Kirstie Alley death updates — Cheers star dies at 71 after private cancer battle as tributes flood in
KIRSTIE Alley has died at age 71 after a short battle with her "recently discovered" cancer, her family announced.
The Cheers actress was "surrounded by her closest family and fought with great strength," her children wrote in a social media .
"As iconic as she was on screen, she was an even more amazing mother and grandmother."
Kirstie won an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe for her role as Rebecca Howe in Cheers.
Tributes to the star are pouring in now from fans and former costars, as actor John Travolta on Instagram that "Kirstie was one of the most special relationships I’ve ever had."
Read our Kirstie Alley blog for more updates...
Kirstie's early life
Kirstie was born in Wichita, , and was one of three siblings.
She attended college at Kansas State University before dropping out her sophomore year to pursue Scientology.
After moving to California, she became an interior designer and made it to two game shows - Match Game and Password Plus.
In 1981, a drunken driver crashed into her parents' car, killing her mom and injuring her father.
Kirstie made headlines for her political endorsements
Kirstie endorsed Donald Trump for president in 2016.
She re-upped her endorsement of him in 2020.
She had previously expressed support for Barack Obama.
Kirstie told she thought she was "blackballed" for her political views.
Parker and Kirstie divorced in 1997
Parker Stevenson and Kirstie Alley met in 1981 at a restaurant in Los Angeles, according to Closer Weekly.
The two tied the knot in 1983 and adopted two children named William and Lillie.
However, in 1997 they divorced.
Kirstie told Entertainment Weekly that they had “different goals in life.”
Stevenson said in an interview with that he and Kirstie were “exact opposites.”
Kirstie was married to Parker Stevenson
Parker Stevenson, 70, is from Philadelphia. He is an actor like his late ex-wife Kirstie.
When he was younger, he starred in the series, The Hardy Boys, and portrayed Frank Hardy.
He is also known for portraying Craig Pomeroy in the hit series, Baywatch.
His other acting credits include Blossom, Melrose Place and Greenhouse Academy.
Kirstie had colon cancer
A rep for Kirstie Alley revealed the star had colon cancer before she died Monday, .
The 71-year-old was receiving treatment at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida.
Her children said Kirstie “only recently discovered” the cancer.
About Kirstie’s first husband
The Cheers actress married her high-school sweetheart, Bob Alley, in 1970.
The two were married for seven years, divorcing in 1977 without ever having children.
In 2012, Kirstie admitted that she had an affair while she and Bob were married.
According to , she said: “I didn’t have sex, but I think it was worse when you fall in love with someone else, when you’re with someone, and you’re plotting and you’re planning.”
She also admitted to the outlet that she had fallen in love with co-stars Patrick Swayze and John Travolta while married for the second time to Parker Stevenson.
Who was Kirstie Alley?
Kristie Alley burst into acting with the role of Rebecca Howe in NBC’s hit sitcom Cheers.
From the late 80s to the early 90s, Alley could be found on Cheers on most Thursday nights during NBC’s ‘must-see TV’ lineup.
Her role as a cool-girl-turned-neurotic bartender who fell in and out of love with various bar patrons, Boston millionaires, and the bar’s manager, Sam, will go down in history as one of the most iconic roles of early sitcom history.
Her role on Cheers earned her an Emmy award and a Golden Globe award, both in 1991.
Awards won by Kirstie Alley
Kirstie Alley received 5 awards throughout her illustrious acting career.
Kirstie’s career took off as she starred in the ’80s and ’90s sitcom Cheers, for which she won an Emmy Award in 1991 and 1994 along with a Golden Globe for her role of Rebecca Howe.
She also won two People’s Choice Award’s including for Favorite Female TV Performer and Favorite Actress in a New TV Series.
Kirstie’s fight with addiction, conclusion
Kirstie was introduced to Scientology by a next-door neighbor who practiced the faith.
She recalled about the practice it was “either the biggest scam in the universe or it would lead my out of my self created hell.”
