Kirstie Alley Honored By Daughter On Her 72nd Birthday One Month After Her Death

Thursday would have been the 72nd birthday of the late former “Cheers” star Kirstie Alley, who died last month after a short battle with colon cancer. To mark the occasion, Alley’s daughter Lillie Price Stevenson took to social media to pay tribute to her.

‘Happy Birthday Mama’

“happy birthday mama ❤️ wish you were here,” Stevenson wrote alongside some old photos of her late mother. 

It was Stevenson and her brother William True Stevenson who shocked the world last month by revealing that Alley had died on December 5 after a brief battle with colon cancer that was “only recently” discovered.

“She was surrounded by her closest family and fought with great strength, leaving us with a certainty of her never-ending joy of living and whatever adventures lie ahead,” they told People Magazine. “As iconic as she was on screen, she was an even more amazing mother and grandmother.”

The brother and sister went on to say that Alley’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.”

Related: New Details Emerge About Death Of Kirstie Alley After She Dies Suddenly At 71

‘Cheers’ Stars Honor Alley

Tributes poured in for Alley after her death, with one of the most touching ones coming from her former “Cheers” co-star Ted Danson.

“I was on a plane today and did something I rarely do,” Danson said. “I watched an old episode of ‘Cheers.’ 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,” he continued. “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,” Danson concluded. “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.”

Related: Kirstie Alley Revealed John Travolta Was ‘The Greatest Love Of My Life’ Before Her Death

More Tributes For Alley

Alley’s former “Cheers” star Rhea Perlman paid tribute to her as well, saying, “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 of ‘Cheers.'”

“She loved kids and my kids loved her too,” she added. “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.”

The former “Cheers” star Kelsey Grammer offered a simple tribute for Alley, saying, “I always believed grief for a public figure is a private matter, but I will say I loved her.”

Alley was one of the few people in Hollywood who was never afraid to tell it like it is, and her presence continues to be dearly missed. We would like to wish Alley a very happy heavenly birthday as we pray for her family and friends while they continue to grieve her.