Actress Kirstie Alley has died at the age of 71 following a battle with cancer, her family has announced.
Alley, best known for her role as Rebecca in Cheers, died surrounded by her family after treatment at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Florida, her family announced on Monday evening.
“Our mother’s zest and passion for life, her children, grandchildren and her many animals, not to mention her eternal joy of creating, were unparalleled and leave us inspired to live life to the fullest just as she did,” her family wrote on Twitter.
In the statement, her children True and Lillie Parker, said that the actress had “only recently discovered” she was suffering from the disease.
“She was surrounded by her closest family and fought with great strength, leaving us with a certainty of her never-ending joy of living and whatever adventures lie ahead,” said the statement shared on Alley’s social media.
Her family also thanked the doctors and staff at the Moffitt Cancer Center, which is based in Tampa.
Alley became famous for her role as the bar manager Rebecca Howe in the long-running NBC sitcom opposite Ted Danson, but also had a successful movie carer, starring in Look Who’s Talking and its sequels with John Travolta.
Travolta, a fellow Scientologist, took to Instagram to honour his former co-star and friend.
“Kirstie was one of the most special relationships I’ve ever had,” he posted to Instagram. “I love you Kirstie. I know we will see each other again.”
Alley shared her children with ex-husband Parker Stevenson, to whom she was married from 1983 until 1997.
She was also married to Bob Alley from 1970 until 1977.
