Kirstie Alleyhadcolon cancerprior to her death on Monday at age 71, a rep for Alley tells PEOPLE.
In their statement confirming the news on Monday, Alley’s children, True and Lillie Parker, saidtheir “incredible, fierce and loving mother"had “only recently discovered” the cancer. They also noted that she had been receiving treatment at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, prior to her untimely passing.
The siblings also shared how their mother’s “zest and passion for life, her children, grandchildren and her many animals, not to mention her eternal joy of creating, were unparalleled and leave us inspired to live life to the fullest just as she did.”
Alley rose to fame in 1987 when she starred as Rebecca Howe on NBC’sCheers. She earned a Golden Globe for best actress and an Emmy for outstanding lead actress for her part in the Boston-based series in 1991.
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She went on to receive her second Emmy win for her portrayal of Sally Goodson inDavid’s Motherin 1994.
Kirstie Alley.Evan Agostini/AP/Shutterstock
The actressalso appeared on television showsincludingVeronica’s Closet(1997-2000),Fat Actress(2005),Kirstie(2013-2014), andScream Queens(2015-2016), as well as films likeStar Trek II: The Wrath of Khan(1982),Summer School(1987),Look Who’s Talking(1989),It Takes Two(1995) andDrop Dead Gorgeous(1999).
Michael Grecco/Iconic Images
HerCheerscostars,Kelsey Grammer,Ted DansonandRhea Perlman, spoke out inrespective statements to PEOPLE, where they remembered their friend for her “heart of gold” and “joy of being.”
“I always believed grief for a public figure is a private matter, but I will say I loved her,” said Grammer.
Danson wrote, “I was on a plane today and did something I rarely do. I watched an old episode ofCheers. It was the episode where Tom Berenger proposes to Kirstie, who keeps saying no, even though she desperately wants to say yes. Kirstie was truly brilliant in it. Her ability to play a woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown was both moving and hysterically funny. She made me laugh 30 years ago when she shot that scene, and she made me laugh today just as hard. As I got off the plane, I heard that Kirstie had died. I am so sad and so grateful for all the times she made me laugh. I send my love to her children. As they well know, their mother had a heart of gold. I will miss her.”
Added Perlman: “Kirstie was a unique and wonderful person and friend. Her joy of being was boundless. We became friends almost instantly when she joined the cast ofCheers. She loved kids and my kids loved her too. We had sleepovers at her house, with treasure hunts that she created. She had massive Halloween and Easter parties, and invited the entire crew of the show, and their families. She wanted everyone to feel included. She loved her children deeply. I’ve never met anyone remotely like her. I feel so thankful to have known her. I’m going to miss her very, very much.”
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Jamie Lee Curtis,Tim Allen,John Travolta,Steve GuttenbergandTaylor Lautnerwere also among the stars who paid tribute to Alley on social media.
source: people.com
