Famed Star Wars Jewish actress Carrie Fisher dies at 60

Famed Star Wars Jewish actress Carrie Fisher dies at 60

Was a mental illness awareness activist

Carrie Fisher, the actress best known for playing Princess Leia in the original “Star Wars” films, has died days after suffering a heart attack. She was 60.

Fisher’s family spokesman Simon Halls confirmed to multiple publications that she passed away Tuesday morning.

Fisher had been in intensive care at UCLA’s medical center after suffering a heart attack on Friday during a flight from London to Los Angeles.

Fisher was born in Beverly Hills, California in 1956 to star parents: singer Eddie Fisher and actress Debbie Reynolds. Her paternal grandparents were Russian Jewish immigrants.

After only one major film role — in the comedy “Shampoo,” alongside Warren Beatty and Julie Christie — Fisher was cast as Princess Leia in George Lucas’ 1977 blockbuster “Star Wars.” She reprised the memorable role in the next two “Star Wars” films and in 2015’s franchise reboot, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”

Also a prolific writer, Fisher wrote four novels and three memoirs. Her last film appearance will be “Star Wars: Episode VIII,” set to be released in 2017.

Fisher told J., the Jewish News Weekly of Northern California, in 2008 that she frequently attended Friday night services and shared Shabbat meals with Orthodox friends.

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