Beyond being Carrie Fisher’s mother, Reynolds’ long career as an American sweetheart is being remembered.

“Debbie Reynolds, the girl next door. ‘Tammy and the Bachelor’, I remember the ‘Unsinkable Molly Brown’, which she was in. And her daughter dying yesterday and today, it’s just unbelievable, the worst year for Hollywood I can imagine, 2016 will go down in history”, said Hollywood’s “Unoffical Ambassador” Gregg Donovan.

I think this photo of #DebbieReynolds sums it up for us all. pic.twitter.com/t0iPNgSnmD

— Carrie Fisher's Dog (@Gary_TheDog) 29 dicembre 2016

So much of Reynolds’ life was determined by image, and there is a certain inevitability into the way hers has been sucked into the Star Wars juggernaut that supercharged her daughter’s career. Fans in movie costumes were out in force on Hollywood Boulevard in her honour, light sabres aloft in tribute.

#debbiereynolds and musical comedy.

...RIP legend. go be with your girl. pic.twitter.com/Pjc04ns74t

— Wesley Taylor (@WesTayTay) 29 dicembre 2016

“As far as Debbie dying, I mean, is there a more fitting end? She saw her daughter pass, this is a Hollywood family. Is there a more Hollywood ending than for the two of them to go together, sailing off into the sunset together?”

But the force was with Debbie long, long before it was dreamed up in a galaxy far, far away, and her fans, peers and colleagues have not forgotten it. (Euronews)

They don't make 'em like this anymore. pic.twitter.com/MSaOIvv0XZ

— Carrie Fisher's Dog (@Gary_TheDog) 29 dicembre 2016