Kirstie Alley Once Wondered 'What If I'm 98,' Musing About Her Lively Golden Years

Dec 09, 2022 by apost team

Kirstie Louise Alley was born on Jan. 12, 1951, in Wichita, Kansas. Before she became the actress and comedienne that she is today, she was an interior designer in California, according to Biography. Her move to California brought on a number of lifestyle changes, not all of which were healthy. She suffered from drug addiction that she finally overcame later, before her big break.

Alley’s acting break came when she landed a role as a Vulcan student in "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" (1982). But it was the 1980s sitcom "Cheers" that catapulted Alley into stardom when she was chosen to replace Shelly Long. She won a Golden Globe and an Emmy in 1991 for her role as Rebecca Howe. She later starred in the show "Veronica's Closet," from 1997 to 2000, while she also had a successful film career that included the movie "Look Who's Talking" and its subsequent sequels.

Alley won another Emmy for her role as Sally Goodson in “David’s Mother” in 1994. She starred in the mini-series “North and South” in the 1980s and 1990s, as well as the Showtime comedy “Fat Actress” in 2005. Audiences also remember the actress for her parts in “Village of the Damned,” “It Takes Two,” “Deconstructing Harry” and “For Richer or Poorer.”

While she may have been best known for her work in decades previous, Alley often commented as she aged that she never felt like an old woman. During a 2014 TV appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," she showed a particular zeal for life, despite having had intermittent issues with health. 

Younger audiences may recognize Alley more for her health advocacy and weight loss than for her "Cheers" career. Alley later in her life produced a reality TV show aptly titled "Kristie Alley's Big Life," 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 seventh in season 15. 

However, when Alley shockingly died in December 2022 at the age of 71, her children published a touching Instagram post, commenting on their mother's joie de vivre for which she, above all else, would be remembered. They wrote, "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."

The actress 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 Alley's social media, their mother passed after a short battle with cancer, surprising some fans. 

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When speaking to Ellen DeGeneres years earlier, Alley spoke about growing old and how young she felt. She commented on how full of life she was.

The actress had, at the time, just turned 63 but wasn't feeling it. She told DeGeneres, "I just think it's so weird. You know, after 40, everything's weird." Despite her energy and enthusiasm, Alley also worried about how it may look to go dancing later in life, one activity she seemed particularly to miss. She questioned how out of place she'd feel, saying, "there's a certain age where you're really old, you'll look stupid doing the things I feel like doing."

Despite how silly she suggested she may look in a tube top in her nineties, Alley still felt not ready to retire to her rocker and knit the years away. Trying to articulate her feelings, she told DeGeneres, "But then, the hardest part is this: that I thought, when I was 20, I thought, 'Oh, when I'm 60, I'm gonna feel…' I don't know, I had the image that I would feel …" Alley then donned a gravelly voice, saying, "'Oh well, how you doing, Ellen? Oh yeah, kids come over and Grammy will make you some cookies.'" She asserted, "I don't feel like that."

Alley seemed to see no end to her energy. She told DeGeneres, "What if I'm 98 and I should die, and I just feel like, 'Wow! Let's go out, let's go do this!'"

It's heartwarming to remember her as so full of life.

What's your favorite of Alley's award-winning roles? Let us know — and be sure to pass this article on to friends, family, as well as any fellow "Cheers" lovers!