Polly Holliday, the Tony Award-nominated actress who became a household name portraying the sharp-tongued, gum-snapping waitress Flo on CBS's hit sitcom "Alice," died Tuesday at her Manhattan residence. She was 88 years of age.
The actress’s theatrical representative, Dennis Aspland, confirmed her death.
The Alabama native transformed what she called a "pure Hollywood" creation into one of television's most memorable characters during "Alice's" nine-year run from 1976 to 1985. Her portrayal of Florence Jean "Flo" Castleberry, complete with a towering beehive hairdo and Southern drawl, made the phrase "Kiss my grits!" a nationwide catchphrase, though she distanced herself from the expression in interviews, telling reporters it wasn't an authentic regional saying and was just Hollywood.
"She was a Southern woman you see in a lot of places," Holliday told The Sarasota Herald-Tribune in 2003. "Not well educated, but very sharp, with a sense of humor and a resolve not to let life get her down."
The character proved so popular that CBS launched a spin-off series titled "Flo" in 1980, though the show lasted only one season. Holliday's television work earned her four Golden Globe nominations and one win in 1980 for "Alice," plus four Emmy Award nominations—three for "Alice" and one for "Flo”.
Beyond her key television role, Holliday maintained an active career across multiple entertainment channels. Her Broadway credits included a Tony Award nomination for her performance opposite Kathleen Turner in a 1990 revival of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”. Other notable stage appearances featured "All Over Town" in 1974, directed by Dustin Hoffman, "Arsenic and Old Lace" in 1986 alongside Jean Stapleton and Abe Vigoda, and a 1994 "Picnic" revival with Kyle Chandler.
Her television resume extended well beyond "Alice," including a recurring role as the blind sister to Betty White's character on "Golden Girls" and appearances as Tim Allen's outspoken mother-in-law on "Home Improvement”.
Film audiences recognized Holliday from diverse projects spanning several decades. She appeared in the 1976 political thriller "All the President's Men" as a protective secretary and later took on the role of the villainous Mrs. Deagle in the 1984 fantasy-comedy "Gremlins”. Her filmography also included the 1995 John Grisham adaptation "The Client”.
Theater critics praised Holliday's off-Broadway work, particularly her performance in "A Quarrel of Sparrows," where The New York Times noted she radiated "a refreshingly touching air of willed, cheerful imperturbability”.