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Kirstie Alleya two-time Emmy-winning actress who shot to fame with her role as Rebecca Howe on the NBC comedy series “Cheers“, died Monday of cancer. She was 71 years old.
Alley’s death was confirmed by his official social media presence, which shared a statement from his children.
“To all of our friends, all over the world…We are sad to inform you that our incredible, fierce and loving mother has passed away after a recently discovered battle with cancer,” the statement read. “She was surrounded by her closest family and fought with great strength, leaving us with a certainty of her endless zest for life and whatever adventures were to come. As iconic as she was in the screen, she was an even more incredible mother and grandmother.
“We are grateful to the incredible team of doctors and nurses at Moffitt Cancer Center for their care,” the statement continued. “Our mother’s zest for life and passion, her children, her grandchildren and her many animals, not to mention her undying joy in creating, was unmatched and leaves us inspired to live life to the full as she did. We thank you for your love and prayers and ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time. »
Kirstie Louise Alley was born in Wichita, Kansas in 1951, and moved to Los Angeles in 1980, where she worked as an interior designer. Alley was already involved with the Church of Scientology and sought treatment for a cocaine addiction through its affiliated Narconon program, to which she credited her sobriety.
In 1982, she began her film career in ‘Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan’, which she quickly followed with ‘Blind Date’ and the 1985 miniseries ‘North and South’. Two years later, she starred alongside Mark Harmon in Carl Reiner’s hit comedy “Summer School.”
It was that year that Alley replaced Shelley Long on NBC’s “Cheers,” which was among the best comedies on television. In 1991, when she won the Emmy for lead actress for the role, she delivered a famous bawdy speech, when she thanked her husband, actor Parker Stevenson: “I would like to thank my husband, Parker, the man who gave me the big one for the past eight years.” Her second Emmy was for the 1994 TV movie “David’s Mother,” in which she played the parent of an autistic teenager.
Alley’s career highs also included NBC’s “Veronica’s Closet” (1997-2000), the 2005 Showtime meta comedy “Fat Actress,” and starring with John Travolta in all three “Look Who’s Talking” films, a trilogy that has debuted in 1989, and were huge hits.
Alley served as a spokesperson for Jenny Craig’s Weight Loss System, then split up and started her own company Organic Liaisons. She then returned to Jenny Craig, who acquired her company. Over the past few years, Alley has become active — and sometimes combative — on social media. She tweeted her support for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, then withdrew her support, then said she voted for him. Although she often argued with people about politics, she was also responsible for some instances of nonpartisan, deadpan humor that became social media classics, such as her response to the death of physicist Stephen Hawking. : “You tried well…thanks for your input.”
She worked steadily, always: Alley came second on “Dancing With the Stars” in 2011; in 2013, she had a self-titled TV Land sitcom called “Kirstie” which was canceled after one season; she was in season 2 of “Scream Queens” in 2016; and earlier this year she appeared on season 7 of ‘The Masked Singer’ – as Baby Mammoth.
She is survived by one son, William True Stevenson, one daughter, Lillie Price Stevenson and one grandson.