Polly Holliday, the vivacious character actress who became a television breakout star as Flo on the CBS sitcom Alice, died Tuesday at her home in New York. She was 88.
Her agent, Denise Aspland, told The New York Times that Holliday had faced years of health problems; People reported that pneumonia is believed to be the cause of death. Holliday was the last surviving principal cast member of Alice, which ran nine seasons from 1976 to 1985.
Holliday won fame for her portrayal of Florence Jean "Flo" Castleberry, a sassy waitress at Mel's Diner whose defiant catchphrase "Kiss my grits" entered the national lexicon. She played Flo for four seasons alongside Linda Lavin, Vic Tayback, Beth Howland and Philip McKeon before leaving the series in 1980. She then headlined a short-lived spinoff centered on the character that aired for two seasons.
Her turn as Flo brought Holliday four Emmy nominations for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series and made her a recognizable figure on American television. She also maintained a steady film and television career after Alice, with roles that included Mrs. Deagle in the 1984 film Gremlins and Marva in the 1998 remake of The Parent Trap. Holliday appeared in Mrs. Doubtfire, guest-starred on The Golden Girls and had roles on Home Improvement, among other credits.
A native of Alabama, Holliday trained in theater and built her early career on stage before transitioning to television. Her folksy, hard-edged Flo became emblematic of the kind of strong, outspoken supporting characters that helped shape 1970s and 1980s sitcom comedy.
Colleagues and television historians have cited Holliday's Flo as a defining role of the era for blending comic timing with an earthy persona. The character's popularity reflected both the show's working-class setting — waitresses at a small Phoenix diner — and the era's appetite for memorable, catchphrase-driven television characters.
Holliday's death leaves the Alice cast without any of its original principal players; several co-stars had died in previous years, including Vic Tayback and Beth Howland. Tributes and remembrances from contemporaries and fans began appearing on social media following news of her death.
Representatives did not immediately provide further details about survivors or funeral arrangements. Her agent, Denise Aspland, spoke to The New York Times about Holliday's long-running health issues but did not release additional information. Media outlets cited People and other reports indicating pneumonia as the suspected cause of death.
Holliday's portrayal of Flo and its cultural resonance endure in retrospectives on television comedy of the 1970s and 1980s. Her work on Alice and in subsequent film and television roles spanned decades, earning her recognition from both industry awards bodies and a broad audience that still cites her catchphrase and comic presence.
This is a developing story and may be updated as more information becomes available.