Kirstie Alley death – latest: Cheers and Look Who’s Talking actress dies at 71, as John Travolta pays tribute

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.

Key Points

• Actress Kirstie Alley dies from cancer at age 71, family announces

• Read the full statement from Kirstie Alley’s family on her passing

Actress Kirstie Alley dies from cancer at age 71, family announces

02:00 , Josh Marcus

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.

Kirstie Alley dies from cancer at age 71, family announcesActress

Read the full statement from Kirstie Alley’s family on her passing

02:01 , Josh Marcus

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

02:15 , Josh Marcus

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'

02:30 , Josh Marcus

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

02:45 , Josh Marcus

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.

John Travolta leads tributes to Kirstie Alley and their ‘special relationship’

Cheers star spoke openly of struggles with drugs

03:00 , Josh Marcus

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.

Kirstie Alley reveals she was a 'coke head' in the 1970s

Megyn Kelly mourns loss of Kirstie Alley

03:15 , Josh Marcus

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

03:30 , Josh Marcus

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.

Kirstie Alley says gender neutral term ‘chestfeeding’ is ‘insanity’

DWTS pro Maks Chmerkovskiy calls out former partner Kirstie Alley over Ukraine tweet

Larry The Cable Guy pays tribute to Kirstie Alley

04:15 , Peony Hirwani

Trump pays tribute to ‘great’ Kirstie Alley

05:00 , Peony Hirwani

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:

Trump pays tribute to ‘great’ Kirstie Alley

Jackée Harry pays tribute to Kirstie Alley

05:45 , Peony Hirwani

“Whether you agreed with her or not, Kirstie Alley was an undeniable talent who brought joy to many – through the screen and with her warm, hilarious spirit,” Jackée Harry wrote.

“RIP, luv. You were one of a kind.”

Clip of Kirstie Alley and John Travolta dancing in 1989’s Look Who’s Talking goes viral

06:15 , Peony Hirwani

A clip of Kirstie Alley and John Travolta dancing in 1989’s Look Who’s Talking has gone viral.

Podcast host Kimberley Johnson pays tribute to Kirstie Alley despite their differences

07:00 , Peony Hirwani

“I’m sorry to hear Kirstie Alley has died. She was a Trump supporter and she blocked me, so we were not on the same page politically but that woman was immensely talented, hysterically funny and I’m grateful for her unforgettable contribution to entertainment. RIP,” Start Me Up podcast host Kimberley Johnson wrote on Twitter.

Kristin Chenoweth says she’s ‘devastated’ following Kirstie Alley’s death

07:30 , Peony Hirwani

08:00 , Peony Hirwani

Earlier this year, Kirstie Alley was revealed as Baby Mammoth on The Masked Singer.

Read more:

Kirstie Alley is revealed as Baby Mammoth on The Masked Singer as she is eliminated

Kirstie Alley claimed she was ‘blackballed’ by Hollywood due to Trump support

08:30 , Peony Hirwani

Earlier this year, Kirstie Alley said that it is more acceptable to take illegal drugs and “sleep with” sex workers than be a Republican in Hollywood.

Read more:

Kirstie Alley claims she was ‘blackballed’ by Hollywood for supporting Trump

John Travolta pays tribute to Kirstie Alley

09:00 , Peony Hirwani

Kirstie Alley called John Travolta the ‘greatest love’ of her life

10:06 , Peony Hirwani

Kirstie Alley called John Travolta the “greatest love” of her life, in an interview that has resurfaced following the news of her death.

Read more:

Kirstie Alley called John Travolta the ‘greatest love’ of her life

Kirstie Alley dies from cancer at age 71

10:36 , Peony Hirwani

Kirstie Alley has died at the age of 71 following a battle with cancer.

Read her family’s statement below:

Kirstie Alley dies from cancer at age 71, family announces

Donald Trump has paid tribute to Kirstie Alley

11:16 , Peony Hirwani

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!!!”