Highlights:
- Polly Holliday died on September 9 at the age of 88
- Best known for playing Flo Castleberry in the 1970s sitcom Alice
- Catchphrase “Kiss my grits!” became a pop culture staple
- Starred in spinoff series Flo and appeared in films including Gremlins and The Parent Trap
- Nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards and a Tony Award in 1990
Polly Holliday’s passing
Actress Polly Holliday, known for her work in television, film, and theater, died on September 9 at the age of 88. Her theatrical agent and friend Dennis Aspland confirmed her death. The cause was not disclosed.
Rise to fame on Alice
Holliday rose to national fame in the late 1970s for her role as Flo Castleberry, the quick-witted waitress on the CBS sitcom Alice. Her character’s trademark phrase, “Kiss my grits!”, became one of television’s most recognizable catchphrases of the era.
Although she appeared on Alice for only four seasons, the character was so popular that CBS created a spinoff series, Flo, which ran for two seasons from 1980 to 1981.
Stage career and critical acclaim
Holliday began acting on stage while studying piano at Alabama College for Women and later joined the Asolo Repertory Theater in Florida. After nearly a decade there, she moved to New York and made her Broadway debut in 1974.
In 1990, she earned a Tony Award nomination for her performance as Big Mama in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, appearing alongside Charles Durning.
Film and television roles
Beyond Alice and Flo, Holliday built a wide-ranging screen career. She appeared in films including All the President’s Men (1976), Gremlins (1984), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), and The Parent Trap (1998).
She also guest-starred on numerous television shows, among them The Golden Girls, Amazing Stories, Home Improvement, and The Gift of Love: A Christmas Story.
Over her career, Holliday received four Primetime Emmy nominations for her television work.
Personal life
Holliday never married and had no children. She is survived by friends and colleagues from her decades in the entertainment industry.
