US actress Kirstie Alley, best known for her role in the series Cheers, died today at the age of 71.
Between 1987 and 1993 she played Rebecca Howe for 147 episodes in the popular situation comedy Cheers. The Wichita, Kansas actress won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for the role in 1991.
Kirstie Alley has died of recently discovered cancer. Her children, True and Lillie Parker, issued a statement to announce their mother’s death.
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“She was surrounded by her closest family and she fought with great strength. As iconic as she was on screen, she was an amazing mother and grandmother. Our mother’s passion for life, her children, her grandchildren and her many animals, and her undying joy in creating inspires us to live as she did.”
Kirstie Alley was also known for her role as Veronica “Ronnie” Chase on the sitcom Veronica’s Closet, which aired between 1997 and 2000.
In cinemas, it was also seen in the films Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Shoot to Kill, Look Who’s Talking and Village of the Damned.
In 2012, she appeared on season 12 of Dancing With the Stars, where she came second, and season 7 of The Masked Singer.