Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds Honored With Public Memorial Service
The late Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, who died December 27 and 28 respectively, were honored Saturday, March 25 with a public tribute at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Hollywood Hills' Hall of Liberty.
The event was organized by Fisher's brother and Reynolds' son Todd Fisher, who told the crowd, "These were my girls," according to the Los Angeles Times.
The tribute kicked off with a color guard and included video footage of the women as well as segments commemorating both actresses' many accomplishments in the entertainment industry. The Debbie Reynolds Studio and Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles performed dance tributes, and an R2-D2 robot was present to mourn Fisher, who famously played Princess/General Leia Organa in the Star Wars series.
Star Wars composer John Williams provided music, as well as Fisher's close friend James Blunt, who wrote and performed a new song in honor of his late friend while a family photo montage played in the background.
Fisher's former costar Dan Aykroyd, who was once engaged to the actress after proposing to her on set of their 1980 film The Blues Brothers, also paid tribute to his one-time fiancee with an emotional speech.
"I felt like I could've saved Carrie, because I saved her life once before," Aykroyd began, according to Entertainment Tonight. "We shouldn't be here so soon in our lives."
Aykroyd revealed how he once saved Fisher's life, "applying the Heimlich [maneuver] to dislodge a brussels sprout from her throat."
"If I'd been with our beloved showboat, I might have been able to save her again," he continued, calling Fisher "enchanting" and regaling in the precious "time I had with her as a trusted friend and fellow night hawk."
A private funeral was held for Fisher and Reynolds back in January.
Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds Through the Years: