Debbie Reynolds (April 1, 1932 – December 28, 2016) was an American actress who played Grace's mother Bobbi.
Bobbi Adler[]
Portrayal[]
During the first season, Reynolds was cast as Bobbi Adler, the theatrical mother of Grace, who came from a Jewish family. Although raised in a strict Nazarene upbringing, Reynolds has had practice in being a "Jewish mom" as she somewhat raised her children in both Protestant and Jewish faiths.
Reynolds' iconic roles as Kathy Selden in Singin' in the Rain and as the titular character in The Unsinkable Molly Brown (for which she was nominated for the 1964 Academy Award for Best Actress), were referenced to during her debut appearance in the episode The Unsinkable Mommy Adler.
Reynolds granddaughter Billie Lourd appeared in Season 11 episode "Bi-plane".
Awards & Nominations[]
Her appearance as Bobbi Adler earned Reynolds her only Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series in 2000, but lost to Frasier's Jean Smart.
Death[]
Reynolds suffered a stroke a day after her daughter actress Carrie Fisher died in December 27, 2016. She died the next day.
Debra Messing posted on Instagram:
Debbie went to be with Carrie. She always worried about her. Carrie left too soon and now they are together again. My heart is literally broken. For 8 years she was my mom. She was pure energy & light when she came on stage. She was loving, and bawdy, and playful- a consummate pro- old school and yet had the work ethic and investment in her craft of a new fiery up and comer. She was always running off to Vegas or somewhere else "on the road" to be a hoofer, to sing and dance and make people laugh. She performed 340 days out of the year. An inspiration on every level. A Legend of course, the epitome of clean cut American optimism, dancing with Gene Kelly as an equal, a warrior woman who never stopped working. A devoted mother and grandmother, and aunt and great aunt, and friend. I lost my mom a few years ago. She loved that Debbie was my TV mom. I hope they find each other and hug and kiss and my mom says, "I got you, Debbie. Carrie's waiting for you." RIP Bobbie Adler.
During the revival series, her character's death is alluded to in the episode Rosario's Quinceañera. A portrait of her is also seen in the Christmas episode A Gay Olde Christmas as tribute to her legacy,