Actress Kirstie Alley died on Monday, December 5, after a short battle with cancer.
Her children, True and Lillie Parker, made the heartbreaking announcement via their mother’s social media accounts — and on Tuesday, a representative for the late actress confirmed to People Magazine that Alley, 71, had only recently been diagnosed with colon cancer.
According to the “Cheers” actress’ children, she had been receiving treatment at the time of her death from the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida.
A number of her Hollywood colleagues offered their prayers and condolences via social media following the news of her passing. Among them was her ex-husband and the father of her children, actor Parker Stevenson — to whom she was married from 1983-1997.
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Sharing a photo of the two of them together during happier times, the “Hardy Boys” actor wrote, “Dear Kirstie, I am so grateful for our years together, and for the two incredibly beautiful children and now grandchildren that we have. You will be missed. With love, Parker.”
Alley’s children confirmed that she had been surrounded by those who loved her when she passed, saying in their statement, “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. As iconic as she was on screen, she was an even more amazing mother and grandmother.”
Over her long career in Hollywood and on television, Alley racked up dozens of acting credits — 76 to her name, according to the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) — and played iconic roles from the small screen (Rebecca Howe on “Cheers”) to the silver screen (Mollie in “Look Who’s Talking” and Saavik in “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan”).
Alley was also deeply involved in the Church of Scientology, along with fellow actors Tom Cruise, John Travolta, and Travolta’s late wife, actress Kelly Preston.
Ryan Saavedra contributed to this report.