Actress Kirstie Alley dies at 71 following battle with cancer

[Yavin4]

Source: CBS News Philadelphia

Actress Kirstie Alley, known for her breakout role in the sitcom "Cheers," has died after battling 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," her children True and Lillie Parker said on Alley's Twitter. "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."

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/actress-kirstie-alley-dies-at-71-following-battle-with-cancer-cheers/

[Hassin Bin Sober]

1. Only recently discovered? Yikes.

Pancreatic maybe? It’s brutal.

[Ms. Toad]

11. cholangiocarcinoma (one my daughter is at risk for)

and sarcoma (one I have) are equally brutal and quick.

At her age, absent a history of IBD, pancreatic cancer or sarcoma would be my guesses.

[electric_blue68]

19. I had sweet, and talented neighbor who didn't know he had it and was treating himself w herbal..

stuff bc he thought it was a stomach issue.

So like a year or so later it was discovered. I had moved so I didn't even know he'd died bc I received an invitation to his memorial service. Just awful.

[SWBTATTReg]

2. How sad. RIP. I hope that they have some Cheers reruns to memorialize her. NT

[Lucky Luciano]

3. Meh. Bad person.

[Ocelot II]

15. That's a crappy thing to say.

[Happy Hoosier]

42. It also happens to be true.

I'm done with sympathy for these evil fucks.

[Raine]

29. She loved animals, that's good enough for me

there's other things besides politics!!!!

[Lucky Luciano]

32. It's one thing if political differences are due to liking Bob Dole or something.

It’s altogether different at the trump level.

I’m not grave dancing. Just apathetic.

[Happy Hoosier]

40. Really? Oof....

Our nation is at a political crossroads, and this woman supported Trump whole-heartedly. Not to mentioning being in a giant scam of a "religion." But because she likes animals, that's "good enough for you?"

[Neema]

45. She was also anti-mask and anti-vax, so she likely to contributed to Covid deaths.

I'm not going to dance on her grave but pro-Trump, anti-mask, anti-vax Scientologists aren't going to get any tears from me.

[Happy Hoosier]

48. Yup... no dancing, but...

Good riddence to bad rubbish.

[Samrob]

46. Even some animals don't like other animals. Some people like animals that are mean to other animals

Loving animals is not enough for me to consider one's humanity. I know too many evil, dog-loving, cat-loving hateful people.

Kristy may RIP but I didn't like her either. Know friends who knew her. not nice.

[BonnieJW]

7. Please don't say that

I hated her politics, but please don't take joy in her death. She was a basically nice person with very bad judgment. Problem was, she made her terrible choices public

[The Grand Illuminist]

8. Free will.

She was a preacher of the big lie and a comfort to the insurectionists. We need to treat enemies as such.

[mahina]

39. Was she? I thought she did not support him.

Anyway peace to her.

[Happy Hoosier]

41. She vocally supported Trump.

That's NOT being a "nice person." It's just NOT.

[Samrob]

47. THS!!

[Ocelot II]

16. Wow. Don't be mean.

[yankee87]

5. Remember her with mixed feelings

Watched her movie, Hor Richer or Poorer, or as my kids said, For Richer or Pooper. Watched about 30 times with the kids when they were young.
Rest in Peace

[Beautiful Disaster]

6. Hopefully she let go of her anger in the final days.

She was a very hateful, angry person over the last few years. She seemed tormented. I hope she's found peace.

[Rebl2]

9. I wonder

if people sometimes have a suspicion they might have cancer, but don’t go to the doctor to check it out or they simply ignore the symptoms because they are afraid to find out.

[Ms. Toad]

12. Some of the most aggressive, deadly cancers either have no symptoms

until its too late (CCA, pancreatic) or doctors won't take them seriously until its too late (sarcoma - the standard is that doctors won't evaluate for sarcoma until it is golf-ball sized; I was lucky and had mine removed at kidney bean sized - I'm still having CT scans of the lungs every 3 months becuase it is such an aggressive cancer and likes to metastasize to the lungs. 5-year survival is around 50%)

[electric_blue68]

20. May you remain Free of Any Cancer!

[Ms. Toad]

21. Thank you!

Yesterday was the 2nd anniversary of my diagnosis, and later this month I will have my 8th quarterly scan. Assuming it is clean, I'll move to semi-annual scans. So far, I'm NED (no evidence of disease)!

