American actress Kristie Alley dies at 71

Kirstie Alley, a two-time Emmy winner who became one of the biggest performers in American comedy in the late 1980s and early 1990s because of her appearances on the TV phenomenon "Cheers" and in the "Look Who's Talking" movies, passed away on Monday. She was 71.

Alley's children True and Lillie Parker wrote on Twitter that she passed away from cancer that had only recently been identified. The death was verified by Donovan Daughtry, manager of Alley, in an email to The Associated Press.

“As iconic as she was on screen, she was an even more amazing mother and grandmother,” her children’s statement said.

From 1987 through 1993, she played Rebecca Howe alongside Ted Danson in the popular NBC sitcom "Cheers," which was set in a Boston bar. When the original star Shelley Long left the show, it was at its peak of popularity.

For the part in 1991, Alley would receive an Emmy for best lead actress in a comedy series.

“I only thank God I didn’t have to wait as long as Ted,” Alley said in her acceptance, gently ribbing Danson, who had finally won an Emmy for his “Cheers” role as Sam Malone in his eighth nomination the previous year.

For portraying the title character in the CBS TV film "David's Mother," she would win a second Emmy in 1993 for best lead actress in a miniseries or television movie.

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