Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher dies aged 60 – four days after heart attack on flight from London to LA
It comes after the star suffered a heart attack on a flight from London to LAX on Friday
CARRIE Fisher has died in hospital at the age of 60.
It comes after the Star Wars actress suffered a massive heart attack on a flight from London to LAX on Friday.
A statement from the family spokesman Simon Halls, on behalf of Carrie's daughter Billie Lourd, confirmed the tragic news about the Star Wars legend.
He said: "It is with a very deep sadness that Billie Lourd confirms that her beloved mother Carrie Fisher passed away at 8:55 this morning.
"She was loved by the world and she will be missed profoundly. Our entire family thanks you for your thoughts and prayers."
Her family confirmed she died as a result of the heart attack she suffered on a plane from London to LAX on Friday.
Carrie's mum, Debbie Reynolds, thanked her daughter's fans in an emotional message penned on Facebook.
She wrote: "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 the next stop. Love Carrie's mother."
Tributes have poured in for the beloved star, who had millions of fans across the globe.
A tweet from her dog Gary's account read: "Saddest tweets to tweet. Mommy is gone. I love you @carrieffisher."
Her Star Wars costar Mark Hamill shared a photo of the pair and simply wrote: "No words #devastated."
Graham Norton said: "Numb. Unbelievable that such a bright funny loving spark could be extinguished. @carrieffisher you will be missed. I wish you peace."
Star Wars costar Anthony Daniels added: "I thought I had got what I wanted under the tree. I didn't. In spite of so many thoughts and prayers from so many. I am very, very sad."
Carrie's good friend Stephen Fry said: "She was the brightest, funniest, bravest, kindest, cleverest and sweetest person I ever knew. A crushing blow to lose Carrie Fisher."
William Shatner added: "I'm deeply saddened to learn of the death of Carrie Fisher. I will miss our banterings. A wonderful talent & light has been extinguished."
Seth MacFarlane wrote: Carrie Fisher was a smart, funny, talented, surprising, and always a hell of a fun time to be around. Family Guy will miss her immensely."
Director Jon Favreau said: "Such a sad day for her family, friends and millions of fans. Carrie Fisher is deeply missed."
Comedian Sarah Millican added: "Carrie Fisher was a smart, bold, brilliant woman. So very sad. #rip."
The Star Wars actress, who found fame as Princess Leia, died at the UCLA Medical Center, where she was rushed after being taken from the plane on Friday.
Dramatic audio from United Airlines was released shortly afterwards - with the pilot telling air traffic control passengers were “assisting” Carrie.
He said: “They are working on her right now and we are going to have her seated in about two minutes.”
The United Airlines flight touched down at noon and paramedics rushed on board.
A spokesperson for the airline said: “Medical personnel met United flight 935 from London to Los Angeles upon arrival today after the crew reported that a passenger was unresponsive.
“Our thoughts are with our customer at this time and any requests for additional information should be directed to local authorities.”
Actress Anna Akana was on the same flight and has describing the traumatic scenes on Twitter.
She wrote: “Don't know how else to process this but Carrie Fisher stopped breathing on the flight home.
“Hope she's gonna be OK.
“So many thanks to the United flight crew who jumped into action, and the awesome doctor and nurse passengers who helped.”
Her daughter Billie Lourd rushed to the star's bedside, along with Carrie's beloved French Bulldog Gary.
Carrie's brother was also with her in the hospital.
According to reports in the US, Carrie fell ill 15 minutes before the plane was due to land.
Carrie was on tour promoting her book The Princess Diarist, an intimate recollection of what really happened behind the scenes when she was filming the first Star Wars movie.
Recently Carrie opened up about her “intense” three month fling with co-star Harrison Ford – something she talks about in detail in her book.
At the time of their trysts, Carrie was 19 and Harrison was 14 years her senior at 33-years-old.
Appearing on the Today show following the admission, she told hostess Savannah Guthrie: “I’m surprised at the reaction. I don’t think it is that surprising.”
She then spoke about the fandom surrounding the much-loved sci-fi franchise and added: “A lot of the fans did think about it for a while. They made up ‘Carrison’ as a word!”
The Princess Diarist is a collection of excerpts from her diary while she shot the original Star Wars film at Pinewood Studios back in the 70s.
Speaking of her fondness for the handsome star and when pressed about whether or not she loved him, she admitted: "I was 19. Yeah, so... I was not a cavalier type person."
She added: "I wasn't raised that way. But when you're on location everything is permitted."
Carrie's new memoir is her second autobiography - after documenting her drink and drugs battle in previous release, Wishful Drinking.
The Princess Diarist documents her time on the set of the 1976 smash-hit movie, including bedding Harrison after a birthday party for director George Lucas.
In the book, she alleges the affair with Harrison, who was married at the time, began when he offered to drive her home while she was in a "wine sodden" state.
In a leaked excerpt from the book, which is available on November 22, she said: "How could you ask such a shining specimen of a man to be satisfied with the likes of me? ... I was so inexperienced, but I trusted something about him. He was kind."
She later added: "I was relieved when it ended. I didn't approve of myself."
Carrie returned to her role as Princess Leia last year with costars Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill for Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
The mum-of-one also starred in Shampoo, When Harry Met Sally and Sorority Row.
Got a story? email digishowbiz@the-sun.co.uk or call us direct on 0207 782 4220