(I'm also NED from breast cancer for about 6.5 years now - that one is far less deadly.)

[electric_blue68]

30. Such tough stuff. Keep on the NED road 👍

There's probably not many people that within their circles of family, friends, and good acquaintences that hasn't been struck w this scourge. I'm not one of those amazingly lucky people but most of mine are survivors and that is excellent good luck in its own way.

I tend to be s passionate person, and so I root fiercely for survivors.

[murielm99]

33. Please stay healthy!

And keep us informed.

[Ms. Toad]

43. Working hard at it!

So far, so good.

[Fla Dem]

38. Just had 2 friends have semi-annual scans. Both came back clean.

So much jubilation and thankfulness. They and their families can breathe again.

So happy for you and I wish you nothing but clear skies and calm seas ahead !

[Ms. Toad]

44. Scanxiety is real.

Fortunately, it doesn't impacty me much - but a lot of folks with my disease can't sleep for days ahead of the scan.

[Fla Dem]

10. That makes me sad. Loved the whole cast of Cheers.

Was disappointed in the direction her life took in later years, but she was tweeting right up until Thanksgiving.

https://twitter.com/kirstiealley

Theme song playing in my head.

CHEERS' theme song

[BigmanPigman]

18. The creators of Cheers and Frasier

said she was the only Cheers cast member not to appear on Frasier. She claims it was due to her Scientology beliefs being against psychological therapy. The Frasier producers laughed and said they never asked her to be on Frasier. She was not popular with some of the cast and crew. They joked about her when she didn't appear in the shows final episode.

[Duppers]

25. She really was a nutcase then.

Just wow.

[CousinIT]

14. I despised her politics but am heartbroken for her family.

I'd not wish such a fate on anyone.

[YoshidaYui]

17. Sad

[littlemissmartypants]

22. ...

[IcyPeas]

23. She was a scientologist. They sometimes use their own methods for fighting illness and disease.

RIP

[Kath2]

24. I am sorry she seemed so troubled and misguided for so long.

She certainly did entertain me and I enjoyed her characters.

I hope she finds peace.

[Mr.Bill]

26. I was not aware of her politics.

I enjoyed her talents as a comic actress. May her family find peace and comfort in her passing.

[soldierant]

27. I never watched Cheers

but I remember her from a single, lomg programon the Salem Witch Trials. Shirley McClain was also in that one. I don't really remember when, except that is was ay a time when she was being brutally fat shamed by the media. (And of course the witch trials were brutal, and fast-developing cncer is also brutal. My mother lost her only brother (my only uncle by blood) to one of those. I can't venture an opinion, but I can hope she is at peace.

[AlexSFCA]

28. Karma is unforgiving.

[Botany]

31. She was a real talent ... I feel bad right now

Cheers and Northern Exposure were some of the last network shows I made a point to
watch. Ms. Alley could hold onto her part on screen with any other actor.

[Shrek]

34. She and I graduated from the same public school system

She was well-liked here for coming back frequently to visit and for spending her money at local businesses.

[BumRushDaShow]

35. Heard this

early this morning. I was an avid Cheers watcher (IIRC it was on NBC's Thursday night line-up).

I also know that not mentioned much was her originating role of the Vulcan character Saavik in the fan favorite 2nd Star Trek film: "Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan" -

The film featuring that cadet "test scenario" known as the "Kobayashi Maru" was something that brought a new storyline from the original series into canon, and not only became a general reference to a "no-win" situation often mentioned in later Trek series and films, but also entered the lexicon of pop culture at large with a similar meaning.

She didn't reprise the role in the 3rd film ("Star Trek: The Search For Spock" ) with that role taken on by actress Robin Curtis (on the right in the below).



It's a shame that her politics often overshadowed her talent but I know that many are sorry to have heard this news.

[Bengus81]

36. Sad but she was not born in 1951

For some reason she felt like she needed to subtract a few years all her life. She graduated HS in 1967 in Wichita,she's the same age as another Wichita graduate Don Johnson.

[IronLionZion]

37. Santa Baby Kirstie Alley 2000s Commercial (2003)