'Alice' star Polly Holliday dies at 88 after battle with pneumonia

Actress Polly Holliday, best known for her scene-stealing role in the hit 1970s sitcom Alice, has passed away. She died at her home in New York on September 9 following complications from pneumonia. According to The New York Times, her agent Dennis Aspland shared that Holliday had been in declining health for several years.

Polly Holliday rose to fame in 1976 when she was cast as Florence Jean "Flo" Castleberry in the popular 1970s sitcom "Alice." Her character, who was a waitress at a roadside diner, was known for her iconic catchphrase, "Kiss my Grits." Holliday would receive four Emmy nominations for playing this iconic character and also go on to win two Golden Globe Awards.

More about Polly Holliday's life and career, as the beloved actress passes away

Polly Holliday, whose full name was Polly Dean Holliday, was born on July 2, 1937, to Velma Mabell Holiday and Ernest Sullivan Holliday, who worked as a truck driver. She and her brother grew up in Alabama, after which she later attended the University of Montevallo, then known as the Alabama College for Women.

It was there she discovered her passion for acting after participating in the college theatre scene. According to People Magazine, Holliday graduated with a degree in piano and initially pursued a career as a piano teacher before deciding to pursue a career in Hollywood.

In an interview with Actors' Equity, she recalled how she first fell in love with the arts while in college. She said:

"I started acting long before I knew what I was doing. At age 19 and a junior in college, I joined the cast of a summer outdoor theatre in North Carolina called Unto These Hills Outdoor Drama Center. I was a choir singer, a square dancer and understudied a lead role. . . . That job paid room and board and about $40 a week.”

Beyond her iconic role in Alice, Polly Holliday showcased her versatility in several other beloved sitcoms, including Private Benjamin, The Golden Girls, and Home Improvement. Her career spanned decades, with memorable performances on both the small and big screen. Holliday appeared in films such as The Parent Trap, Mrs. Doubtfire, All the President's Men, Mr. Wrong, and Gremlins, where her portrayal of Ruby Deagle earned her the 1985 Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Trending

Beyond film and television, Holliday had an extensive career on Broadway. According to The Hollywood Reporter, she appeared in theatre productions such as "Arsenic and Old Lace," "All Over Town," "Wedding Band," and "Cat in a Hot Tin Roof," for which she received a Tony nomination for Best Featured Actress in 1990.

Polly Holliday, who was eighty-eight years old at the time of her death, led a quiet life away from the spotlight. According to reports, she never married or had any children and has no immediate surviving family members.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback