Kirstie Alley was an actress who starred on TV in “Cheers” and “Veronica’s Closet” as well as in movies including “Look Who’s Talking” and “Drop Dead Gorgeous.”
- Died: December 5, 2022 (Who else died on December 5?)
- Details of death: Died of colon cancer at the age of 71.
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Early career
Alley made her feature film debut in 1981’s “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,” playing Spock’s Vulcan protégé, Saavik. She went on to star in the short-lived TV series “Masquerade,” then took a starring role in the popular miniseries “North and South” as abolitionist Virgilia Hazard. Alley starred alongside Mark Harmon in the movie “Summer School” just before taking the role she would become indelibly identified with on “Cheers.” Joining the acclaimed hit series in its 1987 sixth season as the new female lead upon Shelley Long’s departure, Alley quickly reassured viewers who worried about the casting change. Her character, Rebecca Howe, was the increasingly neurotic bar manager; the already popular show rose in the ratings after she joined. Alley won a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy Award for her performance on “Cheers” and remained with the series until its 1993 finale.
Established star
Not long after her role in “Cheers” began, Alley took on another of her most famous roles, playing Mollie in the surprise blockbuster movie “Look Who’s Talking.” She would reprise the role as the mother of the title’s “talking” baby in two sequels. In 1997, her next starring TV role debuted; “Veronica’s Closet” featured Alley as the owner of a lingerie company. It was a success as part of NBC’s “Must See TV” lineup but struggled after a schedule change and was canceled after three seasons. She starred in movies including “It Takes Two” and “Drop Dead Gorgeous,” as well as in the Showtime series “Fat Actress,” playing an over-the-top fictionalized version of herself. The show drew on Alley’s own frustrations as tabloid news focused on her struggles with her weight.
Reality TV and other appearances
Later in her career, Alley was often seen on reality TV. 2010’s “Kirstie Alley’s Big Life” chronicled her weight loss journey. In 2011, she competed on “Dancing with the Stars,” finishing as the runner-up alongside her partner, Maksim Chmerkovskiy. She was also runner-up in “Celebrity Big Brother 22,” and she competed in the 2022 seventh season of “The Masked Singer” as Baby Mammoth. Alley’s other TV appearances include guest roles on “The King of Queens,” “Hot in Cleveland,” “The Middle,” and “The Goldbergs.”
Alley on her preference for TV over movies
“It’s the best lifestyle. Movies are so intense. When you have kids, you don’t want to put in all that time.” –from a 1997 interview for the New York Times
Tributes to Kirstie Alley
Full obituary: The New York Times
