Polly Holliday, the beloved actress known for her iconic role as Flo on the sitcom Alice, has died at the age of 88. Read our detailed obituary covering her celebrated career, memorable catchphrase “Kiss my grits!”, and her lasting legacy on stage and screen.
Polly Holliday, the acclaimed actress who charmed audiences and cemented her place in television history as the sharp-witted Southern waitress Florence Jean “Flo” Castleberry on the long-running CBS sitcom Alice, has passed away.
She died at her home in Manhattan on September 9, 2025, at the age of 88. Her death was confirmed by her agent and friend, Dennis Aspland, and was reportedly a result of pneumonia after a period of declining health.
Holliday’s portrayal of Flo from 1976 to 1980 was a cultural phenomenon. Her character, with her beehive hairdo, gum-smacking swagger, and a no-nonsense attitude, resonated with viewers.
The show, which was a television adaptation of Martin Scorsese’s 1974 film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, followed a group of waitresses at Mel’s Diner in Phoenix. While Linda Lavin starred in the title role, it was Holliday’s breakout performance as the sassy, boisterous Flo that stole the show and gave television one of its most enduring catchphrases: “Kiss my grits!”
The line, which was not originally in the script, became her signature. In interviews, Holliday was quick to point out that the saying was “pure Hollywood” and not a Southern idiom she had grown up with, but she deeply connected with the character.
She once described Flo as a “Southern woman you see in a lot of places. Not well educated, but very sharp, with a sense of humor and a resolve not to let life get her down.” Her compelling performance earned her a Golden Globe award and four Emmy nominations.
The character’s immense popularity led CBS to create a short-lived spin-off series, Flo, which followed her character’s return to her hometown of Cowtown, Texas, to run a diner.
The show ran for two seasons and further showcased Holliday’s comedic talent, earning her another Emmy nomination.
While she was a television star, Holliday’s career was far from limited to the small screen. A prolific stage actress, she was a Tony Award nominee for her role as Big Mama in the 1980 Broadway revival of Tennessee Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
She appeared in numerous other stage productions throughout her career, including All Over Town and Arsenic and Old Lace.
Holliday also made her mark on the big screen with memorable character roles. She is widely remembered for her part as the malevolent, wealthy Mrs. Ruby Deagle in the 1984 horror-comedy classic Gremlins, a performance that won her a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress. She also appeared in films such as Mrs. Doubtfire and the 1998 remake of The Parent Trap.
Born on July 2, 1937, in Jasper, Alabama, Holliday graduated from Alabama College for Women (now the University of Montevallo) with a degree in piano before pursuing her acting dreams in New York in the early 1970s.
She was the last surviving member of the original principal cast of Alice, with her co-stars Linda Lavin, Vic Tayback, Beth Howland, and Philip McKeon having passed away in previous years.
Polly Holliday never married and had no children. Her legacy, however, is one of a gifted actress who brought life to a truly unforgettable character and left a lasting impression on generations of fans.
