Actress Polly Holliday, Best Known for 'Alice' Series, Dies at 88

Liputan6.com, Jakarta Veteran actress Polly Holliday, best known for her role as Flo on the popular sitcom "Alice," has reportedly passed away.

She passed away on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at her home in Manhattan, New York City, after battling health issues for the past several years.

The cause of death is believed to be pneumonia, as confirmed by her agent and longtime friend, Dennis Aspland.

She was the last surviving member of the original cast of the beloved "Alice" series.

Her iconic catchphrase "Kiss mah grits!" will always be remembered.

Actress Polly Holliday, best known as Flo from the 1970s sitcom "Alice," has died at the age of 88. Holiday gained multiple Emmy nominations and two Golden Globes. @DavidMuir reports. https://t.co/QzCTi776bC pic.twitter.com/wlEJ1QQlok

— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) September 11, 2025

Polly Dean Holliday was born in Jasper, Alabama, United States, on July 2, 1937.

She was the daughter of Ernest Sullivan Holliday, a truck driver, and Velma Mabell Holliday.

She attended Alabama College for Women (now the University of Montevallo) in the late 1950s, graduating in 1959 with a degree in piano.

She then continued her studies at Florida State University, furthering her interest in the arts. Holliday never married or had children.

Before entering the world of acting, Polly Holliday worked as a piano teacher in Alabama and Florida.

However, her passion for acting led her down a different path.

She began her professional acting career as a member of the Asolo Theatre Company in Sarasota, Florida, where she worked for ten years.

Her Broadway debut came in 1974 in Murray Schisgal's play "All Over Town," where she portrayed a Southern matron, showcasing her versatile acting talents.

Polly Holliday is best known for her role as the daring waitress Florence Jean "Flo" Castleberry in the 1970s sitcom "Alice."

Flo's signature line, "Kiss mah grits!", became one of the most memorable and iconic lines in American television history.

The success of her role in "Alice" even led to a short-lived spin-off series, "Flo," which aired from 1980 to 1981.

She also appeared on other popular television shows, including "The Golden Girls" and "Home Improvement," where she played Jill Taylor's mother.

In addition to her television success, Holliday also had a significant career in film.

She appeared in "All the President's Men" (1976) as a surly receptionist.

One of her most memorable roles was as Mrs. Ruby Deagle in "Gremlins" (1984), which earned her a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Other films in which she appeared include "Moon over Parador," "Mrs. Doubtfire," and "The Parent Trap" (1998).

Throughout her career, Polly Holliday has received numerous prestigious awards and nominations.

She won two Golden Globe Awards for Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series in 1979 and 1980 for her role in "Alice."

She also received several Emmy Award nominations for the same role.

In 1984, she received the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in "Gremlins."

Her contributions to the stage were also recognized, with a Tony Award nomination in 1990 for her role as Big Mama in the production of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof."

In 2000, Polly Holliday was inducted into the Alabama Stage and Screen Hall of Fame.