The late Kirstie Alley was a well-known animal lover and in addition to her beloved dogs, she also kept some unconventional pets at her home in LA.
The Cheers star died at the age of 71 after a “battle with colon cancer” that she “only recently discovered,” her children announced Monday.
The actress and staunch Scientologist lived a crazy life in her grand 1930s mansion in the hills of Los Feliz — where she housed monkeys, 14 lemurs and flocks of wild birds, for which she had special licenses.
Crazy: The late Kirstie Alley was a well-known animal lover, and in addition to her beloved dogs, she also kept some slightly more unconventional pets at her LA home, including 14 lemurs (pictured together)
Back in 2016, during an appearance on The Meredith Vieira Show, she opened up about needing a man who would love her furry friends as much as she does.
She said: “Lemurs are one of the few primates that you can really bring small children to, anyone, and they’ll sit on your lap and you’ll be safe
The beauty then quipped, “I need a man who loves the monkeys!”
Pets: The actress and devout Scientologist lived a crazy life in her grand 1930s mansion in the hills of Los Feliz — where she housed monkeys, 14 lemurs and flocks of wild birds, for which she had special licenses
She went on to explain, “I started with lemurs because they are a magnificent animal and I was very interested in conservation in Madagascar, where they come from, and conservation of rainforests and forests.
“It’s actually quite easy in Los Angeles because the climate is almost identical. And then I just fell in love with her.”
Many tributes poured in for Kirstie following her death, including close friend Jessica Alves, 39.
Tragic: The Cheers star died at the age of 71 after a “battle with cancer” she “only recently discovered,” her children announced Monday
The couple bonded while they both appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2018 and spent time together in Italy after the show.
Jessica said of her pets, speaking to Web after her sad death: “She might have been a big Hollywood star, but she was very down to earth and wise.
“But she showed me pictures of all the monkeys and wild birds that she had at her home in LA. She had to have a special license to do it, but she loved animals.
“She was truly a special woman and I am absolutely devastated to hear of her passing – my heart goes out to all of her loved ones.”
Open: Back in 2016, during an appearance on The Meredith Vieira Show, she opened up about how she needs a man who loves her furry friends as much as she does (her lemur Leo is pictured)
After Kirstie’s death, nonprofit animal rights organization PETA paid tribute to her.
They said in a tweet: “From the smallest monkey to the largest elephant, Kirstie Alley appreciated every animal.
“She fought for a future without animal testing or captivity in marine parks. Your desire to make the world a better place for all species will leave a lasting impression. Rest in peace.’
Once she even took one of her lemurs through airport security.
Exotic: One of her favorite birds is pictured in a cage in her living room
Art: In February this year, she also revealed that she adopted a squirrel and nursed it back to health for six months after it fell from a tree
She explained in an old interview: “If you [of my lemurs] was a baby, I took her with me [through the airport] and I lied and said she was a cat.
“So I had the little stretcher and she was in there and I thought they were going to just let me go. But they changed the rules, so they said, ‘You have to take your cat out, ma’am. So I thought, ‘Oh my God.’
In February of this year, she also revealed that she adopted a squirrel and nursed it back to health for six months after it fell from a tree.
Sharing a clip of the animal running around her home, she wrote the caption: “He fell off a 40ft palm tree when he was four weeks old.
Huge star: Alley’s breakout role as Rebecca Howe in the sixth series of Cheers in 1987 propelled her to Hollywood stardom (front row, second from left)
“He was very sick. I nursed him back to health for six months. He is not cancelable. Some are and some are not!’
Their devastated children, William True, 30, and Lillie Price, 28, announced their deaths in a statement Monday.
They added that she “recently discovered” the cancer. What type she suffered from is not yet known.
“We are saddened to announce that our incredible, wild and loving mother has passed away after a battle with cancer that was only recently discovered.
“She was surrounded by her closest family and fought with great vigour, leaving us with an assurance of her never-ending zest for life and all the adventures ahead,” their children said in a statement.
Alley’s breakthrough role as Rebecca Howe in the sixth series of Cheers in 1987 brought her to Hollywood stardom.
Loss: Kirstie was last pictured during an Instagram video on September 8 promoting work on Cameo