She hoped for the ladder and made the trek to the Scientology center in Sherman Oaks, California, crediting the move to obtaining her sobriety.
“Miraculously, and I do mean miraculously, I had one Scientology session and never did cocaine again. Not a single speck. Even more miraculously, I have never ever since that day had a fleeting urge to partake in the snowy white powder,” Kirstie revealed.
“I rebuilt my life, made amends on all I’d harmed on drugs and 2 years later starred in my first movie. I never had another anxiety attack and never have taken any other drugs,” she concluded.
Kirstie’s fight with addiction, continued
Kirstie explained that she was interested in the drug because she was told it would help her come out of her shell.
“Cowboy Carl would buy me anything I wanted, and more. Everybody loved me, just everybody,” she wrote.
“Sure, I was the one with the drugs, but that’s not why they love me. It was because I was no longer Kirstie Lou, divorcee, introverted, shy girl.
“No, now I was Kirstie Fabulous. Snow queen of College Hill Park. I was fabulous.”
The Drop Dead Gorgeous star later recalled how the habit got out of hand, leading to extreme anxiety attacks, insomnia, weight loss and “psychotic thoughts.”
Kirstie’s fight with addiction
In 2005, the TV star released her autobiography, How To Lose Your A** And Regain Your Life, where she revealed her past struggle with a secret cocaine addiction.
In the book, Kirstie confessed that she became hooked on the “excellent power” thanks to a former lover, Cowboy Carl, who even proposed to her during one of her binges.
She detailed how her life spiraled out of control months after she split with her first husband, Bob Alley, in 1976 – turning her attention to Carl and his “magic powder.”
Life as a grandmother
Before passing away at the age of 71 on December 5, Kirstie Alley had the opportunity to experience life as a grandmother.
Through True and Lillie Kirstie had the chance to be a grandmother to three grandchildren.
Waylon is the first of Kirstie’s three grandchildren, she also has True’s daughter Rebel and Lillie’s son Ripp.
At the time, the Golden Globe-winning star told : “It’s heartwarming to see your own child have a child.
“My son and his girlfriend are amazing parents. I couldn’t have dreamt of anyone being better parents.
“Being a grandma is in the top three best things that has ever happened to me.”
Kirstie Alley’s kids
In October 1992, Kirstie Alley and her then-husband Parker Stevenson adopted their first son together.
William ‘True’ Stevenson is Kirstie’s only son and the first of her two children.
In 1995, Kirstie and Parker added another member to their family with the adoption of their daughter Lillie Stevenson.
Prior to welcoming True and Lillie, the late Cheers actress suffered a miscarriage in 1990.
Last night True and Lillie confirmed their mother’s passing via social media with a
Tim Allen pays tribute
Toy Story actor Tim Allen took to Twitter to share his thoughts on the recent passing of Kirstie Alley.
Days of our Lives actress remembers Kirstie
Actress Jackée Harry has paid tribute to Kirstie Alley on Twitter by sharing a 2018 tweet from the late actress.
“Whether you agreed with her or not, Kirstie Alley was an undeniable talent who brought joy to many – through the screen and with her warm, hilarious spirit,” the actress wrote.
Public falling out with DWTS partner
In 2014, Maksim Chmerkovskiy confirmed that he and Kirstie, his partner on Dancing with the Stars, had “stopped getting along,” and implied that Alley’s Scientology beliefs played a role.
Chmerkovskiy said that he and Alley “had a great relationship” at first, but that she then cut him out after he was “associating with other people that she can’t be associated with,” reported.
Alley was also outspoken about the Academy Awards changing their inclusion standards following the 2020 announcement of nominees.
“I am 100% behind diversity inclusion & tolerance. I’m opposed to MANDATED ARBITRARY percentages relating to hiring human beings in any business,” she at the time.
Josh Gad’s tribute
Actor Josh Gad took to Twitter to say that his “heart breaks for Kirstie and her family.”
