He was born Edwin Jack Fisher in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the fourth child of Joseph Fisher and Katherine Monacher.
His parents, Joe and Kate, were both Russian Jewish immigrants. Joe's surname was originally Fisch, but became Fisher upon entry to the United States.
To his family, Eddie Fisher was always called "Sonny Boy" or "Sonny." It was known at an early age that he had talent as a vocalist and he started singing in numerous amateur contests, which he usually won. He sang on the radio in high school and was later on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, a popular contest that was broadcast over the radio before moving to television.
By 1946 Fisher was crooning with the bands of Buddy Morrow and Charlie Ventura. He was heard by Eddie Cantor at Grossinger's Resort in the Catskills of upstate New York in 1949. Upon joining Cantor's radio show he was an instant hit and gained nationwide exposure. He was then signed to a contract with RCA-Victor Records.
Fisher was drafted into the Army in 1951 and sent to Texas for basic training. He served a year in Korea.
The photos of him in uniform during his time in the Service did not hurt his civilian career, after his discharge he became even more popular singing in top nightclubs. He also had a variety television series, Coke Time with Eddie Fisher (NBC) (1953)-(1957), appeared on Perry Como's show, The Chesterfield Supper Club, the George Gobel Show, and had another series, The Eddie Fisher Show (NBC) (1957)-(1959).
A pre-Rock and Roll traditional pop vocalist, Eddie Fisher's strong and melodious tenor made him a teen idol and one of the most popular singers of the 1950s. He had seventeen songs in the Top 10 on the music charts between 1950 and 1956 and thirty-five in the Top 40, which included the 1955 song "I Love You."
In 1956, Fisher costarred with wife Debbie Reynolds in the musical comedy Bundle Of Joy. He played a serious role in the 1960 drama BUtterfield 8 with wife Elizabeth Taylor.
His best friend was showman/producer Mike Todd, who died in a plane crash in 1958. Fisher's affair and subsequent marriage to Todd's famous widow caused a show business scandal because he and his first wife, also famous, had a very public divorce.
Eddie Fisher has been married five times, first to actress Debbie Reynolds (1955-1959), second to actress Elizabeth Taylor (1959-1964), third to actress Connie Stevens (1967-1969), fourth to Terry Richard (1975-1976), and fifth to Betty Lin (1993-2001).
His last wife, Betty Lin, died April 15, 2001 in San Francisco, California.
Fisher is the father of two children by Reynolds, actress Carrie Fisher and Todd Fisher, and he is the father of two children by Stevens, actress Joely Fisher and actress Tricia Leigh Fisher.
In the 1960s he changed recording labels, moving to Ramrod Records. He also recorded for Dot Records. He then returned to RCA and had a minor singles hit in 1966 with the song Games That Lovers Play, which became the title of his best selling album. His last album for RCA was an Al Jolson tribute, You Ain't Heard Nothing Yet.
Fisher has performed in top concert halls all over the United States and headlined in major Las Vegas showrooms.
In 1981, he wrote his autobiography, Eddie: My Life, My Loves. He wrote another book in 1999 titled Been There, Done That.
Eddie Fisher has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one for Recording, at 6241 Hollywood Boulevard, and one for TV, at 1724 Vine Street.
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Hit Songs
Discography
Compilations