Beloved TV and film actress Kirstie Alley died at the age of 71, after a brief battle with cancer. A two-time Primetime Emmy Award winner, Alley rose to fame for her performances in the TV show “Cheers” and the film “Look Who’s Talking.”
Early Career and Major Achievements
After winning the Emmy for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series in 1991 for “Cheers” and another for lead actress in a miniseries or special for 1994’s “David’s Mother,” she again found success in the late ’90s with the series “Veronica’s Closet,” which garnered her another Emmy nomination.
Transition to Reality TV
Kirstie Alley made her foray into reality television beginning in 2010 with “Kirstie Alley’s Big Life” and continued appearing in various other shows, including “Dancing With the Stars,” and later “The Masked Singer.” This late-career phase was also marked by Alley’s candid approach that occasionally stirred controversy, particularly through social media.
Notable Roles and Highlights
Kirstie Louise Alley was born in Wichita, Kansas in 1951. Mondadori Portfolio/Everett CollectionAlley with her future second husband Parker Stevenson in Aspen, Colorado, in 1979. The couple was married from 1983 to 1997 and share two children.
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From right, Alley appears alongside Leonard Nemoy, DeForest Kelley and William Shatner in the movie ‘Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.’ The role marked Alley’s feature film debut.
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Alley poses with Gloria Steinem during the filming of the ABC TV movie ‘A Bunny’s Tale,’ in 1985. Donna Svennevik/Walt Disney Television Photo Archive/Getty ImagesGeorge Wendt, Alley, and Ted Danson in a scene in the hit NBC TV show ‘Cheers.’ Alley, who joined the cast in 1987, played the role of Rebecca Howe, which catapulted her to stardom.
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John Travolta, director Amy Heckerling, and Alley on set of the hit film ‘Look Who’s Talking,’ which was released in 1989.
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John Larroquette and Alley in a scene from the 1990 film ‘Madhouse.’ Orion Pictures/Everett CollectionAlley and Burt Reynolds share a laugh backstage at the Emmy Awards in Pasadena, California in 1991. Both won awards for best acting in a comedy series, Alley for ‘Cheers’ and Reynolds for ‘Evening Shade.’ Reed Saxon/APAlley is honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1991. Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection/Getty ImagesAshley and Mary Kate Olsen star in the 1995 film ‘It Takes Two’ with Steve Guttenberg and Alley.
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Alley in a scene of the TV show ‘Veronica’s Closet.’ Alley played the title character in her second hit television show, which debuted in 1997.
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In 1998, Alley won the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Female in a New Television Series for her role in ‘Veronica’s Closet.’
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Alley, right, joins her fellow ‘Cheers’ cast mates John Ratzenberger, Kelsey Grammer, Ted Danson, George Wendt and Rhea Perlman to celebrate Danson’s induction into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1999.
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Alley appeared in the 1999 cult classic ‘Drop Dead Gorgeous’ with Denise Richards.
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Alley and actress Kelly Preston, second from right, march against the American Psychiatric Association in San Francisco in 2003.
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John Travolta reunites with Alley in an episode of her critically acclaimed Showtime series ‘Fat Actress’ in 2005.
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Alley poses with her children Lillie and True at a press event in California in 2005.
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Alley onstage to present at the 2007 TV Land Awards. Fred Prouser/ReutersAlley embraces fashion designer Zang Toi after walking the runway at the Zang Toi show during New York Fashion Week in 2011.
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Maksim Chmerkovskiy dances with Alley during her appearance as a contestant on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ in 2011. Alley came in second place and competed on a second season of the show in 2015. Adam Taylor/Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty ImagesAlley sings with Patricia Heaton in an episode of the ABC series ‘The Middle.’ Michael Ansell/Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty ImagesNick Cannon and Alley react during Alley’s unmasking on ‘The Masked Singer’ earlier this year. FOX/Getty Images
