Star Wars fans gathered to mourn the death of Carrie Fisher on Wednesday night, holding lightsaber vigils in Austin and Anaheim. The idea originated at an Alamo Drafthouse theater in Texas, Uproxxreported. "Today we lost our beloved Carrie Fisher, and to honor her immense legacy, we're inviting Jedis of all ages to join us for a special lightsaber vigil," the theater announced following Fisher's death on Tuesday at the age of 60.
Niki Powers, who attended the Austin vigil, told KXAN that fans should take comfort in the fact that Fisher's legacy will "live on" through future generations. "That's part of the role model of Princess Leia," she said on Wednesday. "She's a strong character for women and little girls now."
Another vigil took place in Disneyland's Downtown Disney District in front of the now closed House of Blues, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
"In all honesty, The Empire Strikes Back was the first movie I ever went to see in the theater and to this day Star Wars has played a huge part in my life," Jeff Rowan, who organized the tribute, toldTHR. "I hope Disney lets us in."
Just one day after Fisher's death, her mother—actress Debbie Reynolds—was rushed to a hospital from a family home in Beverly Hills. She later died. "She's gone to be with Carrie," Reynolds' son, Todd Fisher, said in a statement to NBC News. "She loved taking care of her and now she's gone to be with her." Reynolds, whose career was launched with an iconic role in the 1952 classic Singin' in the Rain, was 84.
