Eddie Fisher

In 1953, Eddie Fisher was given his own fifteen-minute television show titled *Coke Time* (1953), sponsored by the Coca-Cola company. The show's popularity led Coca-Cola to offer Fisher a $1 million contract to serve as their national spokesperson, an unprecedented deal at the time that contributed to his rise as one of the most popular singers by 1954. In 1955, Fisher married Debbie Reynolds, and their daughter, Carrie Fisher, was born the following year. Their son, Todd Fisher, was born in 1958. Later that year, a major scandal emerged when reports of Fisher's affair with Elizabeth Taylor, who had become a widow after her husband, Mike Todd—Fisher's best friend—died in a plane crash, were made public. The resulting negative publicity significantly damaged Fisher's career, while Taylor's film opportunities increased. Fisher and Taylor co-starred in *Butterfield 8* (1960), which earned Taylor an Academy Award, though the film received mixed reviews. Taylor later starred in *Cleopatra* (1963), opposite Richard Burton, another high-profile affair and divorce. With his television show long gone and his hit records a thing of the past, Fisher's 1960s career primarily consisted of stage performances in Las Vegas, New York, and smaller venues. He was briefly married to Connie Stevens, with whom he had two daughters, Joely Fisher and Tricia Leigh Fisher, before divorcing in 1968. Fisher authored two autobiographies, the most recent being *Been There, Done That*, which sparked controversy due to his portrayal of past relationships, including with Debbie Reynolds. He is credited for acknowledging his role in the decline of his career. His fifth wife, Betty Lin, died of lung cancer on April 15, 2001.