Polly Holliday dead: The Parent Trap and Mrs Doubtfire star, 88, dies as tributes flood in

Comedy legend Polly Holliday, famed for her role as waitress Flo in the iconic 1970s TV show Alice and roles in films such as The Parent Trap, Gremlins and Mrs Doubtfire, has sadly died at the age of 88.

Her theatrical agent Dennis Aspland confirmed her passing on September 9, though the cause of death remains undisclosed. As news of her passing spread, tributes poured in from fans on Facebook, sharing their condolences and fond memories.

"Polly Holliday's passing is a big loss. Her portrayal of Flo on Alice became an iconic part of TV history, and her career beyond that in theatre was just as impressive. She had such a memorable presence, and it's always sad when we lose legends like her. Hopefully, her work and contributions continue to be remembered and celebrated," one fan reflected.

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"My condolences to her family she brought people a lot of joy through her artistry," another wrote. Another fan added: "I definitely will never forget her as Miss Deagle from Gremlins. Hopefully, those monsters didn't have anything to do with her recent passing.

"Rest in peace, Polly Holliday. You gave us sass, Southern charm, and the unforgettable 'Kiss my grits!' - and we'll forever cherish every flip of that bleached-beehive and every zingy line at Mel's Diner. Thank you for making Flo a legend. You'll be greatly missed," a fourth fan wrote, reports the Express.

"She was truly one of the most memorable TV characters of my childhood. "KISS my Grits" was a the tag line that everyone remembers and knows who said it," a fifth recalled. Meanwhile a sixth wailed in all capitals: "NOOOOO, NOT FLO! ! ! ! MEL, KISS MY GRITS! ! LOVE THEM ALL! ! ! !".

After achieving enormous success in Alice she departed in 1980 to headline her own brief spin-off series called Flo. The show ran for just one year, though she maintained a steady presence across theatre and television throughout her career.

She secured the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress for her unforgettable performance in Steven Spielberg's 1984 comedy Gremlins. She portrayed the bad-tempered Mrs Deagle who suffered a grim fate when the mischievous creatures tampered with her stairlift.

In Mrs Doubtfire in 1993 she appeared as Gloria Chaney, the neighbouring resident of the Hillard household who employed Robin Williams' titular character as their childminder. For The Parent Trap in 1998 she featured alongside Lindsay Lohan in the role of camp supervisor Marva Culp Sr.

Her last cinema appearance was Fair Game in 2010. She also maintained her television career with a notable stint as the visually impaired sibling of Rose Nyland (Betty White) in The Golden Girls among various other roles.

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