Polly Holliday, the beloved actress who brought the sassy waitress Flo Castleberry to life on the CBS sitcom “Alice,” died Tuesday, September 9, at her home in Manhattan. She was 88.
Holliday’s theatrical agent Dennis Aspland confirmed her death, which is believed to have resulted from pneumonia after years of health issues. With her passing, Holliday became the last surviving principal cast member of “Alice,” following the death of her co-star Linda Lavin in December 2024.
Born in Jasper, Alabama, on July 2, 1937, Holliday initially pursued music education, graduating from Alabama State College for Women with a degree in piano. She briefly worked as a grade school music teacher before discovering her passion for acting during college theater productions. At age 19, she joined a summer outdoor theater in North Carolina, where she served as a choir singer, square dancer, and understudy for a lead role.
Holliday’s breakthrough came in 1974 when Dustin Hoffman directed her in her Broadway debut, “All Over Town.” Hoffman later helped her secure a role in the 1976 film “All the President’s Men,” and the movie’s casting director suggested she audition for “Alice.”
The CBS sitcom, based on Martin Scorsese’s 1974 film “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore,” premiered in 1976 and featured Holliday as Florence “Flo” Jean Castleberry, a wisecracking waitress working at Mel’s Diner in Phoenix alongside Linda Lavin’s Alice and Beth Howland’s Vera. Vic Tayback portrayed the diner’s owner, Mel Sharples.
Holliday’s character quickly became the show’s breakout star, largely due to her memorable catchphrase “Kiss my grits!” Despite the line’s popularity, the Alabama-born actress later distanced herself from it, telling interviewers that the phrase “was pure Hollywood” and not a regional saying. However, she identified deeply with Flo, describing her as a Southern woman who was not well-educated but very sharp, with a sense of humor and resolve not to let life get her down.
Holliday’s inspiration for the character came from childhood memories of traveling with her trucker father during summer vacations. She recalled eating at truck stops where waitresses like Flo would always have a joke ready, creating an atmosphere where everyone’s day was made happier.
The character’s popularity led CBS to create a spinoff series titled “Flo” in 1980, marking Holliday’s departure from “Alice” after four seasons. The spinoff, which premiered that same year, lasted only two seasons but earned Holliday additional recognition. Throughout her tenure on both shows, she received three Emmy nominations for “Alice” and one for “Flo,” along with four Golden Globe nominations, winning one in 1980.
Following her success as Flo, Holliday continued building her television career with roles in various popular shows. She played Major Amanda Lee Allen on CBS’s “Private Benjamin” in 1982 when star Eileen Brennan was injured in a car accident. She also appeared as Lily, the blind sister of Betty White’s character on “The Golden Girls,” and had a recurring role as Tim Allen’s mother-in-law on “Home Improvement.”
Holliday’s film career included memorable roles in several major productions. She portrayed the wicked Mrs. Deagle in the 1984 movie “Gremlins,” for which she won a Saturn Award. Other notable film appearances included roles in “Mrs. Doubtfire” in 1993, “The Parent Trap” in 1998 as camp director Marva Kulp Sr., and John Grisham’s legal thriller “The Client” in 1995.
Theater remained an important part of Holliday’s career throughout her life. She returned to Broadway multiple times, appearing in productions such as “Arsenic and Old Lace” in 1986 with Jean Stapleton and Abe Vigoda, and a revival of “Picnic” with Kyle Chandler in 1994. Her stage work earned her a Tony Award nomination in 1990 for her performance as Big Mama in a revival of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” opposite Kathleen Turner.
Despite her success, Holliday maintained a modest lifestyle and never married or had children. She previously indicated that her work was her life, dedicating herself entirely to her craft. Co-stars from “The Parent Trap” paid tribute to her following news of her death, with actress Maggie Wheeler sharing memories of their time together on set and director Nancy Meyers praising Holliday’s kindness and professionalism.
Holliday reflected on her career evolution over the years, noting that while she initially thought she preferred drama, she kept getting cast in comedies and realized her talent for the genre. She acknowledged that comedy was harder to perform but took less of an emotional toll than dramatic roles.
