"Cheers" and "Drop Dead Gorgeous" star Kirstie Alley died surrounded by her family.
Her ex-husband, who she once said she "would die" for, paid a heartbreaking tribute to her.
Kirstie Alley loved being a mother and grandmother.
On December 5, Kirstie Alley's children announced their mother had passed away. The acclaimed actress was primarily known for her roles in "Cheers," "Drop Dead Gorgeous," "Look Who's Talking," and "It Takes Two."
The brother and sister, William True Stevenson and Lillie Price Stevenson, made an Instagram post showing Kirstie on a turquoise bicycle, smiling widely. The siblings revealed that Kirstie had died of complications from cancer.
Kirstie Alley at the Tom Bradley Stadium, in the grounds of Birmingham High School in Van Nuys, California, 28th September 1991. | Source: Getty Images
The disease was only discovered a short while before she passed away, and her children mentioned she spent many of her last days battling the illness at Moffitt Cancer Center. The two thanked the staff for their care and said:
"Our mother's zest and passion for life, her children, grandchildren and her many animals, not to mention her eternal joy of creating, were unparalleled and leave us inspired to live life to the fullest just as she did."
The Stevenson children shared that Kirstie tried her best to beat the illness, but in the end, she found solace in being surrounded by her family. The two also commended her for being an excellent mother and grandmother.
Kirstie adopted True and Lillie in 1992 and 1995 with her ex-husband, Parker Stevenson. Before adopting the two kids, Kirsty tragically had a failed pregnancy. The pair later divorced in 1997.
How Did Kirstie Alley's Ex-husband Pay Tribute to Her?
Before Kirstie met Parker, she was in a long marriage with Bob Alley, although the two divorced in 1977. After she separated from Bob, she and a friend went to a bar where she spotted parker. When she laid eyes on him, she said, "For him, I would die."
When True married and his wife fell pregnant, Kirsty was on cloud nine.
In 1983, Kirstie and Parker married, and a few years later, they adopted their two children. Kirsty had no children from her previous marriage. Two years after the pair adopted their daughter, they decided to break things off.
Parker Stevenson and Kirstie Alley during The 47th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, United States. | Source: Getty Images
Both True and Lillie refer to themselves by their father's name, Parker, and they described their mother as "incredible, fierce and loving." Kirstie was thrilled to be a grandmother, and her love for her family was even greater than her love for films.
In 1997, they went their separate ways, but the children seem to have maintained a great relationship with both parents. Although Kirstie and Parker had divorced long ago, her ex-husband still had a few touching things to say after her death:
"Dear Kirstie, I am so grateful for our years together and for the two incredibly beautiful children and now grandchildren that we have. You will be missed. With love, Parker."
Along with Parker's moving final message to his ex-wife, he posted an old photo of them as a couple. It shows him in a leather jacket and Kirstie in an oversized coat, grabbing the front of his shirt to pull him closer.
What Did Kirstie Alley Say about Being a Mom and Grandma?
After ending things with Parker, Kirsty spent a lot of time and energy raising her two kids. Although she had separated from her husband, the two both had a say in their children's lives, and they ensured they could work together when it came to their kids.
The actress once shared that she believed she was a brilliant mother, and her children certainly agree. Kirstie and Parker decided to adopt after she suffered a miscarriage during her first pregnancy, and the experience was harrowing:
"When the baby was gone, I just didn't really get over it. I was still fat, I was still grieving, and I had just been told it was very possible I would never be able to have children."
Kirstie Alley with children William True and Lillie Price Stevenson at the "The Runaways" New York premiere at Landmark Sunshine Cinema on March 17, 2010 in New York City. | Source: Getty Images
After the terrible loss of her first child, she decided to take an alternative route instead. So, she adopted True, and a few years later, Lillie joined the family. When True married and his wife fell pregnant, Kirsty was on cloud nine.
After Waylon Tripp Parker was born, Kirsty couldn't help showing him off to the world. She posted photos on Twitter with captions saying how proud she was, and she even had him living with her for three months. She gushed:
"When I got up in the morning, as soon as that baby was up, I was holding that baby, traipsing around with him and showing him all the Christmas lights and singing to him."
When Lillie's first child, Ripp Woodrow Graham, was born, Kirtsy was just as happy. Like with little Tripp, she was bursting to show him to her followers. She also spent as much time with her second grandchild as possible.
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