John Travolta Pays Tribute To Kirstie Alley, With Whom He Had ‘One Of The Most Special Relationships’

Dec 07, 2022 by apost team

Actress Kirstie Alley, famed actress from the hit series “Cheers” and “Look Who’s Talking” films, died of cancer on Dec. 5, 2022, at the age of 71. Among the first of her famous friends to honor her was none other than her former co-star John Travolta.

The two had starred alongside each other in the “Look Who’s Talking” movies, but Alley had already made a name for herself long before that. She made her film debut as a Vulcan student in 1982’s “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.” But it was the 1980s sitcom “Cheers” that catapulted Alley into stardom when she was chosen to replace Shelley Long. She won a Golden Globe and an Emmy in 1990 for her role as Rebecca Howe. Alley also won another Emmy for her role as Sally Goodson in “David’s Mother” in 1994. She starred in the NBC sitcom “Veronica’s Closet” from 1997 to 2000, the mini-series “North and South” in the 1980s and 1990s as well as the Showtime comedy “Fat Actress” in 2005. Besides the “Look Who’s Talking” films, Alley also starred in “Village of the Damned,” “It Takes Two,” “Deconstructing Harry” and “For Richer or Poorer.”

The mother-of-two also had a solid career offscreen as well. She produced a reality TV show and even published a book about her struggles with her weight. She eventually lost a whopping 100 pounds from competing on “Dancing with the Stars” for two seasons, clinching first runner-up in Season 12 of the series and 7th in Season 15. 

Alley had two children, True and Lillie, while married to actor Parker Stevenson. After enduring fertility struggles, which she detailed in her 2005 memoir “How to Lose Your Ass and Regain Your Life,” True was adopted in 1992 before Lillie was also adopted in 1995. Alley prided herself on being a good parent, telling People in 2006 her “best quality is that I'm a good mother.” She also told the outlet her children were protective of her and were her inspiration to get healthy. 

According to a statement the children released on social media, their mother passed after a short battle with cancer.

“We are sad to inform you that our incredible, fierce and loving mother has passed away after a battle with cancer, only recently discovered,” they wrote.

On Instagram, the post was accompanied by a picture of Alley smiling contentedly. “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. As iconic as she was on screen, she was an even more amazing mother and grandmother, they continued,” they wrote. Alley first became a grandmother after True welcomed a son in 2016 and again when Lillie welcomed her first child, a son named Ripp Woodrow Graham, in May 2021.

They also expressed their gratitude to those at Moffitt Cancer Center who cared for their mother before adding, “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.”

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Among the first to pay tribute to Alley was her former co-star Travolta. He took to Instagram to share some touching words for his friend alongside a throwback picture of the star. 

“Kirstie was one of the most special relationships I’ve ever had,” he wrote, adding, “I love you Kirstie. I know we will see each other again.”

He also posted a clip of the pair of them dancing in the film “Look Who’s Talking Now” to his Instagram Stories. 

The two were famously good friends, with Alley never being shy about just how much she loved him. 

“I almost ran off and married John,” she said in August 2018, as reported by Us Weekly. “I did love him. I still love him. If I hadn’t (have) been married, I would have gone and married him.” 

She also added that theirs would be no ordinary wedding. The actress said, "It would have been in an airplane," and added, "Because he has his own. And let me tell you girls, it doesn’t seem like it’s important that someone has a private jet, but it is. As you get older, you do not want to hang out in airports." 

Despite having amazing chemistry, Alley remarked it wouldn't have worked out with Travolta in the end as they were so alike. “John and I would have devoured each other... It would be like two blazing stars that just fizzled out,” she said on the Dan Wooton podcast in 2018.

Nevertheless, the two remained close friends, with Travolta telling Us Weekly that Alley is his “best girlfriend.” When prompted about whether he'd be up for a “Look Who's Talking” reboot, he said only if Alley was on board as well. As for why, he added, “she’s my soulmate.” 

Were you a fan of Kirstie Alley? Did you love the “Look Who’s Talking” films as well? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to friends and family too.