(CNN)Here's a look at the life of actress and writer Carrie Fisher, who was best-known for her portrayal of Princess Leia Organa in the "Star Wars" movie franchise.
Personal
Birth date: October 21, 1956
Death date: December 27, 2016
Birth place: Beverly Hills, California
Birth name: Carrie Frances Fisher
Father: Eddie Fisher, singer
Mother: Debbie Reynolds, actress and singer
Marriage: Paul Simon (August 1983-July 1984, divorced)
Children: with Bryan Lourd: Billie Catherine Lourd
Education: Attended Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, London
Other Facts
Was nominated for two Grammy Awards and won one posthumously; nominated for three Emmy Awards.
Acted in film, plays and television, and wrote a number of best-selling books.
More on Carrie Fisher
Photos: Fisher through the years
Story: A champion for mental health
Video: Her most memorable moments
Story: Hollywood royalty, but a writing jester
Video: Her affair with Harrison Ford
CNN interview: 'I didn't want to be famous'
Fisher lobbied as an advocate for mental health awareness and treatment and spoke before the California state Senate.
She credited the psychiatric hospital Silver Hill in New Canaan, Connecticut, with helping her get her life back together after treatment for alcohol addiction and bipolar disorder.
Timeline
1972 - Drops out of high school to appear on Broadway in the musical, "Irene," starring her mother, Debbie Reynolds.
1975 - Film debut in the movie, "Shampoo," starring Warren Beatty.
1977 - Stars as Princess Leia in the first "Star Wars" film.
1980 - Stars in "Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back."
1983 - Stars in "Star Wars: Episode VI - The Return of the Jedi."
1990 - Release of the film adaptation of Fisher's novel, "Postcards from the Edge," starring Meryl Streep. The screenplay is also written by Fisher.
February 26, 2005 - Friend and Republican media adviser R. Gregory "Greg" Stevens is found dead in Fisher's home.
November 15, 2006 - Her one-woman biographical play, "Wishful Drinking," is produced in Los Angeles.
December 2008 - Her memoir, "Wishful Drinking," based on her 2006 one-woman play, is published.
December 12, 2010 - Fisher's documentary, "Wishful Drinking," airs on HBO.
November 2011 - Her memoir, "Shockaholic," is published.
December 14, 2015 - "Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens" premieres, with Fisher, Mark Hamill ("Luke Skywalker"), and Harrison Ford ("Han Solo") reprising their original 1977 roles.
November 16, 2016 - Fisher reveals to People magazine she and co-star Ford had an affair during the 1976 filming of "Star Wars." Ford, who was married at the time, neither confirms nor denies the affair.
November 22, 2016 - "The Princess Diarist," Fisher's memoir chronicling her experiences making the original "Star Wars," is published.
December 27, 2016 - Fisher dies four days after suffering a cardiac event on a flight from London to Los Angeles.
June 16, 2017 - The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner concludes that "sleep apnea and other undetermined factors" contributed to Fisher's death in December at the age of 60. The autopsy report notes the significance of the "multiple substances that were detected in Fisher's blood and tissue," but the cause of death could not be established.
January 28, 2018 - Posthumously wins the Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album with her audiobook recording of her 2016 memoir "The Princess Diarist."
July 27, 2018 - Disney announces the cast for "Star Wars: Episode IX" will include Fisher. Director J.J. Abrams reports that with "the support and blessing" from Fisher's daughter, Billie Lourd, the film found a way "to honor Carrie's legacy and role as Leia in 'Episode IX' by using unseen footage we shot together in Episode VII."
Photos: Carrie Fisher: The galaxy's princess
Carrie Fisher is seen as Princess Leia on the set of George Lucas' "Star Wars: Episode IV -- A New Hope" in 1977. The American actress and writer is best-known for her portrayal of Princess Leia in the "Star Wars" movie franchise. Fisher was hospitalized December 23 in Los Angeles after suffering a heart attack. Fisher died on Tuesday, December 27. She was 60.
