Kirstie Alley, ‘Cheers’ and ‘Veronica’s Closet’ star, dead at 71. John Travolta reflects on their special relationship, plus a look back on her film and TV career and life offscreen.
Actress Kirstie Alley dead at 71
The death of actress Kirstie Alley at age 71 after a brief battle with cancer was announced on Monday on her Twitter account by her children True, 30, and Lillie Parker, 28, CNN reported.
“We are sad to inform you that our incredible, fierce and loving mother has passed away after a battle with cancer, only recently discovered,” the statement by her children read. “She was surrounded by her closest family and fought with great strength, leaving us with a certainty of her never-ending joy of living and whatever adventures lie ahead.”
“As iconic as she was on screen, she was an even more amazing mother and grandmother,” the statement continued. “Our mother’s zest and passion for life, her children, grandchildren and her many animals, not to mention her eternal joy of creating, were unparalleled and leave us inspired to live life to the fullest just as she did.”
Kirstie Alley: a look back at her career
As an actress, her first role, uncredited, was in one episode of the 1978 TV series Quark. Her first significant role came in the 1982 movie Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
Alley is best known for her role in the TV sitcom Cheers (1987-1993), for which she received an Emmy and a Golden Globe award.
Another memorable movie role came in the 1989 comedy film Look Who’s Talking.
In 1991, Alley won an Emmy for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series and a Golden Globe award for best performance by an actress in a television series, both for Cheers. She won another Emmy in 1994 for outstanding lead actress in a miniseries or special for David’s Mother. She won a People’s Choice Award for favorite female TV performer in 1991 and 1998. She also earned a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame in 1995.
Alley earned additional Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for her role in the sitcom Veronica’s Closet (1997-2000).
Kirstie Alley’s final TV appearance came on The Masked Singer, appearing as the Baby Mammoth in April 2022, to make her grandchildren happy, the Daily Mail reported.
Kirstie Alley: life offscreen
Kirstie Alley was born in Wichita, Kansas, in 1951. Kirstie was married to high school sweetheart Bob Alley from 1970-1977. She married actor Parker Stevenson in 1983-1997, and the couple adopted son William ‘True’ a week after his October 5, 1992, birth. In 1995, they adopted a daughter named Lillie.
Later in life, Alley stirred controversy in Hollywood for her conservative views, and she also made headlines last year claiming that she had become “blackballed” by Hollywood after vocally supporting former president Donald Trump, the Daily Mail reported.
John Travolta reflects on their special relationship
After news circulated of Kirstie Alley’s death, friend and confidante John Travolta, 68, took to Instagram to pay his respects.
The pair appeared with one another in three Look Who’s Talking films in 1989, 1990, and 1993.
“Kirstie was one of the most special relationships I’ve ever had,” Travolta wrote. “I love you Kirstie.”
“I know we will see each other again,” Travolta added.
Alley was forthright in her fondness for Travolta, speaking candidly in 2018 while appearing on Celebrity Big Brother UK, the Daily Mail reported.
“‘I think I kissed Travolta,” Alley said. “I almost ran off and married John. I did love him, I still love him. If I hadn’t been married I would’ve gone and married him and I would’ve been in an airplane because he has his own plane.”
