Carrie Fisher legacy and historical anniversaries

The actress Carrie Fisher, renowned for her role as Princess Leia in the Star Wars franchise, would have celebrated her 70th birthday this year. Fisher became a pop culture icon following the 1977 release of Star Wars, known for her wit and for breaking stereotypes of female characters. Her personal life included a brief, private romance with co-star Harrison Ford, which she detailed in her autobiography, ‘The Princess Diarist’.

Other historical figures born on October 21 include German media entrepreneur Leo Kirch, who built a major media empire including ProSieben and Sat.1; jazz pioneer Dizzy Gillespie; circus director Carl Krone; and chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite.