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Polly Holliday

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Polly Holliday

Polly Dean Holliday (July 2, 1937 – September 9, 2025) was an American actress who appeared on stage, television, and in film. She was best known for her portrayal of sassy waitress Florence Jean "Flo" Castleberry on the 1970s sitcom Alice, a role for which she earned two Golden Globe Awards, and would also later reprise for its short-lived spin-off, Flo. Her character's catchphrase of "Kiss my grits!" remains the most memorable line associated with the series Alice. In 1984, Holliday won the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Mrs. Ruby Deagle in Gremlins.

Infobox

Born
Polly Dean Holliday(1937-07-02)July 2, 1937Jasper, Alabama, U.S.
Died
September 9, 2025(2025-09-09) (aged 88)New York City, U.S.
Alma mater
Alabama College, State College for WomenFlorida State University
Occupation
Actress
Years active
1963–2010
Awards
Alabama Stage and Screen Hall of Fame

Tables

· Filmography › Film
1975
W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings
Role(s)
Mrs. Cozzens
Pittsville - Ein Safe voll Blut
Role(s)
Miss Pearson
Distance
Role(s)
Mrs. Herman
1976
All the President's Men
Role(s)
Dardis's Secretary
1978
The One and Only
Role(s)
Mrs. Crawford
1984
Gremlins
Role(s)
Mrs. Ruby Deagle
Notes
Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress
1988
Moon Over Parador
Role(s)
Midge
1993
Mrs. Doubtfire
Role(s)
Gloria Chaney
1996
Mr. Wrong
Role(s)
Mrs. Alston
1998
The Parent Trap
Role(s)
Marva Kulp Sr.
2006
Stick It
Role(s)
Judge Westreich
2007
The Heartbreak Kid
Role(s)
Beryl
2010
Fair Game
Role(s)
Diane Plame
Notes
Final film role
Year
Title
Role
Notes
1975
and the Dixie Dancekings
Mrs. Cozzens
Pittsville - Ein Safe voll Blut
Miss Pearson
Distance
Mrs. Herman
1976
All the President's Men
Dardis's Secretary
1978
The One and Only
Mrs. Crawford
1984
Gremlins
Mrs. Ruby Deagle
Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress
1988
Moon Over Parador
Midge
1993
Mrs. Doubtfire
Gloria Chaney
1996
Mr. Wrong
Mrs. Alston
1998
The Parent Trap
Marva Kulp Sr.
2006
Stick It
Judge Westreich
2007
The Heartbreak Kid
Beryl
2010
Fair Game
Diane Plame
Final film role
· Filmography › Television movies
1974
Wedding Band
Role(s)
Annabelle
1975
The Silence
Role(s)
Mrs. Watson
1976
Bernice Bobs Her Hair
Role(s)
Mrs. Harvey
1979
You Can't Take It with You
Role(s)
Miriam Kirby
1981
All the Way Home
Role(s)
Aunt Hannah
1982
Missing Children: A Mother's Story
Role(s)
Mary Gertrude
1983
The Gift of Love: A Christmas Story
Role(s)
Aunt Minerva
1985
Lots of Luck
Role(s)
Lucille
Konrad
Role(s)
Berti Bartolotti
1991
A Triumph of the Heart: The Ricky Bell Story
Role(s)
Ruth Weidner
1996
A Loss of Innocence
Role(s)
Christina Eriksen
2004
It Must Be Love
Role(s)
Mama Bell
Notes
aka Surviving Love
Year
Title
Role
Notes
1974
Wedding Band
Annabelle
1975
The Silence
Mrs. Watson
1976
Bernice Bobs Her Hair
Mrs. Harvey
1979
You Can't Take It with You
Miriam Kirby
1981
All the Way Home
Aunt Hannah
1982
Missing Children: A Mother's Story
Mary Gertrude
1983
The Gift of Love: A Christmas Story
Aunt Minerva
1985
Lots of Luck
Lucille
Konrad
Berti Bartolotti
1991
A Triumph of the Heart: The Ricky Bell Story
Ruth Weidner
1996
A Loss of Innocence
Christina Eriksen
2004
It Must Be Love
Mama Bell
aka Surviving Love
· Filmography › Television series
