Kirstie Alley, the actress greatest recognized for her position as Rebecca Howe on the sitcom “Cheers,” has died, her household mentioned in a press release Monday. She was 71.
“We are sad to inform you that our incredible, fierce and loving mother has passed away after a battle with cancer, only recently discovered” her youngsters, True and Lillie Parker, mentioned in a press release posted on social media.
“As iconic as she was on screen, she was an even more amazing mother and grandmother,” the assertion continued. They praised Alley’s ardour, love and creativity, and thanked the medical doctors and nurses at Moffitt Medical Center for her care.
In one among her first main roles, Alley appeared in 1982’s “Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan,” however she didn’t return for any subsequent Star Trek movies.
She joined the solid of “Cheers” in 1987 after Shelley Long, who performed Diane Chambers, left the present following its fifth season. For her position as Rebecca Howe, Alley obtained 4 Golden Globe and 5 Emmy nominations for greatest actress, successful each in 1991. She remained an everyday solid member of “Cheers” till the present’s eleventh and ultimate season in 1993.
“I only thank God I didn’t have to wait as long as Ted,” Alley quipped in her Emmy acceptance speech, in accordance with The Associated Press — a dig at her “Cheers” co-star Ted Danson, who was nominated for his position as Sam Malone eight occasions earlier than lastly taking residence the Emmy for greatest actor in a comedy sequence.
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The actress additionally starred within the 1989 romantic comedy, “Look Who’s Talking,” and its sequels, “Look Who’s Talking Too” and “Look Who’s Talking Now.”
John Travolta, who starred alongside Alley in all three movies, posted an emotional remembrance of his co-star on Instagram, writing, “Kirstie was one of the most special relationships I’ve ever had.”
“I love you Kirstie. I know we will see each other again.”
Kelsey Grammar, who additionally starred alongside Alley as Frasier Crane on “Cheers,” mentioned in a press release, “I always believed grief for a public figure is a private matter, but I will say I loved her.”
Rhea Perlman, who performed waitress Carla Tortelli on all 11 seasons of “Cheers,” mentioned in a press release, “Kirstie was a unique and wonderful person and friend. Her joy of being was boundless. We became friends almost instantly when she joined the cast of ‘Cheers.'”
“I’ve never met anyone remotely like her,” Perlman added. “I feel so thankful to have known her. I’m going to miss her very, very much.”
Throughout a lot of her profession, Alley was open about her struggles together with her weight and the way in which the media reacted to her look. She served because the spokesperson for Jenny Craig from 2005 to 2008, and in 2005, she starred within the Showtime sequence “Fat Actress,” wherein she performed a fictionalized model of herself.
She additionally starred within the A&E actuality sequence “Kirstie Alley’s Big Life,” which adopted her try to start out her personal weight reduction program in 2010.
In 1997, Alley starred within the comedy “For Richer or Poorer” alongside Tim Allen, who memorialized the actress on Twitter, writing, “A sweet soul pass[ed] on in Kristie Alley. Sad, sad news.”
Alley in 2016 joined the solid of “Scream Queens,” which additionally starred actress Jamie Lee Curtis. The iconic “Halloween” actress posted a tribute to her co-star on Instagram, writing, “She was a great comic foil in [Scream Queens] and a beautiful mama bear in her very real life. She helped me buy onesies for my family that year for Christmas.”
“We agreed to disagree about some things,” Curtis added, “but had a mutual respect and connection.”
According to the AP, Alley’s first tv appearances had been as a recreation present contestant on “The Match Game” in 1979, and on “Password” the next yr.
Alley additionally had a short-lived sitcom on TV Land referred to as “Kirstie,” which ran for a single season and featured Kristen Chenoweth in two episodes.
Chenoweth remembered Alley fondly in a sequence of tweets, writing, “I love you, Kirstie. I will see you again someday. I can’t believe you’re gone,” alongside photographs of the 2 collectively.
Actress and mannequin Carmen Electra, who appeared on “Fat Actress,” additionally posted a tribute to the star on Instagram, writing “#rip to this kind, beautifully talented soul,” alongside glamour photographs of a younger Alley and a photograph of the 2 of them collectively.
Alley, who was born in Wichita, Kansas, was married twice, the AP reported — to her highschool sweetheart from 1970 to 1977, after which to actor Parker Stevenson from 1983 till 1997, with whom she adopted her two youngsters.
Stevenson posted a photograph of himself and his ex-wife on Instagram, writing her a brief be aware.
“Dear Kirstie, I am so grateful for our years together, and for the two incredibly beautiful children and now grandchildren that we have,” mentioned Stevenson. “You will be missed. With love, Parker.”
