Kirstie Alley death – latest: Cheers and Look Who’s Talking actress dies at 71, as John Travolta pays tribute
Cheers actress died after battle with cancer, according to family
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Kirstie Alley, an actor best known for her role in the sitcom Cheers, has died at the age of 71, according to her family.
“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,” her family wrote on Twitter.
Alley was surrounded by loved ones at the Moffit Cancer Center in Florida in her final moments, they said.
Alley’s Look Who’s Talking co-star John Travolta paid tribute to the actor in a statement on Monday.
“Kirstie was one of the most special relationships I’ve ever had,” he wrote on Instagram. “I love you Kirstie. I know we will see each other again.”
In her later years, Alley claimed she was “blackballed” by Hollywood for her conservative views and support for Donald Trump.
Actress Kirstie Alley dies from cancer at age 71, family announces
Actress Kirstie Alley has died at the age of 71 following a battle with cancer, her family has announced.
Alley, best known for her role as Rebecca in Cheers, died surrounded by her family after treatment at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Florida, her family announced on Monday evening.
“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,” her family wrote on Twitter.
Graeme Massie is following the story for The Independent.
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/2022/12/06/01/newFile.jpg?quality=75&width=1200&auto=webp)
Kirstie Alley dies from cancer at age 71, family announcesActress
Cheers star had ‘only recently discovered’ illness her children wrote on social media
Read the full statement from Kirstie Alley’s family on her passing
Kirstie Alley has died at the age of 71, according to her family.
Here’s their full statement on the matter, which was posted on Alley’s Twitter account on Monday.
John Travolta pays tribute to former co-star Kirstie Alley
John Travolta is one of a number of friends and former costars remembering Kirstie Alley, whose death was announced on Monday.
“Kirstie was one of the most special relationships I’ve ever had,” he wrote on Instagram of his Look Who’s Talking costar, sharing old photos of the two together.
“I love you Kirstie,” he added. “I know we will see each other again.”
Thousands watch clip of Kirstie Alley and John Travolta dancing from ‘Look Who’s Talking'
After the news that actress Kirstie Alley died, fans are flocking to an old clip of her and John Travolta dancing in a scene from 1989’s Look Who’s Talking.
Here’s the scene in question.
John Travolta leads tributes to Kirstie Alley and their ‘special relationship’ as she dies of cancer aged 71
John Travolta has paid tribute to his former co-star and longtime friend Kirstie Alley following her death from cancer at age 71.
“Kirstie was one of the most special relationships I’ve ever had,” Mr Travolta said on Instagram on Monday night. “I love you Kirstie. I know we will see each other again.”
Ms Alley, an actress who got her big break as Rebecca Howe in the TV show Cheers, starred with Mr Travolta in the Look Who’s Talking movies, and both were members of the Church of Scientology.
Io Dodds has the details.
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/2022/12/06/02/newFile.jpg?quality=75&width=1200&auto=webp)
John Travolta leads tributes to Kirstie Alley and their ‘special relationship’
John Travolta has paid tribute to his former co-star and longtime friend Kirstie Alley following her death from cancer at age 71.
Cheers star spoke openly of struggles with drugs
Kirstie Alley was known for being upfront about her views.
In 2019, she revealed she used to be addicted to cocaine in the 1970s, while celebrating 40 years of sobriety.
The Cheers actor, who also starred in Look Who’s Talking, opened up about her battle with drug addiction on Twitter.
Alley, 68, shared a photo of a bouquet of flowers she’d bought, writing: “For u who don’t know much about me, I used to be a coke head. I quit drugs in 1979 & vowed to spend the same $ weekly on flowers that I’d spent on drugs. I buy & arrange my own flowers as a gift to MYSELF. I buy them in the grocery store [sic].”
Jacob Stolworthy has more info.
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2019/11/25/08/kirstie-alley.jpg?quality=75&width=1200&auto=webp)
Kirstie Alley reveals she was a 'coke head' in the 1970s
Cheers star opened up about her former addiction on Twitter
Megyn Kelly mourns loss of Kirstie Alley
Former Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly is among the many well-known figures mourning the death of Cheers actress Kirstie Alley.
“This is such sad news,” Kelly wrote on Twitter on Monday. “A beautiful, brave, funny and beloved woman.”
Alley stirred controversy with opinions on Ukraine war and gender
As The Independent has reported over the years, Kirstie Alley wasn’t afraid to share her opinions on hot-button topics like the Ukraine war and changing notions of gender.
Here are some of our articles about her views.
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/2021/08/17/15/newFile-8.jpg?quality=75&width=1200&auto=webp)
Kirstie Alley says gender neutral term ‘chestfeeding’ is ‘insanity’
The 70-year-old actor says gender neutral language is ‘nullifying of women and their abilities’
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/2022/02/27/12/maks%20Chmerkovskiy%20kirstie%20alley.jpg?quality=75&width=1200&auto=webp)
DWTS pro Maks Chmerkovskiy calls out former partner Kirstie Alley over Ukraine tweet
Ukraine-born dancer appeared on ‘DWTS’ with Alley in 2011
Trump pays tribute to ‘great’ Kirstie Alley
Donald Trump has paid tribute to the late Kirstie Alley.
On Monday (5 December), Trump wrote on Truth Social: “Kirstie was a great person who truly loved the USA. She will be missed!!!”
Read more:
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