Polly Holliday, ‘Alice’ sitcom icon, dies at 88

Polly Holliday, a Golden Globe-winning actress who was loved for her sitcom role, died at 88 at her home in New York City.

On Tuesday, Sept. 9, her death was made public to The New York Times by her theatrical agent Dennis Aspland.

Holliday has been remembered for her signature role on television when she played the wisecracking waitress Flo on the long-running CBS sitcom Alice.

She was the last surviving member of the show’s principal cast.

Holliday brought plenty of laughs to the show with her turn as the flame-haired, wisecracking, gum-snapping waitress. With her Southern drawl and razor-sharp delivery, Flo turned “Kiss my grits” into a national catchphrase.

Most of her zingers were fired at Mel’s Diner’s gruff owner, played by the late Vic Tayback.

Polly Holliday: Career timeline, from music teacher to cultural icon

After completing her bachelor’s in piano (1959) and a master’s in music education at Florida State University (1960), Holliday taught music in Sarasota, Florida.

Meanwhile, she spent summers performing with the Asolo Repertory Company for ten years in diverse theatrical roles.

She landed her first Broadway role in All Over Town, directed by Dustin Hoffman, who then cast her in All the President’s Men (1976).

After appearing in small TV and film roles, Holliday finally performed her breakout role as Florence Jean “Flo” Castleberry on CBS’s Alice, her sassy waitress character who immortalised the phrase “Kiss my grits!”

The role also earned her Golden Globe awards in 1979 and 1980 and three Emmy nominations.

After leaving Alice to star in its spin-off, Flo—Holliday was even involved in writing and producing, but the show was short-lived.

Throughout her career, the actress returned to different roles in both TV and films, with her final gig in Fair Game (2010), where she portrayed Diane Plame’s mother.

Polly Holliday’s journey from music teacher to cultural icon is a Hollywood legacy that resonates with both TV nostalgia and theatre tradition.

RELATED: Reese Witherspoon shares excitement for Taylor Swift’s engagement