![Kirstie Alley](https://doyouremember.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/kirstie-alley-2-702x367.jpg)
With news of the death of Kirstie Alley of cancer at age 71, came a need to look back at her life and career through the means by which we best got to know her: the characters she played over the past 40 years, ranging from her debut in the secondย Star Trekย movie,ย The Wrath of Khan, in 1982 all the way through her hysterical reveal on FOX’sย The Masked Singer.
What follows, mostly in the form of photos, is a look back at the woman, who at an early awards show, thanked ex-husband Parker Stevenson for continuing to give her “the big one.”
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khanย (1982)
Kirstie made her big screen debut as the Vulcan/Romulan hybrid Lt. Saavik in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Prior toย Star Trek, she appeared in the TV sci-fi comedyย Quarkย (1979) and on the game show,ย Match Game.ย
Masquerade (1983 to 1984)
![Kirstie Alley - Masquerade](https://doyouremember.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/TSDMASQ_FE007.jpg)
From the espionage series Masquerade are, from left, Kirstie Alley, Rod Taylor, and Greg Evigan. In 1983 Kirstie also appeared in the TV movie Highway Honeysย and an episode ofย The Love Boat.
Blind Dateย (1984)
Blind Date, an erotic thriller, stars, from left, Kirstie Alley and Joseph Bottoms.
Runawayย (1984)
The sci-fi film Runaway, written and directed by Jurassic Park creator Michael Crichton, stars KISS’ Gene Simmons and Kirstie Alley.
Sins of the Pastย (1984 TV Movie)
Sins of the Past, starring Debby Boone, Kirstie Alley, Barbara Carrera, Tracy Reed and Kim Cattrall.
A Bunny’s Taleย (1985 TV Movie)
A Bunny’s Tale reveals what went on inside the Playboy clubs; it’s based on the memoir by Gloria Steinem.
North and Southย (1985 to 1986 TV Miniseries)
North and South, 1985 miniseries based on the trilogy of novels by John Jakes. The same year Kirstie guest starred in two episodes of The Hitchhiker.
The Prince of Bel Airย (1986 TV Movie)
Romantic comedy Prince of Bel Airย teamed up Mark Harmon and Kirstie Alley. In 1986, Kirstie also appeared in the TV movie Stark: Mirror Image.
Summer Schoolย (1987)
Harmon and Alley reunited a year later for the big-screen comedy Summer School, directed by comedy legend Carl Reiner.
Cheersย (1987 to 1993)
Nobody knew what would happen to the sitcomย Cheersย when Shelley Long departed, but salvation came in the form of Kirstie, who played bar manager Rebecca Howe. Her chemistry with Ted Danson pumped a whole new life into the show.
Infidelityย (1987 TV Movie)
The romantic dramaย Infidelityย stars Kirstie alongside Lee Horsley, who at the time was starring in the seriesย Matt Houston.
Shoot to Killย (1988)
Kirstie and Tom Berenger were among the stars of the thrillerย Shoot to Kill, which also stars the late Sidney Poitier.
Loverboyย (1989)
Patrick Dempsey (look how young he is in this photo!) was Kirstie’s romantic lead inย Loverboy.
Look Who’s Talkingย (1989)
An unexpected trilogy came from the team-up of John Travolta and Kirstie (as well as the voice of Bruce Willis) in 1989’s Look Who’s Talking, which spawned 1990’sย Look Who’s Talking Tooย and 1993’sย Look Who’s Talking Now.
Madhouseย (1990)
Black comedyย Madhouseย teams Kirstie up withย Night Court‘s John Larroquette.
Sibling Rivalryย (1990)
This time it wasย Quantum Leapย star Scott Bakula starring alongside Kirstie and Jamie Gertz. Likeย Summer School, this was directed by Carl Reiner.
David’s Motherย (1994 TV Movie)
Definitely a more dramatic turn for Kirstie as she plays a mother dealing with an autistic teenage son. Above are Kirstie withย The Cosby Show‘s Phylicia Rashad and Michael Goorjian.
Village of the Damnedย (1995)
A return to her sci-fi roots in the remakeย Village of the Damned, that not only stars Kirstie andย Star Wars‘ Mark Hamill, but the late Superman actor Christopher Reeve as well. Directed by horror legend John Carpenter.
It Takes Twoย (1995)
Ashley Olsen, Mary-Kate Olsen,ย Police Academy‘s Steve Guttenberg and Kirstie star in this romantic comedy.
Peter and the Wolfย (1995 TV Movie)
Dual parts for Kirstie, providing her voice for the characters of Annie, Bird and Duck; with Ross Malinger as the voice of Peter.
Suddenlyย (1996 TV Movie)
Suddenlyย deals with what happens when people abruptly find themselves paraplegics. Kirstie costars with Jason Bieghe. In 1996 she also starred in the TV movieย Radiant Cityย and the theatrical filmย Sticks & Stones.
Toothlessย (1997 TV Movie)
Airing as part ofย The Wonderful World of Disneyย wasย Toothless, starring Kirstie as the Tooth Fairy alongside Lynn Redgrave and Daryl “Chill” Mitchell.
The Last Donย (1997)
Based on the novel byย The Godfather‘s Mario Puzo,ย The Last Donย was a television miniseries that spawned a sequel,ย The Last Don II, a year later. Above Kirstie is with Jason Isaacs.
Deconstructing Harry (1997)
Deconstructing Harryย is a black comedy written, directed by Woody Allen, who co-stars with Kirstie.
For Richer or Poorerย (1997)
Big screen comedyย For Richer or Poorerย โ co-starring Kirstie with Tim Allen โ looks at a couple who decided to live a simpler life. In 1997, Kirstie also appeared on an episode of the seriesย Ink.
Veronica’s Closetย (1997 to 2000 TV Series)
Kirstie headlined this sitcom about the owner of a Victoria Secrets-like lingerie company. The show had a three-season run for a total of 66 episodes.
Drop Dead Gorgeousย (1999)
Beauty pageant comedy co-starring formerย Real Housewifeย Denise Richards and Sam McMurray.
Dancing with the Stars: All Starsย (2012 Competition Series)
Kirstie was one of the participants in 2012’sย Dancing with the Stars: All Stars,ย for which she ended up being a runner-up after 10 weeks of shows. The TV movieย The Manzanisย was aired that same year.
Baby Sellersย (2013 TV Movie)
Exposing the world of baby trafficking is the focus of this television movie in which Kirstie plays Carla Huxley.
Kirstieย (2013 to 2014 TV Series)
This sitcom focuses on a Broadway actress whose life is rocked when her teenage son, who she gave up for adoption at birth, returns to her life. The show also starsย Seinfeld‘s Michael Richards and Kirstie’s formerย Cheersย co-star Rhea Perlman. Kirstie also played the role on the sitcomย Hot in Cleveland. In 2013, Kirstie also starred in the filmย Syrup,ย a comedy drama. In 2015 she had a small role in the filmย Accidental Love, and guest starred onย The Middle.ย In 2016, she guest starred inย Flakedย and had a regular role in season 2 ofย Scream Queens. Additionally, she appeared on an episode ofย The Goldbergsย in 2019.
You Can’t Take My Daughterย (2020)
Kirstie’s final acting performance was in the TV movieย You Can’t Take My Daughter, costarring Lyndsy Fonesca.
The Masked Singerย (2022)
Given her wacky sense of humor, it somehow seems appropriate that the last time the audience would get to enjoy Kirstie’s antics would be in her big reveal as part ofย The Masked Singerย in 2022.