US pop singer Eddie Fisher, whose clear voice brought him a devoted following of teenage girls in the early 1950s before marriage scandals overshadowed his fame, has died at age 82.
He passed away on Wednesday night at his home in Berkeley, California, of complications from hip surgery, his daughter, Tricia Leigh Fisher of Los Angeles said. “Late last evening the world lost a true America icon,” Fisher’s family said in a statement released by its publicist. “One of the greatest voices of the century passed away. He was an extraordinary talent and a true mensch.”
The death was first reported by Hollywood website deadline.com. In the early 50s, Fisher sold millions of records with 32 hit songs including Thinking of You, Any Time, Oh, My Pa-pa, I’m Yours, Wish You Were Here, Lady of Spain and Count Your Blessings.
His fame was enhanced by his 1955 marriage to movie star Debbie Reynolds — they were touted as “America’s favourite couple” — and the birth of two children. Their daughter Carrie Fisher became a film star herself in the first three Star Wars films as Princess Leia, and later gained fame as a best-selling author of Postcards From the Edge and other books.