Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia Organa in “Star Wars: Episode IV -- A New Hope”
Carrie Fisher, in 2007.
(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Carrie Fisher at the Farmers Market in 1987.
(Ellen Jaskol / Los Angeles Times)
Three generations: Carrie Fisher, with her mother, Debbie Reynolds, and daughter, Billie Lourd, in 1994.
(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Carrie Fisher sits with her dog, Gary, at a panel at Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim in 2015.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Carrie Fisher, 3, gives mother Debbie Reynolds a hug after her afternoon nap in their home in West Los Angeles, on Nov. 16, 1959.
(Ray Graham / Los Angeles Times)
Carrie Fisher leafs through her novel “Delusions of Grandma” before speaking at the Los Angeles Times’ annual authors luncheon in 1994.
(Karen Tapia / Los Angeles Times)
Singer-composer Paul Simon and actress Carrie Fisher leave the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, after a memorial service for comedian John Belushi.
(Marty Lederhandler / Associated Press)
Carrie Fisher interviews Steve Martin in 1999.
(Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)
Carrie Fisher photographed in her house in Beverly Hills in 2004.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
Carrie Fisher, in her bedroom in her Beverly Hils home.
(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
Carrie Fisher stars in her one-woman autobiographical show, “Wishful Drinking,” at the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood on Nov. 4, 2006.
(Damon Winter / Los Angeles Times)
Carrie Fisher, promoting her HBO special “Wishful Drinking,” in her home on Dec. 2, 2010.
(Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)
Carrie Fisher at the red-carpet premiere of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” in Hollywood on Dec. 14, 2015. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
Carrie Fisher presents her mother, Debbie Reynolds, the Life Achievement Award at the 21st Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Jan. 25, 2015. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Carrie Fisher, right, with her mother, Debbie Reynolds, at the 21st Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles on Jan. 25, 2015.
(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Carrie Fisher autographs her book “The Best Awful” at a promotional event in London.
(John D. McHugh / Associated Press)
Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford at the “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” panel at San Diego Comic-Con on July 10, 2015.
(Richard Shotwell / Associated Press)
Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher attend the Midnight Mission’s Golden Heart Gala at the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills.
(Araya Diaz / Getty Images)
Carrie Fisher with her daughter, Billie Lourd, on the red carpet at the premiere of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” in Hollywood on Dec. 14, 2015.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
Carrie Fisher’s most recent book is “The Princess Diarist,” a memoir based on the diaries she kept during the filming of the first “Star Wars” film.
(Blue Rider Press / Associated Press)