In the vibrant world of 1960s Hollywood, Debbie Reynolds found herself in an unexpected situation. In 1966, Debbie, alongside her second husband, was in New York, eagerly waiting to board the RMS Queen Elizabeth for a journey to England. That’s when she spotted something unusual—an abundance of luggage and cages for pets, along with nurses bustling around. “I realized Elizabeth Taylor was on the same ship,” Debbie reminisced. “I almost decided not to go, but my husband told me, ‘Don’t be silly.’”
A Chance Encounter
Seven years had passed since Elizabeth Taylor had famously run off with Debbie Reynolds' first husband, the beloved singer Eddie Fisher. Yet, fate brought these two iconic actresses together once more, now confined to the same ocean liner. “I sent a note to her room, and she sent one back saying we should have dinner, clear the air, and enjoy ourselves,” Debbie recalled. They did exactly that. “We had both moved on with our lives,” Debbie added, highlighting the maturity that comes with time and experience.
From Young Co-stars to Legendary Stars
Elizabeth Taylor, who began her acting career at the tender age of 9, was already a shining star when she first met Debbie, a teenage newcomer, at MGM Studios. “We attended school together on the lot,” Debbie remembered fondly. “I was just starting out, and while we were very different, we got along splendidly because I was utterly in awe of her.”
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Debbie, of course, soon became a star in her own right, gracing classic films like 1952’s Singin’ in the Rain. Three years later, she married teen idol Eddie Fisher, and the couple quickly became known as America’s sweethearts. “There’s no question that my father was the love of her life,” their son, Todd Fisher, exclusively tells Closer Weekly in its latest issue, available now on newsstands. “I know how deeply they loved each other.”
The Ties That Bind
When Elizabeth married her third husband, Michael Todd, in 1957, Debbie and Eddie were there to witness the union. The close-knit group even named their son Todd after Elizabeth’s husband. So, it wasn’t surprising that the sudden death of Mike in a plane crash a year later left everyone heartbroken. Debbie generously offered to care for Elizabeth’s children and sent Eddie over to support her. “He went with my blessing,” Debbie wrote in her 2013 memoir, Unsinkable. “The four of us were so close, I was certain he could provide comfort.”
However, the affair that blossomed between Elizabeth and Eddie turned Debbie’s world upside down. “I was the last to know,” Debbie confessed. “There were hints in the press, and I noticed that when I showed up at events alone, my friends were whispering. Still, it came as a huge shock to find them together. I was devastated.”
The Public’s Reaction
The public sided with Debbie during the scandal, labeling Elizabeth a homewrecker. Eddie, on the other hand, faced harsh criticism. His self-titled TV series was canceled, and he lost his recording contract. “My father accused Debbie of turning the public against him, but it was simply his behavior that caused it,” Todd explains, having witnessed his father’s actions firsthand. “I have a telegram from when I was 2 from ‘Liz and Eddie’ wishing me a happy birthday,” he shares. “Why would anyone send a telegram to a 2-year-old? The answer is to hurt Debbie! My father was prone to that kind of behavior. Liz didn’t even know about it.”
Elizabeth and Eddie’s marriage eventually ended when she left him for Richard Burton in 1964. By the time Debbie and Elizabeth met up on the ship, both had moved on. “My mother was a class act,” Todd says, who released a memoir, My Girls: A Lifetime With Carrie and Debbie, in 2018. “She handled it with such grace.”
