Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe winner Kirstie Alley, best known for her roles in Cheers and Star Trek, has died at the age of 71. In addition to her small-screen work, Alley was well-known for starring in a variety of films throughout the '80s and '90s, namely the Look Who's Talking franchise. Recent years saw her return to the world of TV, largely in the reality sector, but she has largely remained out of the spotlight.

Taking to the actor's Instagram account, True and Lillie Parker have announced that Kirstie Alley has died at the age of 71. The post reveals that the former Star Trek and Cheers star died of a short battle with cancer, as it was "only recently discovered" and asked that the public respect their family during their time of grief. See the announcement post below:


Kirstie Alley's Hollywood Legacy Remembered


After appearing in a few TV shows, Alley's career took off quickly as she made her film debut in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, portraying Vulcan Starfleet officer Lieutenant Saavik, a role which was praised for evolving how female characters were depicted in the franchise. In spite of this success, Alley would depart the franchise for the film's two sequels, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock and The Voyage Home, as she felt she was being offered less money, and the role was recast with Robin Curtis. Her departure wouldn't slow her down, however, as Alley went on to lead a variety of independent films, including the Mark Harmon-led comedy Summer School, which was a modest box office success.

Alley would shortly thereafter find her most iconic role as Rebecca Howe in the long-running sitcom Cheers, having been brought on to act as a female foil to the male-centered group following Shelley Long's departure from the show. Acting as the manager of the titular bar, Alley scored widespread acclaim for her work in the series, garnering both a Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy award for her performance, though would be one of the few to reprise the role in the spinoff Frasier. In the years since, Alley largely became known for starring alongside John Travolta in the Look Who's Talking movies, and appearing in multiple seasons of Dancing with the Stars, coming in second place in her first competition.

The actor was not without some troubles, as her political endorsing of Donald Trump and being a member of the Church of Scientology divided her fans. In spite of this, however, many have taken to social media to mourn Kirstie Alley's death, choosing to remember her for her groundbreaking work on screen and the legacy she leaves behind. Audiences can pay tribute to the late star by revisiting Cheers and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan streaming on Paramount+.