Actress Kirstie Alley, the star of the popular show “Cheers” and “Drop Dead Gorgeous,” has died after a short battle with cancer She was 71.
“We are sad to inform you that our incredible, fierce and loving mother has passed away after a battle with cancer, only recently discovered,” the actress’s children, True and Lillie Parker said in a statement on Alley’s Instagram page.
“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,” they continued. “As iconic as she was on screen, she was an even more amazing mother and grandmother.”
The siblings added how their 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,” the statement concluded.
Alley rose to fame in 1987 when she starred as Rebecca Howe on NBC’s Cheers. She earned a Golden Globe for best actress and an Emmy for outstanding lead actress for her part in the Boston-based series in 1991.
She went on to receive her second Emmy win for her portrayal of Sally Goodson in David’s Mother in 1994.
In recent years, Alley came under fire over controversial political statements, particularly about the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection and the war in Ukraine.
