A boyishly handsome band, nightclub and hotel singer, Eddie Fisher was discovered by Eddie Cantor in 1949 and went on to become an idol of bobbysoxers and a recording personality of the 1950s. A pre-rock and roll crooner, Fisher performed his many hit songs including "Oh, My Papa" and "Wish You Were Here" on his two TV variety shows, the 15-minute "Coke Time With Eddie Fisher" (NBC, 1953-57) and the hour-long variety show, "The Eddie Fisher Show" (NBC, 1957-59). Fisher and first wife Debbie Reynolds personified wholesome young newlyweds in the fan magazines of the 50s and in the film "Bundle of Joy" (1956), until he won tabloid notoriety by divorcing her to wed the recently widowed Elizabeth Taylor in 1959. A Las Vegas headliner in the 1960s and 70s, Fisher chronicled his self-destructive bouts with gambling and drugs in his 1981 autobiography "Eddie: My Life, My Loves". Father of actor-author Carrie Fisher by Debbie Reynolds and actor Joely Fisher (a regular on ABC-TV's "Ellen") and singer Tricia Leigh Fisher by third wife Connie Stevens.
Family
FATHER: Joseph Fisher.
MOTHER: Kate Fisher Stupp. Died June 12, 1991; Soviet immigrant.
DAUGHTER: Carrie Frances Fisher. Actor, writer. Born October 21, 1956; mother Debbie Reynolds.
SON: Todd Emanuel Fisher. TV commercial director, film producer. Born February 24, 1958; mother Debbie Reynolds; produced first feature film, "Twogether" (1992).
DAUGHTER: Joely Fisher. Actor, singer. Born October 29, 1967; mother Connie Stevens.
WIFE: Debbie Reynolds. Actor. Married September 26, 1955, divorced May 1959.
WIFE: Elizabeth Taylor. Actor. Married 1959, divorced March 6, 1964.
WIFE: Connie Stevens. Married 1966, divorced.
WIFE: Betty Linn. Fifth marriage; married July 1993.
Milestone
1949: Discovered by Eddie Cantor
1950: Feature acting debut, "All About Eve"
1950: First TV guest appearance, "Show of the Year"
1951 - 1953: Served in US Army
1952: Substitute host for "The Scott Music Hall"
Hosted own TV show, "Coke Time With Eddie Fisher"
Again hosted own TV show, "The Eddie Fisher Show"
Bibliography
"Eddie: My Life, My Loves" Eddie Fisher 1981
"Been There, Done That" Eddie Fisher with David Fisher 1999
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