Kirstie Alley made a name for herself with a successful career in the TV industry — but she also made headlines for her personal life.
The actress was born in 1951 to parents Robert Deal Alley and Lillian Alley. Alongside her two siblings, Colette and Craig, Kirstie was raised in Kansas before she left for Los Angeles following her sophomore year of college.
After initially working as an interior designer, Kirstie made several appearances on game shows including Match Game and Password Plus. She later transitioned into a career in Hollywood — specifically in sitcoms such as Cheers, Veronica’s Closet, Kirstie and more.
Over the years, the Scream Queens alum was also outspoken about her life off screen. In 2015, Kirstie defended her belief in Scientology and praised the practices of the church.
“I think that people need to always — no matter what path they choose — the goal I hope would be to become more and more aware,” she said during an interview with Howard Stern, noting that she reached the OT-7 level in the church’s hierarchy of achievements. “It means that you have gotten rid of all the things that would create aberrated behavior in you that you didn’t want.”
The Look Who’s Talking star added: “It’s an awareness level. It’s an achievement.”
Kirstie also weighed in on Leah Remini‘s public decision to leave Scientology two years prior. In response to Remini’s claims about how she was shunned by the controversial church, Kirstie discussed her own experience.
“She left the religion and she was very critical,” Kirstie explained at the time. “That’s just sort of water under the bridge. There’s nothing going on and there was nothing going on for years. I didn’t shun her, but if a lot of people are rejecting you, at some point you gotta ask, ‘What am I doing?’ I mean, that’s what I would have asked myself.”
The Emmy award winner, who shared son William and daughter Lillie with ex-husband Parker Stevenson, claimed her kids joined Scientology as well. “It was their choice,” she said. “It really helped them a lot so that’s good.”
Ahead of her death, Kirstie reflected on the legacy she hoped to leave behind for her family.
“I would say I would start [my grandchildren] off [by watching my show] Cheers. I was very proud of David’s Mother, which was a drama, just because I hadn’t ever done something like that,” she told StarTrek.com in 2016. “I guess any time — I’m one of those actors that likes to do things that I haven’t done before. So when someone asks me, ‘What about this?’ If my first feeling is, ‘Oh, why’d you choose me for this?’ Then I kind of go — because then you have to be a little bit braver, I guess — ‘All right, I’ll give it a whirl.’”
In December 2022, Kirstie’s kids announced her death in a statement.
“We are sad to inform you that our incredible, fierce and loving mother has passed away after a battle with cancer, only recently discovered,” they shared in a letter via their late mother’s Instagram. “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.”
The social media message continued: “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.”
Keep scrolling for a look back at Kirstie’s life in photos:
Kirstie Alley made a name for herself with a successful career in the TV industry — but she also made headlines for her personal life.
The actress was born in 1951 to parents Robert Deal Alley and Lillian Alley. Alongside her two siblings, Colette and Craig, Kirstie was raised in Kansas before she left for Los Angeles following her sophomore year of college.
After initially working as an interior designer, Kirstie made several appearances on game shows including Match Game and Password Plus. She later transitioned into a career in Hollywood — specifically in sitcoms such as Cheers, Veronica’s Closet, Kirstie and more.
Over the years, the Scream Queens alum was also outspoken about her life off screen. In 2015, Kirstie defended her belief in Scientology and praised the practices of the church.
“I think that people need to always — no matter what path they choose — the goal I hope would be to become more and more aware,” she said during an interview with Howard Stern, noting that she reached the OT-7 level in the church’s hierarchy of achievements. “It means that you have gotten rid of all the things that would create aberrated behavior in you that you didn’t want.”
The Look Who’s Talking star added: “It’s an awareness level. It’s an achievement.”
Kirstie also weighed in on Leah Remini‘s public decision to leave Scientology two years prior. In response to Remini’s claims about how she was shunned by the controversial church, Kirstie discussed her own experience.
“She left the religion and she was very critical,” Kirstie explained at the time. “That’s just sort of water under the bridge. There’s nothing going on and there was nothing going on for years. I didn’t shun her, but if a lot of people are rejecting you, at some point you gotta ask, ‘What am I doing?’ I mean, that’s what I would have asked myself.”
The Emmy award winner, who shared son William and daughter Lillie with ex-husband Parker Stevenson, claimed her kids joined Scientology as well. “It was their choice,” she said. “It really helped them a lot so that’s good.”
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Ahead of her death, Kirstie reflected on the legacy she hoped to leave behind for her family.
“I would say I would start [my grandchildren] off [by watching my show] Cheers. I was very proud of David’s Mother, which was a drama, just because I hadn’t ever done something like that,” she told StarTrek.com in 2016. “I guess any time — I’m one of those actors that likes to do things that I haven’t done before. So when someone asks me, ‘What about this?’ If my first feeling is, ‘Oh, why’d you choose me for this?’ Then I kind of go — because then you have to be a little bit braver, I guess — ‘All right, I’ll give it a whirl.’”
In December 2022, Kirstie’s kids announced her death in a statement.
“We are sad to inform you that our incredible, fierce and loving mother has passed away after a battle with cancer, only recently discovered,” they shared in a letter via their late mother’s Instagram. “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.”
The social media message continued: “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.”
Keep scrolling for a look back at Kirstie’s life in photos:
Credit: Paramount Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock
1970
Kirstie was married to high school sweetheart Bob Alley from 1970 to 1977.
Credit: Paramount Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock
1980s
In 1982, Kirstie made her film debut in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan as Lieutenant Saavik. She ultimately did not reprise the role in future sequels but continued to appear in movies such as One More Chance, Blind Date and Runaway.
On the small screen, Kirstie scored roles in Masquerade, North and South and The Hitchhiker.
Credit: Julie Markes/AP/Shutterstock
1990s
The TV personality found success in her professional life after she starred alongside Mark Harmon in Summer School. Kirstie went on to join the cast of NBC’s hit sitcom Cheers, where she starred as Rebecca Howe from 1987 to 1993.
In 1989, Kirstie was cast opposite John Travolta in Look Who’s Talking. The costars continued to collaborate with Look Who’s Talking Too and Look Who’s Talking Now! She also appeared in Sibling Rivalry, It Takes Two, Drop Dead Gorgeous and Toothless.
Credit: Bei/Shutterstock
1990s
Following her time on Cheers, Kirstie was nominated for several Emmys. She won in 1991 and later scored another award for the 1994 film David’s Mother.
The Last Don actress received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1995.
Credit: Henry Lamb/Photowire/BEI/Shutterstock
2013
The Without a Trace alum was reunited with Cheers costar Rhea Perlman in her sitcom Kirstie. The show, which also included Michael Richards, premiered in 2013 and was canceled that same year.
Kirstie continued to appear on the small screen in shows including Hot in Cleveland, The Middle, Time Crashers, Scream Queens, The Goldbergs and season 22 of Celebrity Big Brother.
Credit: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock
2022
Ahead of her death, Kirstie competed in season 7 of The Masked Singer as Baby Mammoth. She was eliminated in the eighth episode.
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