Kirstie Alley, 'Cheers' and 'Look Who's Talking' Star, Dies at 71
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Kirstie Alley, a two-time Emmy-winning actor who rose to fame with
her role as Rebecca Howe in the NBC comedy series "Cheers," has
died of cancer. She was 71.

Alley's death was confirmed through her official social media
presence, which shared a statement from her children.

"To all our friends, far and wide around the world... We are sad to
inform you that our incredible, fierce and loving mother has
passed away after a battle with cancer, only recently discovered,"
reads the statement. "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."

"We are grateful to the incredible team of doctors and nurses at
the Moffitt Cancer Center for their care," the statement continues.
"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. We thank you for your love and prayers
and ask that you respect our privacy at this difficult time."

Kirstie Louise Alley was born in Wichita, Kansas in 1951, and moved
to Los Angeles in 1980, where she was an interior designer. Alley
was already involved in the Church of Scientology, and sought
treatment for a cocaine addiction through its affiliated Narconon
program, which she credited with her sobriety.

In 1982, she began her film career in "Star Trek II: The Wrath of
Khan," which she soon followed with "Blind Date" and the 1985
miniseries "North and South." Two years later, she played opposite
Mark Harmon in Carl Reiner's hit comedy "Summer School."

It was that year when Alley replaced Shelley Long on NBC's "Cheers,"
which was among the top comedies on television. In 1991, when she won
the lead actress Emmy for the role, she delivered a famously bawdy
speech, when she thanked her husband, the actor Parker Stevenson:
"I'd like to thank my husband, Parker, the man who has given me the
big one for the last eight years." Her second Emmy was for the 1994
television movie "David's Mother," in which she played the parent of
a teenager with autism.

Alley's career heights also included NBC's "Veronica's Closet"
(1997-2000), the meta 2005 Showtime comedy "Fat Actress" and
costarring with John Travolta in the three "Look Who's Talking"
movies, a trilogy that kicked off in 1989, and were huge hits.

She worked steadily, always: Alley came in second on "Dancing With
the Stars" in 2011; in 2013, she had a self-titled TV Land sitcom
called "Kirstie" that was canceled after one season; she was on
Season 2 of "Scream Queens" in 2016; and earlier this year, she
appeared on Season 7 of "The Masked Singer" -ÿas Baby Mammoth.

She is survived by a son, William True Stevenson, a daughter,
Lillie Price Stevenson and a grandson.



<https://variety.com/2022/tv/obituaries-people-news/kirstie-alley-dead-cheers-look-whos-talking-1235451006/>





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