John Travolta is among the celebrities mourning the death of Kirstie Alley, an Emmy-winning actress who died on Monday after being recently diagnosed with cancer.
On Instagram, Travolta called his frequent co-star Kirstie “one of the most special friendships I’ve ever had. You are adored, Kirstie. I am certain that we will cross paths again.”
In 1989’s Look Who’s Talking, a comedy written and directed by Amy Heckerling about a single mother who meets and falls in love with a cab driver (Travolta), Bruce Willis provided the voice of the child they ended up raising together.
Travolta’s career was revitalized due to the film’s unexpected success, and Alley’s shift from Cheers’ sitcom star to cinematic star was made possible. It spawned the short-lived sitcom Baby Talk, which starred Tony Danza as the baby’s voice, and two sequels, Look Who’s Talking Too and Look Who’s Talking Now.
Travolta has also appeared in episodes of Kirstie Alley’s Big Life (2010), Fat Actress (2005), and Kirstie (2005), a TV Land sitcom starring Alley.
“We are heartbroken to inform you that our wonderful, brave, and loving mother has passed away after a battle with cancer,” Alley’s children True and Lillie Parker wrote on her social media profiles.
The statement stated, “She was surrounded by her closest relatives and fought valiantly, leaving us with no question about her unending pleasure of life and whatever adventures lay ahead.” She was a great actress, but she was also a wonderful mother and grandmother.
When discussing her longtime friend Travolta on Celebrity Big Brother U.K. in 2018, Alley said, “I almost ran away and married John. I loved him and still do. If I wasn’t already married, I would have flown to marry him.”
Travolta has had to write a tribute for one of his leading women twice this year, after his Grease co-star Olivia Newton-John died in August.
Newton-John died of cancer as well, and Travolta said of her, “My dear Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better. Your influence was enormous. I love you tremendously. We’ll see each other again when we’re all back together. You were all mine from the moment I saw you.”