Carrie Fisher, the adored actress who played Princess Leia in the Star Wars franchise, has died Tuesday following an earlier heart attack.
In a statement to People, Billie Lourd, Fisher's daughter, confirmed that her mother died in the early morning.
"She was loved by the world and she will be missed profoundly," Lourd told People. "Our entire family thanks you for your thoughts and prayers."
Fisher had suffered a heart attack before Christmas while preparing to fly from London to Los Angeles. She was recovering from the heart attack when she passed away.
First appearing in the 1977 A New Hope, Fisher had reprised her role in a galaxy far, far away as the revolutionary Leia Organa for 2015's Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Fans and celebrities immediately expressed remorse over the loss of Fisher, who was not only an accomplished film professional, but a pioneering and highly quotable woman who shrugged off celebrity.
Mark Hamill, who starred alongside Fisher as brother Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, tweeted his remorse upon hearing the news.
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