humanitarian and a noted former collector of film memorabilia. Her breakout role was the portrayal of Helen Kane in the 1950 film "Three Little Words", for which she was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer.
However, it was her first leading role in 1952 at age 19, as Kathy Selden in "Singin' in the Rain," that set her on the path to fame. By the mid-1950s, she was a major star. Other notable successes include "The Affairs of Dobie Gillis," "Susan Slept Here," "Bundle of Joy," for which she received a Golden Globe nomination, "The Catered Affair," and and "Tammy and the Bachelor," in which her rendering of the song "Tammy" reached number one on the music charts.
She starred in "How the West Was Won," and "The Unsinkable Molly Brown." Her performance as Molly Brown earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress.
Her other notable films include "The Singing Nun," "Divorce American Style," "What's the Matter with Helen?," "Mother (1996 Golden Globe nomination)," and "In & Out."
Reynolds is also a noted cabaret performer. In 1979 she founded the Debbie Reynolds Dance Studio in North Hollywood, which still operates today.
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. In 1969 she starred in her own television show, "The Debbie Reynolds Show," for which she received a Golden Globe nomination. She was also nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for her performance in "A Gift of Love" and an Emmy Award for playing Grace's mother Bobbi on "Will & Grace."
In 1988 she released her autobiography titled, "Debbie: My Life." In 2013, she released an updated version titled "Unsinkable: A Memoir."
Reynolds died after suffering a stroke, one day after the passing of her daughter Carrie Fisher.
Photos
STAGE CREDITS
See how Debbie Reynolds connects to other Broadway stars and creatives.
Six Degrees of Broadway Beta
See how many degrees separate Debbie Reynolds from another Broadway star or creative.
Debbie Reynolds
Connection
Movies
[ 1950 ] Maureen O'Grady
[ 1950 ] Helen Kane
[ 1950 ] Melba Robinson
[ 1951 ] Gwen
[ 1952 ] Self - Audience Member
[ 1952 ] Kathy Selden
[ 1953 ] Suzy Doolittle
[ 1953 ] Judy Schneider / Judy LeRoy
[ 1953 ] Pansy Hammer
[ 1954 ]
[ 1954 ] Minerva Mulvain
[ 1954 ] Susan Beaurgard Landis
[ 1955 ] Carol Pace
[ 1955 ] Julie Gillis
[ 1956 ]
[ 1956 ] Polly Parish
[ 1956 ] Jane Hurley
[ 1957 ] Tammy
[ 1958 ] Janet Blake
[ 1959 ] Maggie Putnam
[ 1959 ] Holly LeMaise aka Conroy
[ 1959 ] Nell Nash
[ 1959 ] Mariette Larkin
[ 1960 ] Self - Host
[ 1960 ] Debbie Reynolds
[ 1960 ] Peggy Brown
[ 1961 ] Jessica Poole
[ 1961 ] Lucretia 'Lu' Rogers
[ 1962 ] Lilith Prescott
[ 1963 ] Mary McKellaway
[ 1963 ] Janice Courtney
[ 1964 ] Charlie Sorel / Virginia Mason
[ 1964 ] Molly Brown
[ 1966 ] Sister Ann
[ 1967 ] Barbara Harmon
[ 1968 ] Jenny
[ 1969 ] Debbie Reynolds
[ 1971 ] Adelle
[ 1973 ] Charlotte - Voice
[ 1978 ]
[ 1987 ] Sadie
[ 1989 ] Madame - Voice
[ 1989 ] Amanda Cody
[ 1991 ]
[ 1992 ] Helen
[ 1992 ] Debbie Reynolds
[ 1993 ] Eugenia
[ 1996 ] Beatrice Henderson
[ 1996 ] Debbie Reynolds
[ 1997 ] Berniece Brackett
[ 1998 ] Debbie Reynolds
[ 1998 ] Aggie Cromwell
[ 1998 ] Mrs. Claus / Mitzi - Rudolph's Mother / Mrs. Prancer - School Teacher - Voice
[ 1998 ] Ruth
[ 1998 ] Beulah Blanton
[ 1999 ] Shirlee Allison
[ 2000 ] Lulu Pickles - Voice
[ 2000 ] Lulu Johnson - Voice
[ 2000 ] Gwen
[ 2001 ] Aggie Cromwell
[ 2001 ] Piper Grayson
[ 2002 ]
[ 2003 ]
[ 2004 ]
[ 2004 ] Aggie Cromwell
[ 2004 ]
[ 2005 ] Agatha Cromwell
[ 2008 ] Queen - Voice
[ 2012 ] Grandma Mazur
[ 2013 ] Frances Liberace
TV Shows
[ 1970 ] Machine Gun Reynolds
[ 1969-1970 ] Debbie Thompson
[ 1981 ] Sydney Chase
[ 1982 ] Felicia Blake
[ 1983 ] Alice Farrell
[ 1980-1983 ] Sheila Evans, Doris Talbot
[ 1986 ] Barbara Farrell
[ 1991 ] Truby
[ 1994 ] Deedee Chappel
[ 1997 ] Audrey Conner
[ 2001 ] Betty Poplovich
[ 2002 ] Katherine Seldes
[ 2000-2002 ] Lulu Pickles, Lulu Johnston
[ 1999-2006 ] Bobbi Adler
[ 2003-2007 ] Nana Possible
[ 2008 ] Mrs. Wilson
[ 2010 ] Granny Squirrel
[ 2011 ] Mary Van Der Deth
[ 2015 ] Great-Great-Grandmommers Whimsical
Awards and Nominations
winner
Debbie Reynolds, Irene
Debbie Reynolds, Irene
Videos
Video: Look Back on Chita Rivera Singing 'Buenos Aires' From EVITA in Throwback Performance
by Michael Major - 2025-07-07 15:11:33
Living Room Concerts: Stefanie Caccamo Performs 'The World Must Be Bigger Than an Avenue' From Musical IRENE
by BroadwayWorld UK TV - 2020-04-13 03:31:00
VIDEO: Watch Billie Lourd Sing 'American Girl' in Honor of Her Mom, Carrie Fisher
by Sarah Leiber - 2019-10-21 18:29:00
News
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 13, 2026
Theater4All has reveald the cast and creative team for its inaugural production, the world premiere of Crone Creed. The mythic drama is directed by award-winning film director Marc Morgenstern.
