LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kirstie Alley, who won an Emmy for her role on "Cheers" and starred in films including "Look Who's Talking," died Monday. She was 71.
Alley died of cancer that was only recently discovered, her children True and Lillie Parker said in a post on Twitter. Alley's manager Donovan Daughtry confirmed the death in an email to The Associated Press.
Keep scrolling for a gallery of photos from the life of Kirstie Alley
"As iconic as she was on screen, she was an even more amazing mother and grandmother," her children's statement said.
Kirstie Alley attends the premiere of HBO's "Girls" fourth season at The American Museum of Natural History on Monday, Jan. 5, 2015, in New York.
She starred opposite Ted Danson as Rebecca Howe on "Cheers," the beloved NBC sitcom about a Boston bar, from 1987 to 1993. She joined the show at the height of its popularity after the departure of original star Shelley Long.
People are also reading…
Alley would win an Emmy for best lead actress in a comedy series for the role in 1991. She would take a second Emmy for best lead actress in a miniseries or television movie in 1993 for playing the title role in the CBS TV movie "David's Mother."
She had her own sitcom on the network, "Veronica's Closet," from 1997 to 2000.
In the 1989 comedy "Look Who's Talking," which gave her a major career boost, she played the mother of a baby who's inner thoughts were voiced by Bruce Willis. She would also appear in the 1990 sequel "Look Who's Talking Too."
John Travolta, her co-star in both films, paid her tribute in an Instagram post.
"Kirstie was one of the most special relationships I've ever had," Travolta said, along with a photo of Alley. "I love you Kirstie. I know we will see each other again."
She would play a fictionalized version of herself in the 2005 Showtime series "Fat Actress," a show that drew comedy from her public and media treatment over her weight gain and loss.
And in recent years she appeared on several reality shows, including "Dancing With the Stars."
A native of Wichita, Kansas, Alley attended Kansas State University before dropping out and moving to Los Angeles.
Her first television appearances were as a game show contestant, on "The Match Game" in 1979 and Password" in 1980.
She made her film debut in 1982's "Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan."
Photos: Kirstie Alley through the years (1951-2022)
Gloria Steinem, right, with actress Kirstie Alley who will be playing the part of Steinem in an upcoming ABC-TV movie, called "A Bunny's Tale" at the Ms. Magazine offices, Oct. 30, 1984. (AP Photo/David Bookstaver)
Boston Red Sox third baseman Wade Boggs, center, poses, March 2, 1988, with the cast of the television comedy series "Cheers" during a break in rehearsal for an upcoming episode in which Boggs has a cameo appearance. Cast members include, left to right: John Ratzenberger, Rhea Perlman, George Wendt, Boggs, Woody Harrelson, Kirstie Alley and Ted Danson. (AP Photo/Ira Mark Gostin)
Actors Ted Danson and Kirstie Alley touch their awards together backstage at the 48th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., Jan. 19, 1991. Danson and Alley won for best actor and best actress in a television comedy for their work on "Cheers." (AP Photo/Doug Pizac)
Actress Kirstie Alley reacts on stage after being presented with the Emmy for the best actress in a comedy series for her in "Cheers" Sunday, Aug. 26,1991 in Pasadena, Calif.(AP Photo/Nick Ut)
Kirstie Alley of "Cheers" and Burt Reynolds of ?Evening Shade? share a laugh backstage at the Emmy Awards on Sunday, August 25, 1991 in Pasadena, Calif., after both won awards for best acting in a comedy series. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
Kirstie Alley holds her trophy for Favorite Female Television Performer during the People’s Choice Awards in Los Angeles on , March 11, 1991. Alley won for her role as Rebecca on “Cheers.” (AP Photo/Julie Markes)
Kirstie Alley, one of the leading stars of both television and film, poses for a photograph on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Nov. 9, 1995 in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles. Alley is probably best known for her portrayal of Rebecca Howe on NBC?s ?Cheers,? one of the most highly-rated and critically acclaimed television shows of all time. Her star is the 2056th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Actress Kirstie Alley, center, poses with son True and daughter Lillie at the premiere for the film 'The Runaways' at the Landmark Sunshine Theater on Wednesday, March 17, 2010 in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)
Rachael Harris, left, and Kirstie Alley arrive to the Premiere of Showtime's comedy series "Fat Actress" held at the Cinerama Dome in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2005. (AP Photo/Chris Polk)
Dancing with the Stars finalist Kirstie Alley appears on Good Morning America in New York, Wednesday, May 25, 2011. (AP Photo/Charles Sykes)
Kirstie Alley arrives at the World Premiere of "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., on Saturday, May 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
Kirstie Alley attends the premiere of HBO's "Girls" fourth season at The American Museum of Natural History on Monday, Jan. 5, 2015, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
FILE - This March 17, 2010 file photo shows actress Kirstie Alley at the premiere for the film "The Runaways" at the Landmark Sunshine Theater in New York. ABC says an "All-Star" edition of the competition show will bring back 12 former rivals including Pamela Anderson, Kristie Alley, and Bristol Palin. In a break from the past, viewers can vote online for the 13th contestant from three former contestants including actors Kyle Massey and Sabrina Bryan and celebrity stylist Carson Kressley. The celebrity dance competition series returns on ABC on Sept. 24. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, file)
FILE - In this Jan. 5, 2015 file photo, Kirstie Alley attends the premiere of HBO's "Girls" fourth season in New York. Alley is joining the cast in the second season of "Scream Queens," premiering Sept. 20, on Fox. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
Kirstie Alley attends the LA premiere of "The Fanatic" at the Egyptian Theatre on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
***