1974
Search for Tomorrow
Role(s)
Prison Inmate Leader
Notes
6 episodes
1976–1980
Role(s)
Alice
Notes
Florence Jean "Flo" Castleberry
1980–1981
Role(s)
Flo
Notes
Florence Jean "Flo" Castleberry
1982
American Playhouse
Role(s)
Mrs. Wooster
Notes
Episode: "The Shady Hill Kidnapping"
1982–1983
Role(s)
Private Benjamin
Notes
Capt. Amanda Allen
1985
Stir Crazy
Role(s)
Captain Betty
Notes
Episode: "Pilot"
1986
The Golden Girls
Role(s)
Lily Lindstrom
Notes
Episode: "Blind Ambitions"
Amazing Stories
Role(s)
Elma Dinnock
Notes
Episode: "The Pumpkin Competition"
1988
The Equalizer
Role(s)
Sister Sara
Notes
Episode: "Regrets Only"
1993–1999
Role(s)
Home Improvement
Notes
Lillian Patterson
1995–1996
Role(s)
The Client
Notes
Momma Love
1996
Homicide: Life on the Street
Role(s)
Mrs. Rath
Notes
Episode: "The Heart of a Saturday Night"
Year
Title
Role
Notes
1974
Search for Tomorrow
Prison Inmate Leader
6 episodes
1976–1980
Alice
Florence Jean "Flo" Castleberry
Main role, 90 episodesGolden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress - Series, Miniseries or Television Film (1979–1980)Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (1978–1980)
1980–1981
Flo
Florence Jean "Flo" Castleberry
Main role, 29 episodesNominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Television Series Musical or ComedyNominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
1982
American Playhouse
Mrs. Wooster
Episode: "The Shady Hill Kidnapping"
1982–1983
Private Benjamin
Capt. Amanda Allen
3 episodes
1985
Stir Crazy
Captain Betty
Episode: "Pilot"
1986
The Golden Girls
Lily Lindstrom
Episode: "Blind Ambitions"
Amazing Stories
Elma Dinnock
Episode: "The Pumpkin Competition"
1988
The Equalizer
Sister Sara
Episode: "Regrets Only"
1993–1999
Home Improvement
Lillian Patterson
5 episodes
1995–1996
The Client
Momma Love
Main role, 21 episodes
1996
Homicide: Life on the Street
Mrs. Rath
Episode: "The Heart of a Saturday Night"

References

  1. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/10/arts/television/polly-holiday-dead.html
  2. Selma Times-Journal
    https://www.newspapers.com/image/570067454/
  3. People
    https://www.sitcomsonline.com/photopost/data/688/People_11-22-1982_001.jpg
  4. "Alabama Stage and Screen Hall of Fame"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20101105123336/http://www.theatretusc.com/ProgramsOutreach/AlabamaStageandScreenHallofFame/tabid/105/Default.aspx
  5. "The History of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church from 1860–Present"
    https://standrewsmontevallo.org/history/
  6. Episcopal Church
    https://www.episcopalchurch.org/library/video/i-am-episcopalian
  7. The Washington Post
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2025/09/10/polly-holliday-dead-flo-alice/
  8. Alice
    https://people.com/polly-holliday-dead-alice-the-parent-trap-actress-8768542
  9. New York Post
    https://nypost.com/2025/09/10/entertainment/polly-holliday-alice-star-dead-at-88-after-pneumonia-battle/
  10. The Hollywood Reporter
    https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/polly-holliday-dead-kiss-my-grits-alice-1236367417/
  11. TV Guide
    https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/polly-holliday/credits/3000720975/
  12. "Polly Holliday"
    https://goldenglobes.com/person/polly-holliday/
Image
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