Actress Polly Holliday Dies at 88

Lead: Polly Holliday, best known for her sassy portrayal of waitress Flo on the CBS sitcom Alice, died on Tuesday at her Manhattan home at age 88.

Nut Graf: Holliday’s trademark line “Kiss my grits!” propelled her to stardom in the late 1970s, earning her two Golden Globes and multiple Emmy nominations, and influencing sitcom comedy for decades.

Early Fame as Flo

Holliday broke out in 1976 as Florence Jean “Flo” Castleberry on Alice, a role she later headlined in the spin-off series Flo. Her feisty Southern drawl and comic timing made Flo an instant cultural touchstone, and viewers nationwide quickly adopted her catchphrase.

Screen and Stage Career

After Alice, Holliday:

Starred in the spin-off Flo (1980-81)
Appeared in films such as All the President’s Men, Gremlins, Mrs. Doubtfire and The Parent Trap
Returned to Broadway in productions including Arsenic and Old Lace and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

She continued guest roles on TV series like Home Improvement and The Client, and her final screen appearance was in the 2010 film Fair Game.

Awards and Honors

During her career, Holliday:

Won Golden Globes for Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series twice
Received nominations for the Primetime Emmy Awards
Earned a Tony nomination for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Her accolades reflect a versatile career spanning sitcoms, drama films and theatrical productions.

Personal Life and Survivors

Born July 2, 1937, in Jasper, Alabama, Holliday held a degree in classical piano before pursuing acting. She maintained her privacy throughout her life and left no immediate survivors. Her passing follows the December 2024 death of Alice co-star Linda Lavin.

Polly Holliday’s legacy endures in the indelible character of Flo and her contributions to television comedy.