The year has taken another horrible turn with the news that Debbie Reynolds has died a day after her daughter, Carrie Fisher, as the result of a massive stroke.
An Oscar-nominated actress herself, Reynolds had told her son that she wanted to be with her daughter again.
“The last thing she said this morning was that she was very, very sad about losing Carrie and that she would like to be with her again,” says Todd Fisher in a statement. “Fifteen minutes later she suffered a severe stroke.”
Her daughter, Joely, poignantly tweeted a photo of them together with the message: "God speed Mama".
On Thursday, Debbie had Facebooked: “Thank you to everyone who has embraced the gifts and talents of my beloved and amazing daughter. I am grateful for your thoughts and prayers that are now guiding her to her next stop. Love Carrie's Mother.”
A household name throughout the '60s and '70s, she starred in the likes of Singin' In The Rain, How The West Was Won, The Singing Nun, Tammy & The Bachelor, Divorce American Style and How Sweet It Is!
After cutting down her workload in the '80s, she cameod as herself in The Bodyguard, guested on the likes of Golden Girls and Roseanne and received an Emmy nod for playing Grace's Mum, Bobbi Addler, in Will & Grace.
More recently, she was a guest judge on RuPaul's Drag Race, played Frances Liberace in the wonderful Behind The Candelabra and featured in 2016's Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher And Debbie Reynolds documentary.

God speed mama pic.twitter.com/XsO5zqN8w6

— Joely Fisher (@MsJoelyFisher) December 28, 2016

i love you billie. so so much. rest in peace, debbie reynolds.

— Ariana Grande (@ArianaGrande) December 29, 2016

Let's hope these two beautiful women are together again somewhere. Wonderful, talented and so enamoured by one another. #RipDebbie&Carrie https://t.co/104j6HUBaH

— Thalia Heffernan (@ThaliaHeffernan) December 29, 2016

“You’ve opened heaven’s portal here on earth for this poor mortal. You are my lucky star…” Sad farewell to the incomparable Debbie Reynolds

— Mark Gatiss (@Markgatiss) December 29, 2016

So dying of a broken heart is possible. RIP Debbie Reynolds

— Kym Marsh (@msm4rsh) December 29, 2016