Television lost a true legend this week. Polly Holliday, the actress who gave us one of the sassiest, most unforgettable characters in TV history has passed away at the age of 88.
If her name doesn’t immediately ring a bell, her catchphrase probably will: “Kiss my grits!”
As Florence Jean “Flo” Castleberry on the hit CBS sitcom Alice in the late ’70s and early ’80s, Polly turned a feisty Southern waitress into a pop-culture icon. Big hair, bold attitude, and that quick wit and she owned every single scene she was in.
Born in Jasper, Alabama, in 1937, Polly didn’t actually start out chasing TV fame. She was a music teacher before jumping into acting, eventually making her way to Broadway and then television. Everything changed in 1976 when she landed the role of Flo on Alice. Within no time, she became one of the breakout stars of the show, snagging Golden Globe wins and multiple Emmy nominations. Her character was so beloved, CBS even gave her a spin-off called Flo in 1980.
While Flo made her famous, Polly Holliday’s career went way beyond the diner. You might remember her as the cranky Mrs. Deagle in Gremlins, or maybe from her roles in Mrs. Doubtfire, The Parent Trap, Home Improvement, Golden Girls, and The Client. On stage, she was equally talented, even scoring a Tony nomination for her role in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. The woman could do comedy, drama, movies, TV, and theater and she crushed them all
Despite her fame, Polly stayed grounded. She never got caught up in Hollywood glamour and she was living modestly, keeping a low profile, and focusing on the work she loved.
Her legacy, though, is loud and proud. Thanks to Flo, Polly gave us a character that people are still quoting almost 50 years later. That’s no small feat. Polly Holliday made us laugh, rolled her eyes better than anyone on TV, and gave us one of the most iconic lines in sitcom history. Flo’s sass, spirit, and Southern charm live on forever.
Rest easy, Polly and thanks for the grits.
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