Kirstie Alley

Kirstie Alley

She was offered the chance to reprise the role inStar Trek III: The Search for Spock, but according to Alley, she was offered less money for that film than she was paid forStar Trek II and thus declined to return. According toLeonard Nimoy, Alley's talent agent demanded a salary that was higher thanDeForest Kelley's after learning that Saavik was to have a large role in the film.[1] It was also reported that "Just before production began, negotiations with Kirstie Alley broke down. […] TheLos Angeles Times indicated the problem concerned money with Alley asking 10 times the salary she earned onStar Trek II. […] Alley's representative, Michael Levine, agreed that the problem was financial, but refused further details." (Starlog #77,December 1983, p. 15) After an intensive casting search, Nimoy opted instead to recast the role of Saavik, which was ultimately given toRobin Curtis.

In a later interview, Alley reported that she had wanted to reprise the role, but Paramount wasn't willing to pay what she was asking, which according to Alley was "less money than they did forStar Trek II, so I figured they weren't very interested in me for Saavik." This, combined with the commitment of a co-starring role in the TV pilotMasquerade for ABC, forced Alley to bow out of the role. (Starlog #102,January 1986, p. 43)

Upon viewingThe Search for Spock, Alley found the film an enjoyable but unnerving experience, as she came to the realization that of Curtis' as Saavik, "She wasn't me". Sympathizing with Curtis, however, Alley revealed that "I thought she was at a real disadvantage playing the role someone else established, especially withStar Trek, which has an enormous following. I think she did a fine job. I have no problem with what she was doing except that, when I saw the film, I said, 'She isn't Saavik.I am.'" (Starlog #102, January 1986, p, 43)

When it was revealed that there would be an upcoming, and yet untitled,Star Trek IV, Alley said that she would gladly join the crew if she was asked, "I would be very interested in doingStar Trek IV, I really liked playing Saavik. It was my first role and I feel a certain allegiance to her. But they've said nothing to me about it." (Starlog #102, January 1986, p, 44)

On5 December, 2022, she died of cancer at age 71.[2]

Career[]

Television[]

Alley is perhaps best known for her Emmy Award-winning role asRebecca Howe onNBC'sCheers. She played the role for six seasons, from 1987 through 1993, during which time she received an Emmy Award and four Emmy nominations. She also received a Golden Globe and three Golden Globe nominations. Her co-stars onCheers includedKelsey Grammer,Bebe Neuwirth, andPaul Willson. Alley was the only livingCheers star who did not appear on Grammer's spin-off series,Frasier (though Grammer was one of four cast members to make a cameo appearance when Alley hostedSaturday Night Live in 1991). She did, however, appear as Rebecca in a 1993 episode ofWings, starringSteven Weber.

Alley is also known for starring as Veronica Chase inNBC'sVeronica's Closet, for which she received nominations from the Emmy Awards, the Golden Globes, and the Screen Actors Guild Awards.Wallace Langham was a regular on this series, which ran from 1997 through 2000.

In 1983, Alley starred inMasquerade. She then appeared in her first TV movie, 1984'sSins of the Past, withJohn Anderson,Roger Aaron Brown, andKim Cattrall. The following year, she starred as journalist Gloria Steinem in the TV movieA Bunny's Tale, again working withStar Trek II cinematographerGayne Rescher.

Alley starred in the 1985 mini-seriesNorth and South' and its 1986 follow-up,North and South, Book II, in which she played Virgilia Hazard, the sister of the characters portrayed byStar Trek: The Next Generation'sJonathan Frakes andStar Trek: Voyager guest actorJames Read. Other actors who appeared in the twoNorth and South mini-series includeJohn Anderson,Lee Bergere,Michael Champion,Mary Crosby,Kate McNeil,Jim Metzler,Mark Moses,Leon Rippy,Bumper Robinson,Maurice Roëves,William Schallert,Kurtwood Smith,Jean Simmons,David Ogden Stiers, andAnthony Zerbe.

Alley was nominated for a CableACE Award for her performance in the "Out of the Night" episode ofThe Hitchhiker, which aired in 1985. She returned to the series in 1987 in an episode withBrad Dourif.

In addition, Alley won an Emmy Award for her performance inCBS'David's Mother (1994, co-starringChris Sarandon, withKatherine Trowell). She was also nominated for an Emmy Award for her work in CBS'The Last Don (1997, co-starringSeymour Cassel,John Colicos,Cliff DeYoung, andMike Starr). Alley also starred in the 1998 sequel,The Last Don II.

In 2002,Joseph Sargent directed Alley inSalem Witch Trials, in which Alley portrayed Ann Putnam. In 2004, Alley guest-starred on CBS'Without a Trace, starringEnrique Murciano andEric Close. In 2005, Alley attempted to capitalize on her much-publicized weight problems as the creator, executive producer, and star ofFat Actress. Alley was also seen onDancing With the Stars hosted byTom Bergeron.

Films[]

AfterStar Trek II, Alley appeared in such films asChampions (1984),Blind Date (1984, featuringMarina Sirtis), andRunaway (1984, withJudi Durand, photographed byJohn A. Alonzo and composed byJerry Goldsmith.

In the late 1980s, Alley starred in such films asSummer School (1987, withKen Olandt),Shoot to Kill (1988, withClancy Brown), andLoverboy (1989, withVoyager starRobert Picardo andVictor Tayback).

Alley had her greatest success in films withWho's Talking (1989), and its sequels,Look Who's Talking Too (1990) andLook Who's Talking Now! (1993). Also in 1989, she andJohn Larroquette played a married couple inMadhouse (released the following year), and in 1990, Alley andScott Bakula played a married couple inSibling Rivalry. Alley's other film credits includeVillage of the Damned (1995),It Takes Two (1995),Deconstructing Harry (1997, withRobin Williams),For Richer or Poorer (1997, withEthan Phillips andJohn Pyper-Ferguson), andDrop Dead Gorgeous (1999, starringKirsten Dunst).

External links[]

• Kirstie Alley atWikipedia
• Kirstie Alley at theInternet Movie Database
• Kirstie Alley atTriviaTribute.com – pictures, links and trivia
• Kirstie Alley attvWiki.tv