Polly Holliday, one of the most charismatic actresses of the 70s and 80s in the United States, has passed away at the age of 88 this Wednesday. The performer, who rose to fame in the series 'Alice', has died from unknown causes. The sad news was confirmed by her agent and friend, Dennis Aspland.
She will always be remembered for the role that made her famous, that of Flo, a red-haired waitress whose most repeated phrase, "Kiss my grits!" became part of the popular culture of the time in the United States. It became so popular that, although not the main character of the series, producers created a spin-off based on her character called 'Flo', which first aired in 1980 and lasted two seasons.
Polly was part of all seasons of 'Alice', a cult series in the US that aired between 1976 and 1985. Her character even became more popular than the protagonist, played by Linda Lavin, earning Holliday three Emmy nominations and two Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actress in 1979 and 1980.
Beyond Alice, Polly also worked in film, appearing in several movies: 'All the President's Men' (1976), 'Moon Over Parador' (1988), 'Mrs. Doubtfire' (1993), 'Mr. Wrong' (1996), 'The Parent Trap' (1998), and 'The Heartbreak Kid' (2007). But one of her most memorable roles for the audience is that of the widow Ruby Deagle in 'Gremlins' (1984), perhaps due to her epic demise thrown out of a window by the evil creatures.
The actress also had various roles in theater, where she began her career. She appeared in 'All Over Town', directed by Dustin Hoffman (1974), 'Arsenic and Old Lace' (1986), and 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' (1990), which earned her a Tony nomination for her portrayal of Big Mama.