Soap Opera Stars React to the Passing of Debbie Reynolds

The world is mourning the loss of the legendary Debbie Reynolds, and soap stars are no different.

Reynolds passed away, presumably from a stroke, one day after losing her daughter, actress Carrie Fisher, who died Tuesday after suffering a heart attack on a plane last Friday.

Reynolds was America’s sweetheart since she was 19, when she sang and danced her way into our hearts in the 1952 movie, Singin’ in the Rain. At age 23, she married singing sensation Eddie Fisher and together they had two children – Carrie and Todd. Her son is married to former One Life to Live star, Catherine Hickland (ex-Lindsay).

In true soap opera fashion, Fisher left Reynolds for her best friend, Elizabeth Taylor (ex-Helena, General Hospital). Fisher described the split in her book and one woman show, Wishful Drinking, so younger fans could understand, saying it was like when Brad Pitt left Jennifer Aniston (though they didn’t have kids) for Angelina Jolie – they were that huge at the time.

Fences were mended with Fisher evening penning a television movie for the two older actresses to star in together, These Old Broads.

While she was an extremely successful movie star, TV audiences also loved her as Grace Adler’s (Debra Messing) mom on NBC’s Will & Grace, which earned her an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series in 2000.

She was one of the last of her kind, a true Hollywood legend. Soap stars took to Twitter to share their grief (see below) over losing such a shining star in a year that has been incredibly cruel, taking so many beloved celebrities.