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Photos: Carrie Fisher: The galaxy's princess
Fisher was born in Beverly Hills on October 21, 1956, to Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds. Here, they gaze proudly at their newborn daughter on January 2, 1957.
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Photos: Carrie Fisher: The galaxy's princess
Fisher is photographed with her parents and brother, Todd, who was born in 1958.
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Photos: Carrie Fisher: The galaxy's princess
Debbie Reynolds makes her first appearance on Broadway in a remake of the 1919 musical "Irene" in 1973. Fisher, seated on the floor, dropped out of high school at age 15 and was featured in the musical as part of the chorus.
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Photos: Carrie Fisher: The galaxy's princess
Warren Beatty and Fisher, then 17, take a break during filming of the movie "Shampoo" in 1974. Fisher has acted in films, plays and television shows, and has written a number of best-selling books.
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Photos: Carrie Fisher: The galaxy's princess
Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Fisher and Harrison Ford (Han Solo) on the set of "Star Wars: Episode IV -- A New Hope" in 1977.
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Photos: Carrie Fisher: The galaxy's princess
Fisher with fellow actresses Amy Irving, left, and Teri Garr in 1978.
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Photos: Carrie Fisher: The galaxy's princess
Fisher on the set of "Star Wars: Episode V -- The Empire Strikes Back" in 1980.
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Photos: Carrie Fisher: The galaxy's princess
Harrison Ford and Fisher embrace during filming of "Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back" in 1980. On November 16, 2016, Fisher revealed to People magazine that she and co-star Ford had an affair during the 1976 filming of "Star Wars."
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Fisher smiles for a photograph in 1980. Fisher is a well-respected script doctor of such movies as "The Wedding Singer" and "Sister Act."
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Photos: Carrie Fisher: The galaxy's princess
Fisher stars in the film, "Star Wars: Episode VI -- Return of the Jedi" in 1983. The 'gold bikini' is one of her most famous costumes as Princess Leia. In addition to her acting career, Fisher -- who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 24 -- has lobbied as an advocate for mental health awareness and treatment and has spoken before the California state Senate.
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Musician Paul Simon poses for a picture with Fisher in 1983. The two were married in August and divorced about one year later in July 1984.
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Photos: Carrie Fisher: The galaxy's princess
Meryl Streep, left -- who portrayed a character based on Fisher in the film adaptation of Fisher's 1987 novel, "Postcards from the Edge" -- is seen at the film's premiere in Century City, California, on September 10, 1990.
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Fisher carries Billie Catherine Lourd -- her daughter with talent agent Bryan Lourd.
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Fisher attends a book signing for her novel, "The Best Awful," in Beverly Hills, California, in 2004. The semi-autobiographical novel fictionalized events from Fisher's life.
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"Star Wars" trio Mark Hamill, left, Fisher and Harrison Ford speak during a tribute to filmmaker George Lucas at the 33rd American Film Institute Life Achievement Award event in Hollywood on June 9, 2005.
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Fisher takes part in a dress rehearsal for her play "Wishful Drinking" at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles in 2006.
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Fisher poses with her mother Debbie Reynolds and daughter Billie Catherine Lourd at the 21st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles on January 25, 2015.
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Fisher takes part in a "Star Wars" celebration event on April 16, 2015, in Anaheim, California.
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Fisher salutes as she poses with a storm trooper at the European premiere of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" in central London on December 16, 2015.
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Photos: Carrie Fisher: The galaxy's princess
Domhnall Gleeson, left, Hugo Sigman, Fisher, and Damian Szifron pose for a photo at the EE British Academy Film Awards in London on February 14, 2016. Their film, "Wild Tales," won the BAFTA Award for best film not in the English language.
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Tom Hiddleston looks on as Fisher and her dog, Gary, arrive for the 102nd White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington on April 30, 2016.
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Fisher signs copies of her book, "The Princess Diarist," in Los Angeles on November 28, 2016.
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