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Polly Holliday, the stage and display actor who was greatest identified for her Emmy-nominated function within the long-running CBS sequence “Alice,” has died. She was 88.
Holliday’s theatrical agent Dennis Aspland mentioned the actor died Tuesday at her dwelling in New York. A reason for loss of life was not revealed. Holliday was the final surviving principal solid member of “Alice.” Linda Lavin, who starred within the title function, died in December 2024 of problems from lung most cancers at age 87.
“Alice” aired on CBS from 1976 to 1985 and featured Holliday, Lavin and Beth Howland as a trio of waitresses working on the roadside Mel’s Diner in Phoenix. Vic Tayback portrayed the diner’s eponymous proprietor. The sequence was primarily based on Martin Scorsese’s 1974 movie “Alice Doesn’t Stay Right here Anymore.” The movie’s screenwriter Robert Getchell created the sequence.
Holliday portrayed Florence “Flo” Jean Castleberry, a wisecracking waitress who coined the present’s common catchphrase, “Kiss my grits.” She earned three Emmy nominations and two Golden Globe awards for her work on “Alice.”
The actor, born in Alabama on July 2, 1937, left “Alice” through the sequence’ 1979-1980 season and went on to star in “Flo,” the short-lived spinoff primarily based on her memorable character. “Flo” premiered on CBS in 1980 and was canceled the subsequent yr. She earned extra Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for that starring function.
Holliday’s display profession started within the Nineteen Seventies and included stints as Tim Allen’s mother-in-law in “Residence Enchancment,” the sister to Betty White’s character in “The Golden Women” and Momma Love within the authorized drama “The Consumer.” She additionally appeared within the movies “Gremlins,” “The Father or mother Lure” and “Mrs. Doubtfire.”
Past the display, Holliday took her abilities to the stage. She appeared in Broadway productions of “Cat on a Scorching Tin Roof,” “All Over City,” “Arsenic and Outdated Lace” and “Picnic.” These productions led to collaborations with Kathleen Turner, Dustin Hoffman and Kyle Chandler, amongst different stars.
Although her portrayal of Flo resonated most with audiences, she informed the Sarasota Herald-Tribune in 2003 that her well-known line “was pure Hollywood.” Regardless of this, Holliday mentioned, Flo was nonetheless a “Southern lady you see in numerous locations.”
She added: “Not effectively educated, however very sharp, with a humorousness and a resolve to not let life get her down.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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