Polly Holliday, the actress who famously played Flo on “Alice,” died Tuesday at her Manhattan home at the age of 88, according to her agent Dennis Aspland, who confirmed the news to The New York Times. Best known for her sharp humor and the catchphrase “Kiss my grits!,” Holliday became one of television’s most memorable supporting stars and left a lasting mark on both screen and stage.
Polly Holliday’s Remarkable Career
Born in Jasper, Alabama, in 1937, Polly Holliday began her artistic journey studying piano at the Alabama College for Women before discovering a passion for theater. She honed her craft with Florida’s Asolo Theatre Company, spending a decade performing in classical productions and earning a reputation for her skill and dedication. Her early stage work laid a solid foundation that would carry her into television and film.
Holliday’s big break came in 1976 when she was cast as Florence Jean “Flo” Castleberry on the CBS sitcom “Alice.” Her portrayal of the sassy, gum-chewing waitress quickly captured audiences, making Flo one of television’s most iconic supporting characters. Holliday remained on “Alice” until 1980, later reprising the role in the short-lived spin-off “Flo,” which followed the character’s adventures back in her Texas hometown. Despite its brief run, the series cemented Holliday’s place in pop culture history.
Source: IMDb
Beyond television, Holliday enjoyed a prolific film career, appearing in notable movies such as “All the President’s Men,” “Mrs. Doubtfire,” “The Parent Trap,” and the 1984 horror-comedy “Gremlins,” for which she won the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress as the memorable Mrs. Ruby Deagle.
She also maintained a strong presence on Broadway, earning a Tony nomination for her performance as Big Mama in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” and starring in revivals of “Arsenic and Old Lace” and “Picnic.” Her stage work demonstrated the range and depth that complemented her larger-than-life television persona.
Even as her on-screen appearances became less frequent, Holliday remained active in the arts and her community. She sang in Episcopal choirs, ran a chamber music series in New York, and continued to engage with theater well into her later years. Her final film credit came in 2010 with “Fair Game,” closing out a remarkable career that spanned more than five decades and left a lasting legacy.
