Polly Holliday, the beloved actress best remembered for her sharp-tongued waitress Flo and the unforgettable catchphrase “Kiss my grits!” on the CBS sitcom Alice, has passed away at the age of 88. She died peacefully Tuesday at her Manhattan home, her agent Dennis Aspland confirmed.
Born on July 2, 1937, in Jasper, Alabama, Holliday pursued her passion for performance after graduating from the Alabama College for Women, eventually moving to New York City. She first appeared on Broadway in All Over Town, directed by Dustin Hoffman, which opened the door to her early film work in All the President’s Men (1976). But her true breakout came in 1976, when she stepped into the role of the witty, flirtatious, and big-hearted Flo in Alice, a show inspired by Martin Scorsese’s film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
Her character’s popularity was so immense that Holliday earned her own spinoff, Flo, which ran for two seasons until 1981. During this era, she took home two Golden Globes and earned four Emmy nominations, cementing her place as a sitcom icon.
Beyond Alice, Holliday’s career was impressively diverse. She terrified audiences as the villain in Gremlins (1984), brought warmth and humor to classics like Mrs. Doubtfire and The Parent Trap, and made memorable appearances on Golden Girls, Home Improvement, Private Benjamin, The Client, The Equalizer, and many more.
On stage, she continued to shine, earning a Tony nomination in 1990 for her performance as Big Mama in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. She later co-starred in Broadway’s Arsenic and Old Lace alongside Jean Stapleton.
Her final screen appearance was in 2010’s Fair Game with Naomi Watts, based on the real-life story of CIA operative Valerie Plame.
Polly Holliday leaves behind a legacy of sharp humor, undeniable talent, and unforgettable roles that spanned stage, television, and film. 🌹
