RIP Kirstie Alley

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https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/kirstie-a...l_twitter_abcn

Actress Kirstie Alley has died after battling cancer, her family announced Monday night. She was 71 years old.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

[Zoneboy]

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-63868992

Actress Kirstie Alley, best known for her role in the comedy series Cheers in the 1980s and 90s, has died of cancer at 71, according to a family statement.

"We are sad to inform you that our incredible, fierce and loving mother has passed away, " her children wrote.

Alley won an Emmy award for her role as a pub manager on the popular TV series.

The native of Wichita, Kansas has also appeared in the films Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Drop Dead Gorgeous, and the Look Who's Talking series.

The family statement did not specify what cancer she had, but said it was "only recently discovered".

"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," it continued.

"As iconic as she was on screen, she was an even more amazing mother and grandmother."

They also praised her "zest and passion for life, her children, grandchildren and her many animals, not to mention her eternal joy of creating".

John Travolta, who co-starred with her in the Look Who's Talking series, took to Instagram to pay his respects

"Kirstie was one of the most special relationships I've ever had. I love you Kirstie," he wrote alongside a photo of her.

"I know we will see each other again."

On Cheers, the beloved NBC sitcom about a bar in Boston, she played character Rebecca Howe opposite actor Ted Danson.

She appeared in 147 episodes after joining the show at the height of its popularity and continued to appear until its end in 1993.

In 1993, she won a second Emmy for best lead actress, this time for a CBS TV movie called David's Mother.

[Dude111]

Very sad.......

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darylchillmitchell

She was very instrumental I'm my career, I will miss our little chats, SIP ❤���� #kirstie #toothless #veronicascloset

kathynajimy

Heart Heavy

I loved Kirstie Alley. We first met in a van on the way to shoot an all woman film in the desert.

She was one of the most beautiful beings I had ever seen. And hilarious. And the desert was hot and dirty. And I was pregnant. And she had no filters and made me laugh..
And that began our relationship.

We acted together for 3 years on the series Veronica's Closet.

And many fun kirstie-ish projects, and wild birthday performances and picking her kids up and Christmas and cake decorating contests and all of it. Kirstie was first and foremost: FUN.

We've seen "Hollywood types" try to be eccentric- but they'll never match the true original, authentic, eccentric that is Kirstie.

She had pet Lemurs in her basement. She had freezers full of Jenny Craig, She built arbors covered in flowers inside her living room for dinners.
Once we were in the middle of filming an episode of Veronica's Closet -- she grabbed me and said "A-ee, LET’S GO!” yeah, she called me "A-ee", that's a longer story) Her driver took us to the valley and we Christmas shopped until the first AD found us amongst the tinsel.

Acting with her was some kind of free flowing dream. Nothing was off limits. She was a brilliant actor.

We went head to head about politics, religion, feminism, (I think it's hilarious she thought my "quest to get our set at NBC to recycle" was so Liberal!)

Kirstie delightfully dedicated her life and love to her kids: Lillie and True.

Wild trips, egg hunts, crazy waterfall games in the pool. Nothing was ordinary, nothing was mellow. EVERYTHING WAS FUN AND IGNITING AND ECCENTRIC. Kirstie was all of those things.

Hilarious, talented beyond belief, and generous and loyal.

When we acted, it was a wild wash of fun. Pretty much everything she did was a wild wash of fun.

My heart to True and Lillie and their families.



Ir-ee. I regret I haven't said I love you in the past year. I love you.

dancortese

I am beyond saddened to learn of the passing of the one of a kind @kirstiealley ! I was blessed to not only work by her side for 3 seasons on Veronica’s Closet, but to call her my friend. Comedy lost a great one���� #RIP

[biffbronson]

RIP Kirstie