“Whether it was her brilliance in ‘Cheers’ or her magnetic performance in the ‘Look Who’s Talking’ franchise, her smile was always infectious, her laugh was always contagious and her charisma was always iconic,” Josh wrote.
Jamie Lee Curtis remembers ‘beautiful mama bear’
Actress Jamie Lee Curtis posted a tribute on Facebook to Kirstie, her former co-star on Scream Queens in 2016.
“She was a great comic foil in @tvscreamqueens and a beautiful mama bear in her very real life,” Jamie wrote.
“She helped me buy onesies for my family that year for Christmas.
“We agreed to disagree about some things but had a mutual respect and connection. Sad news.”
Kirstie’s time on Masked Singer
On Season 7 of The Masked Singer, one of the contestants was Baby Mammoth – A member of Team Cuddly, Baby Mammoth was a hot pink elephant-looking creature, complete with long eyelashes and a big smile.
On the April 27 episode of The Masked Singer, Baby Mammoth and Space Bunny faced off in a duel.
Baby Mammoth was eliminated from the show and was revealed to be Kirstie Alley.
Jenny was the only judge to guess that it was Alley while the other judges guessed Rachel Ray, Kirsten Dunst, and Reese Witherspoon.
The two characters faced off to Meghan Trainor‘s Me Too and Do You Really Want To Hurt Me by the Culture Club.
Final television appearance
Kirstie Alley’s final television appearance was just over seven months before her death.
She appeared on the “The Masked Singer” in April, and played the Baby Mammoth throughout her stint on the show.
Actress slammed Netflix show
In 2020, Kirstie Alley hopped on social media and warned her followers about 13 Reasons Why, saying: “Don’t let your kids watch 13 Reasons Why…DARK so DARK and such an onslaught of the most non stop f**ked upness to come down the highschool pike since Caligula was 16.”
Due to the illustration of very mature and sensitive issues in the high school drama, Alley added that only those aged between 40-70 should be watching it.
After some fans disagreed with her point of view, Alley retaliated: “When you have kids and they’re 14 or 15 hit me back if you want them to watch a boy anally r***d with a broomstick after having his head bashed in.”
She wasn’t done there as she continued her scathing attack: “13 reasons why ’13 Reasons Why’ is for an adult audience and IN MY OPINION damaging to teenagers. You needn’t agree”.
Family announced Kirstie Alley’s death
Kirstie Alley’s children True and Lillie Parker announced her death in a social media post.
“We are sad to inform you that our incredible, fierce and loving mother has passed away after a battle with cancer, only recently discovered,” True and Lillie wrote.
“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,” the statement continued.
“As iconic as she was on screen, she was an even more amazing mother and grandmother.”
“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 practiced Scientology
Kirsty Alley formerly said that Scientology helped her overcome a cocaine addiction.
In the past, she launched a defense of the church and fell out with one of its mostly famous defectors, actress Leah Remini, who’s gone on to be an outspoken critic of the controversial religion.
Kirstie Alley told The Howard Stern show: “First of all, I just want everyone to know I have hundreds of friends who have come into Scientology and left Scientology. You are not shunned, you’re not chased. All that stuff’s bulls***.
“When you’re generalizing and when your goal is to malign and to say things about an entire group… when you decide to blanket statement that Scientology is evil, you are my enemy.”
Parker and Kirstie divorced in 1997
Parker Stevenson and Kirstie Alley met in 1981 at a restaurant in Los Angeles, according to Closer Weekly.
The two tied the knot in 1983 and adopted two children named William and Lillie.
However, in 1997 they divorced.
Kirstie told Entertainment Weekly that they had “different goals in life.”
Stevenson said in an interview with that he and Kirstie were “exact opposites.”
Kirstie was married to Parker Stevenson
Parker Stevenson, 70, is from Philadelphia. He is an actor like his late ex-wife Kirstie.
When he was younger, he starred in the series, The Hardy Boys, and portrayed Frank Hardy.
He is also known for portraying Craig Pomeroy in the hit series, Baywatch.
His other acting credits include Blossom, Melrose Place and Greenhouse Academy.