Polly Holliday, the Emmy-winning actress who brought sass and humor to television audiences as the waitress Flo on Alice , died on September 10, 2025, at the age of 88. Known worldwide for her signature catchphrase “Kiss my grits,” Holliday’s passing was confirmed by her family after a recent battle with pneumonia.

Holliday rose to fame in the late 1970s on the CBS sitcom Alice , adapted from the 1974 film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore . She quickly became a breakout star thanks to Flo’s fiery personality and one-liners that entered the American lexicon.

Her Rise on Alice and Beyond

As Flo, Polly Holliday turned a supporting role into a cultural phenomenon. Her character was so popular that she later headlined a short-lived spin-off, Flo . Holliday’s portrayal earned her two

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