Kirstie Alley
A brash and gifted comedic actress who won America's heart as a cynical manager on the classic sitcom Cheers.
1951–2022 (age 71)·American actress·Birthday: January 12·Baby Boomers
Biography
Kirstie Alley arrived in Hollywood with a confidence that made her seem like an instant star, even if her path was unconventional. A former interior designer, she turned to acting and landed the daunting task of replacing a beloved star on Cheers. As the sharp, vulnerable Rebecca Howe, she didn't just fill the void; she created a wholly new and hilarious character, winning an Emmy and a Golden Globe. Alley had a rare, explosive chemistry with co-stars, particularly John Travolta in the Look Who's Talking films, where her everywoman charm grounded the high-concept premise. Her career was marked by outspoken views and public struggles with weight and Scientology, but through it all, her timing and potent screen presence remained undeniable.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Kirstie was born in 1951, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kirstie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1951
#1 Movie
Quo Vadis
Best Picture
An American in Paris
#1 TV Show
Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
Kirstie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1951Born
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1956Started school
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1964Became a teenager
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1967Could drive
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1969Could vote
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1972Turned 21
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1981Turned 30
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1991Turned 40
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2001Turned 50
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 60
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 70
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2022Died at 71
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
Key Achievements
- Won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1991 for her role on 'Cheers.'
- Starred as the lead in the hit film 'Look Who's Talking' and its two sequels alongside John Travolta.
- Headlined her own successful NBC sitcom, 'Veronica's Closet,' which ran for three seasons.
- Won a second Emmy in 1994 for her leading role in the television drama 'David's Mother.'
Did You Know?
She was a dedicated member of the Church of Scientology for over 30 years.
Before acting, she worked as an interior designer for a company in Wichita, Kansas.
She won the seventh season of 'Dancing with the Stars' with partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy.
She was offered the role of Catherine Tramell in 'Basic Instinct,' which went to Sharon Stone.
“I'm not afraid of death. I'm not afraid of what comes next. I'm afraid of not living while I'm alive.”