by R. Scott Reedy - Aug 4, 2026
Mickey White is about to realize one of his career dreams – playing the title role in “Dear Evan Hansen,” the 2016 Tony Award winner for Best Musical.
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 22, 2026
Anne Russell, one of the first actresses to play both HELLO, DOLLY! and MAME on stage, died peacefully at The Actors Fund Home in Englewood, NJ at age 103.
by R. Scott Reedy - Jul 22, 2026
What did our critic think of BUYER & CELLAR at Hub Theatre Company Of Boston?
by Courtney Castelino - Jun 4, 2026
What did our critic think of ORPHEUS MUSICAL THEATRE'S PRODUCTION OF SINGIN' IN THE RAIN at Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe?
by Sidney Paterra - May 21, 2026
BroadwayWorld is taking a look back at the history of Celebrity Autobiography, including where the show has played, which stars have appeared over the years, which memoirs have been featured, and who is appearing in the Broadway production now.
by A.A. Cristi - May 18, 2026
Read the reviews for the Broadway premiere of the long-running Off-Broadway hit CELEBRITY AUTOBIOGRAPHY, the Drama Desk Award-winning comedy created by Eugene Pack.
by Harker Jones - May 7, 2026
This marks the second triumph for co-creator-director-choreographer Scott Thompson, following his sensational “One For My Baby” at the same venue last year.
by Melissa Heckscher - Apr 27, 2026
Director and choreographer Scott Thompson talks about bringing Jule Styne’s legendary music to life—and why “The Music That Makes Me Dance” is more than just a concert.
by Ettore Farrattini - Apr 17, 2026
CANTANDO SOTTO LA PIOGGIA al TEATRO BRANCACCIO IL CELEBRE FILM DEGLI ANNI 50 DIVIENE UNO SPETTACOLO EFFERVESCENTE E PIENO DI RITMO
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Apr 12, 2026
Broadway has a long history of one-person shows, including many that have been added to the canon in this century. Seeing one actor powerfully create a whole world on stage can be an exceptional experience. Of course, one handers are hardly one-person projects; while there may only be one actor on stage, they are collaborating with an entire team of creatives, designers, and behind-the-scenes personnel to bring a show to life.
by Russell Warne - Mar 21, 2026
Everyone's favorite plus-sized civil rights crusader is on stage again in Columbus.
by Stephi Wild - Mar 18, 2026
All Roads Theatre Company will present the World Premiere of THE MUSIC THAT MAKES ME DANCE: THE SONGS OF JULE STYNE. Learn more about the upcoming performance here.
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 4, 2026
El Portal Theatre will host a special screening of A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN on March 14, 2026, celebrating Women's History Month and the theatre's 100th anniversary.
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 2, 2026
El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood will celebrate Women's History Month with a special screening of A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN on March 14, 2026, marking the theatre's 100th anniversary.
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 10, 2026
El Portal Theatre will celebrate its Centennial Anniversary on October 5, 2026, marking 100 years since the theatre first opened its doors on Lankershim Boulevard on October 5, 1926.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 30, 2026
Next month, 54 Below, Broadway’s Supper Club & Private Event Destination, will present some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond, including Vanessa Williams, Tony Danza and more.
by Stephi Wild - Jan 15, 2026
Stefanie Powers, best known for “The Girl From U.N.C.L.E.”, 'Hart to Hart,” and Disney’s “ Herbie Rides Again,' reunited with McLintock co-star, Patrick Wayne (Son of actor John Wayne) for a one night only benefit performance of “LOVE LETTERS.”
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 6, 2026
Ellen Grace Diehl will make her 54 Below debut with Singin’ in a Rainstorm: A Debbie Reynolds Story, a solo cabaret exploring the life and career of the film star. The performance blends storytelling with songs associated with Reynolds’ legacy.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 11, 2025
El Portal Theatre will present Irving Berlin’s White Christmas on the Debbie Reynolds Mainstage, for six performances only.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Debbie Reynolds has appeared on Broadway in 3 shows.
Debbie Reynolds has not appeared in the West End
Debbie Reynolds has been nominated for several awards throughout her career. She was nominated for Outstanding Actress in a Musical at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for her role in "Irene". Additionally, she received a nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical at the Tony Awards, also for her performance in "Irene". These nominations highlight her talent and recognition in the Broadway community.
Debbie Reynolds has won several awards for her performances in the Broadway musical "Irene." She received the Outstanding Actress in a Musical award from the Outer Critics Circle Awards and the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical award from the Tony Awards for her role in "Irene."
