Popular Star Trek actress Kirstie Alley died at the age of 71
Actress Kirstie Alley, 71, has passed away from cancer. She won an Emmy for her role as Rebecca on “Cheers,” and her performance was much praised. An official statement from Alley was released on their social media channels to break the news.
Message read“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.”
Alley, a Scientologist and interior designer who was born in Wichita, Kansas in 1951, relocated to Los Angeles in the late 1970s. After a while, she started performing on screen and her first feature was 1982’s “Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan.” In 1987, though, she landed the role that would launch her career: Rebecca Howe on the NBC sitcom Cheers.
It didn’t take long for the show about the employees and patrons of a Boston pub to become a television classic. Despite the show’s stellar ensemble cast, many fans pointed to the relationship between Rebecca (Alley) and Sam Malone (Ted Danson) as the show’s central dynamic. In 1991, for her role on “Cheers,” Alley won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, one of five nominations she received for the role.
After his popularity on “Cheers,” Alley was cast in a slew of major motion pictures in the ’80s and ’90s. She has performed in films such as Woody Allen’s “Deconstructing Harry” and earned another Primetime Emmy for her role in the TV movie “David’s Mother” (1994), in which she co-starred with Bruce Willis. She was also featured as a frantic pageant mom in the 1999 satire “Drop Dead Gorgeous.”
Even in her latter years, Alley remained active in the film and television industries. She made a comedic acting comeback in 2013 with the short-lived TV Land comedy Kirstie. She has also been seen in 10 episodes of the horror comedy “Scream Queens.”
Alley’s family consists of her son William, daughter Lillie, and grandson.