Kirstie Alley Dead at 71 After Cancer Battle

Kirstie Alley, a two-time Emmy winner whose roles on the TV megahit Cheers and in the Look Who’s Talking films made her one of the biggest stars in American comedy in the late 1980s and early 1990s, died Monday. She was 71.

Alley’s children, True and Lillie Parker posted the news on social media.

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.

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.

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.

With love always,

True and Lillie Parker

In addition to Cheers, Alley had her own sitcom on NBC, Veronica’s Closet, which aired from 1997 to 2000.

John Travolta, her co-star in Look Who’s Talking franchise, paid her tribute in an Instagram post. “Kirstie was one of the most special relationships I’ve ever had. I love you Kirstie. I know we will see each other again,” he wrote alongside a photo of the actress.

She eventually became a reality TV staple, playing a fictionalized version of herself in the 2005 Showtime series Fat Actress, a series that dealt with how the public reacted to her weight gain and loss.

The 2010 A&E reality series Kirstie Alley’s Big Life chronicled her attempt to lose weight and launch a weight-loss program.

DWTS fans may remember Alley finishing in second-place with pro partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy on Dancing With the Stars in 2011. She also danced with Chmerkovskiy in the 2012 all-star season.

And most recently she appeared on The Masked Singer as the Baby Mammoth.

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Founder and editor of mjsbigblog.com, home of the awesomest fan community on the net. I love cheesy singing shows of all kinds, whether reality or scripted. I adore American Idol, but also love The Voice, Glee, X Factor and more!