SAG Awards 2015: Debbie Reynolds accepts career honor, ‘ain’t down yet’

The Screen Actors Guild paid tribute to actress, singer and dancer Debbie Reynolds and her near-seven-decade career Sunday night, presenting her with the 51st SAG Life Achievement Award.

Accepting the honor from daughter Carrie Fisher, who delivered a lovingly cheeky introduction, Reynolds returned the favor by poking fun at Fisher’s iconic two-bunned hairdo in “Star Wars.”

Dressed in a sparkling gold outfit, Reynolds also fondly recalled some of her favorite films, including “Singin’ in the Rain” and “The Unsinkable Molly Brown.”

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Of the latter film, Reynolds said, “In that movie I got to sing a wonderful song called ‘I Ain’t Down Yet.’” She paused, then added, “Well, I ain’t.”

Reynolds, 82, has been entertaining people since she was a teenager. An Oscar, Emmy, Tony and Golden Globe nominee, she has starred in more than 50 movies, two Broadway shows and two television series, and made dozens of TV, cabaret and concert appearances.

Born in El Paso, Texas, Reynolds moved with her family to Burbank as teen and caught the eye of Hollywood talent scouts. After making her screen debut in the 1950 musical “The Daughter of Rosie O’Grady,” she went on to star in such movies as “Singin’ in the Rain,” “The Unsinkable Molly Brown” (for which she earned an Academy Award nomination), “How the West Was Won,” “Tammy and the Bachelor,” “The Pleasure of His Company,” “Divorce American Style” and “How Sweet It Is.”

Along the way, she worked with some of Hollywood’s top leading men, including Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire and Gregory Peck.

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On TV, Reynolds earned a 1970 Golden Globe nomination for “The Debbie Reynolds Show,” headlined ABC’s “Aloha Paradise” in 1981 and received a 2000 Emmy nomination for her recurring role on “Will & Grace.”

Off screen, Reynolds has been an active philanthropist and a passionate collector and preservationist of Hollywood memorabilia.

Reflecting on her career in a recent interview with The Times, Reynolds said, “You have to believe in yourself.” She added, “I remember Gene Kelly yelling at me ‘Smile!’ while I’m dancing. ‘Smile one more time.’”

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