Polly Holliday, Alabama-born actress best known for her sassy catchphrase “Kiss my grits!” on the CBS sitcom Alice and its spinoff Flo, has died at 88.
Her agent, Dennis Aspland, told The New York Times she passed away Tuesday at her Manhattan home.
Born July 2, 1937, in Jasper, Alabama, Holliday was known for her Southern charm and quick wit. She once recalled to People how waitresses like Flo inspired her growing up. Her father was a truck driver, and she often joined him on the road.
After studying at Florida State University and a brief teaching career, Holliday turned to acting, starting in theater before landing her breakout role as Florence Jean “Flo” Castleberry on Alice in 1976. Her bold character and iconic line made her a TV favorite, leading to her own spinoff, Flo (1980–81).
Beyond sitcoms, she enjoyed a successful career as a character actress, with roles in Gremlins (1984), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), and The Parent Trap (1998). She also appeared in Home Improvement and The Golden Girls.
Holliday won two Golden Globes for Alice and received multiple Emmy nominations throughout her career.