More details about Kirstie Alley’s cancer battle have emerged as her _Cheers_co-stars and ex-husband Parker Stevenson pay tribute.
It was reported Tuesday that Alley, who died at 71, was quietly battling coloncancer, her rep told People.
In announcing Alley’s death on Monday, her children with Stevenson, True andLillie Parker, said she died from cancer, which had only recently beendiscovered. They thanked Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fla., for providingher end-of-life care.
Overnight, Alley’s co-stars from the show that made her most famous — Cheers— paid tribute. She played Rebecca Howe from 1987 to 1993, winning an Emmy andGolden Globe for the part.
Ted Danson, whose Sam Malone was friends, lovers and co-bar owners withAlley’s character over its long run, said in a statement to the same outlet,”I was on a plane today and did something I rarely do. I watched an oldepisode or Cheers. It was the episode where Tom Berenger proposes toKirstie, who keeps saying no, even though she desperately wants to say yes.Kirstie was truly brilliant at it. Her ability to play a woman on the verge ofa nervous breakdown was both moving and hysterically funny. She made me laugh30 years ago when she shot that scene, and she made me laugh today just ashard. As I got off the plane, I heard that Kirstie had died. I am so sad andso grateful for all the times she made me laugh. I send my love to herchildren. As they well know, their mother had a heart of gold. I will missher.”
Ted Danson as Sam Malone and Kirstie Alley as Rebecca Howe (Photo: NBCU PhotoBank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
Kelsey Grammer, who played Frasier on the show and its spin-off and upcomingreboot, told USAToday , “I always believed grief for a public figure is aprivate matter, but I will say I loved her.”
Rhea Perlman, whose tough waitress Carla Tortelli would give Alley’s Rebecca(and everyone else) the business, called her “a unique and wonderful personand friend. Her joy of being was boundless. We became friends almost instantlywhen she joined the cast of Cheers. She loved kids and my kids loved hertoo. We had sleepovers at her house, with treasure hunts that she created. Shehad massive Halloween and Easter parties, and invited the entire crew of theshow, and their families. She wanted everyone to feel included. She loved herchildren deeply. I’ve never met anyone remotely like her. I feel so thankfulto have known her. I’m going to miss her very, very much.”
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John Ratzenberger, who played barfly and mailman Cliff Clavin, tweeted, “It’sso sad. So very sad. God Bless you and keep you Kirstie Alley.”
Cheers guest stars, including Harry Connick Jr., have also posted tributes.
The Cheers cast reconnected many times through the years, including a mini_Cheers_ reunion (sans Danson, Grammer and Harrelson) on The Goldbergs in2019.
Also posting a tribute is Alley’s second husband, Baywatch alum Stevenson.The pair married in 1983, and she famously thanked him in her 1991 Emmysspeech for being “the man who has given me the big one for the last eightyears.” After experiencing a pregnancy loss, they adopted William “True” in1992 and Lillie in 1995, but divorced in 1997 and had a bitter split. The exeswere grandparents.
Alongside an old photo of them together, he wrote, “Dear Kirstie, I am sograteful for our years together, and for the two incredibly beautiful childrenand now grandchildren that we have. You will be missed. With love, Parker.”
It was announced on Monday that the actress, who also starred in the Look Who’s Talking _movies as well as _Veronica ‘s Closet, Fat Actress _and _ScreamQueens had died.
Among those posting early reactions was John Travolta, her _Look Who ‘sTalking _co star. Through the years Alley has said she was in love withTravolta, but they never acted on because she was married and then he met andmarried the late wife Kelly Preston.
“Kirstie was one of the most special relationships I’ve ever had,” Travoltawrote to his friend. “I love you Kirstie. I know we will see each other