Kelsey Grammer and Kirstie Alley were costars on the long-running sitcom Cheers. Their characters made the show popular, and over the years, their on-screen partnership turned into a real friendship. Even after Cheers ended, they stayed close until Alley died from colon cancer in 2022 at the age of 71.
Grammer has always talked about their time together, not just as colleagues, but as true friends. Both actors became household names in the ’80s and ’90s, Grammer through Frasier, and Alley through Cheers, Look Who’s Talking, and other roles. Despite their busy careers, they remained in touch.
Kelsey Grammer shares important advice Kirstie Alley gave him
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During a recent interview on The Jamie Kern Lima Show, Grammer spoke about his new book, Karen: A Brother Remembers. In the conversation, he recalled advice Alley once gave him before he appeared on The Tonight Show for the first time.
According to Grammer, Alley told him to just play a character and have fun on the show. It was her way of helping him handle nerves. While he appreciated the suggestion, Grammer decided to go in a different direction. He felt he didn’t have the energy to put on a performance, so he chose to be himself and answer questions as honestly as possible.
Kelsey Grammer called Kirstie Alley supportive
Grammer also talked about a difficult moment from his past. He once had legal issues, and during that time, Alley showed up for him. He said she was one of the few people who actually came around and stood by him when things were tough. He remembered visiting her house and finding lemurs living there, something that didn’t surprise him at all because it was so typical of her.
To Grammer, Alley was funny, bold, and always full of surprises. She had a way of making people laugh, and she didn’t hide her emotions. Her support and her humor stayed with him. Even now, Grammer still talks about her with a mix of respect and amusement.