Remembering Aunt Mary

Leslie Reynolds' Memoir of Her Famous Aunt, Debbie Reynolds

I first met Leslie Reynolds when she played the part of "Noah" in Tehachapi Community Theater's 2014 production of "110 In the Shade" by N. Richard Nash.

Leslie was dressed in macho western garb, enhanced by a mustache Tom Selleck could admire. She was fun, funny and immensely kind. If you've ever seen any of Leslie's on-stage performances, you quickly realize the family talent gene pool didn't skimp on Leslie Reynolds. Somehow she morphs into whatever role she's playing with chameleon ease; yet in daily life, Leslie remains the real deal - absent pretense and as genuine as they come.

In this first of a two-part article, Leslie, while visiting her cousin Todd Fisher's ranch in California, reflects on growing up with two of Hollywood's most iconic stars, her aunt, Debbie Reynolds and her cousin, Carrie Fisher. Part one covers memories of "Aunt Mary."

"Not that I actually grew-up with them in my everyday life," said Leslie. "I mean, really, my family lived in the San Fernando Valley and our famous relatives lived on Planet Hollywood or more specifically Beverly Hills, but we did get together at least at Christmas time and for birthday parties."

Leslie was taught to call Debbie Reynolds "Aunt Mary" as a child because that was her real name.

Said Leslie, "Beyond her beauty and obvious talent, she was also kind, tenacious and loving. She was one of the most generous people I've ever known. For instance, she showed my dad (her brother Bill) she loved him by making sure he was taken care of throughout his life."

Leslie sinks down into the cushy leather recliner cousin Todd had brought into his home just for his mom, Debbie Reynolds. She shuffles through family photos.

Said Leslie, "Aunt Mary opened Hollywood doors for dad to become a great makeup artist for the studios. After his retirement, she built the shopping plaza located on the corner of Santa Lucia and (Highway) 202 right here in Tehachapi. She built it solely for my dad to manage. The plaza also contained a very nice two-story apartment in which he would live. Originally known as "Reynolds Plaza," it has since been renamed "Golden Hills Plaza."

When Leslie's grandmother became ill, her father had to go back to the San Fernando Valley to take care of her for a couple of years, so Reynolds Plaza was sold.

Said Leslie, "Dad returned to his familiar San Fernando Valley living, where he could also enjoy being near his beloved sister. Again, Aunt Mary would provide another beautiful home for dad to live in, where he resides in to this day."

Leslie held out a photo of herself as a young girl, and said, "When I was little, sometimes I'd get to sit backstage when Aunt Mary was performing in Vegas, and I'd watch her in makeup while she simultaneously rehearsed her lines. From time to time, I'd ask her if I could appear on stage with her, (I guess I always had the acting bug in me), but she would lovingly say, 'No dear, not this time'.

"During the last couple of years, my dear aunt's health began to fail and she had become very weak and fragile. She barely left her bed, and always with her, was her ever-present personal assistant of 40 years, Donald Light. She also had a full-time nurse by her side."

When Leslie went to visit her dad each month, they would go to Aunt Mary's house to spend family time together.

Said Leslie, "She had good days when she was sharp and alert; and then bad days where she would barely recognize my dad, her own dearly loved brother. On one of her good days, I sat on her bed, telling her about the latest play in which I was cast. I would always ask her to give me acting tips on how to play my role. This would perk her up as she loved to offer me acting advice."

Leslie said her favorite conversation with her aunt was the time she asked her how to say her lines with a Russian accent, like the one Debbie used in her last film, 'Behind the Candelabra' when she played Liberace's mother.

Said Leslie, "Well I only wish I had a video recorder that day. My dad sat there in her bedroom, chuckling as he watched us converse for over an hour in our Russian accents, reading lines from my script. 'No dear,' my aunt would interject every now and then 'That's not quite right. But then again I guess I do have more experience than you at this,' she would say."

Leslie invited Aunt Mary to many plays in which she had performed at the BeeKay Theatre, but between the long drive and Debbie's delicate health, Tehachapi was just too long of a stretch. Still, since Leslie would again be performing in two different plays at the 2016 Playwright Festival - "More Than Chicken Salad" by Doris Sadler Davis and "Heart Choices" by Linda L. Rand - she decided to extend another invitation to her famous aunt.

Said Leslie, "So, I invited Aunt Mary to come to the festival, and when I did, my dad just rolled his eyes and shook his head, thinking that was never going to happen. Truthfully, with her frail health, I had my own doubts. So, you can imagine the thrill we had when Aunt Mary did decide to grace us with her presence at TCT's 2016 Playwrights' Festival.

"She brought that special flair, grace and wit, and I loved being able to introduce her before performances began. If you were lucky enough to be there, you saw firsthand that she still possessed that awesome 'star' quality even in her 80s, with her humor never dimming."

When the show was over, Leslie said her Aunt Mary clearly loved the whole event.

Said Debbie, "I got my start in community theater. Everything and everyone was so good ... I think I'll go home and practice."

"Well, that was my Aunt Mary," said Leslie, "a true entertainer to the finish line."

Of course, none of us could have known that this event would be Debbie Reynolds' final public appearance. She exited the public stage as she lived - giving. Yet somehow we managed to give back to her. She loved every photo op, every chance for a witty response, and most of all, bringing joy to our hearts. TCT and the BeeKay Theatre will forever treasure Debbie Reynolds' remarkable legacy to us.

In the next article, Leslie will share a little of what it was like to have grown up with such a famous cousin, the incredible Carrie Fisher.