Kirstie Alley, a beloved actress, has died at the age of 71. Her family posted the heartbreaking news that Alley had lost her battle with cancer on her Instagram page. Alley rose to fame after appearing on the sitcom “Cheers.” Over the course of her career, the two-time Emmy winner starred in a number of major films and captivated audiences on “Dancing With The Stars.” On Monday, her family issued a lengthy statement revealing additional information about her final moments. After graduating from Wichita Southeast, she studied theater at Kansas and Kansas State universities. But her early years were ruined by drugs. “In fact, when I left Kansas, I was high.
The drugs drove me crazy. I got in the car and drove to California,” she told Parade magazine. “I wouldn’t have been able to achieve my dream if I hadn’t been on drugs. It may sound silly, but it took some effort to get out of Wichita, Kansas.” Everything changed for Kirstie after her mother died. She went to therapy, changed her lifestyle and stopped taking drugs. She also became a member of the Church of Scientology. She started getting roles in 1982. Her breakthrough came in the film “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,” in which she played the half-Vulcan Saavik. A few years later, Alley played the role of Gloria Steinem in a TV movie called “A Bunny’s Tale.”
She played a supporting role in the 1985 miniseries “North and South” alongside Hollywood icon Patrick Swayze. “To all our friends, near and far around the world… We are sad to announce that our incredible, strong and loving mother has passed away after a recently discovered battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her closest family and fought with great strength, which gives us the assurance that she always found joy in her life and in all the adventures that lie ahead,” the statement said.
“As iconic as she was on screen, she was an even more amazing mother and grandmother.” “We are grateful to the incredible team of doctors and nurses at Moffitt Cancer Center for their care. Our mother’s courage and passion for life, her children, grandchildren and her many animals, not to mention her tireless joy in creating, were unparalleled and inspire us to live life just as she did. We thank you for your love and prayers and ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time. With love, True and Lillie Parker.”
