The year 2025 has been painfully heavy for the world of entertainment and culture. Fans have had to say goodbye to some of the most iconic names across industries, like rock legend, Ozzy Osbourne, wrestling icon Hulk Hogan, and, more recently, fashion legend Giorgio Armani. Now, another loss adds to the list. Polly Holliday. She was an Emmy-nominated actress who rose to fame as the waitress ‘Flo’ in the 1970s sitcom Alice, and died at the age of 88.
Why did Polly Holliday never get married?
Polly Holliday was born in 1937 in Jasper, Alabama, Holliday. Unlike many of her contemporaries, Polly never married. She once spoke about being content with a simple, independent life, free from societal pressures to People. “I’m a person of few wants and very few needs,” she once said. Polly always reflected a strong sense of individuality in her life and work. At the same time, she decided her whole life to pursue her passion for acting.
Her father was a truck driver, and her mother was a homemaker. She used to spend summers on the road with her father, which later inspired her work as ‘Flo ‘, a woman full of quick wit and charm. She was initially interested in music and earned a degree in piano. Later, the diva worked briefly as a music teacher before making her way towards acting.
Polly Holliday had a successful career in films and TV
Polly Holliday’s big break came in 1976 when she was cast in the CBS sitcom Alice, based on Martin Scorsese’s film, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. She played the role of ‘Florence Jean “Flo” Castleberry’, where her Southern sass and the catchphrase ‘Kiss my grits!’ stole the show. She received three Emmy nominations, and it turned her into one of television’s most recognisable stars of the era. Flo became so popular that Polly was given her own spin-off, Flo, in 1980.
Apart from ‘Flo’, she was seen in diverse roles in film and television. Fans remember her as Mrs. Doubtfire’s neighbour, ‘Marva Kulp Sr” in The Parent Trap, and in the cult classic Gremlins. She also appeared in The Golden Girls, Home Improvement, and joined the cast of Private Benjamin in the early 80s. Her ability to flawless take over roles across comedy, drama, and family roles made her one of the most versatile actresses of her generation. Despite her fame, she lived modestly and avoided Hollywood’s glamorous lifestyle.
More about Polly Holliday’s death
Sadly, Polly Holliday passed away on September 9, 2025, in Manhattan after years of health complications. Her longtime friend and agent, Dennis Aspland, confirmed her death, which is believed to have been caused by pneumonia. She leaves behind no spouse or children behind. But her extraordinary body of work will continue to bring joy to audiences.
We send our heartfelt condition to Polly Holliday’s family in their difficult time.
Next Read: Tyler Perry And Ex-GF Gelila Bekele’s Love Story, Dated In Secret For Years, Now Co-Parent Their Son