Polly Holliday, 1937 – 2025

Stage, screen and TV actress Polly Holliday, 88, died on Sept. 9. She was an excellent actress best known for her worst role: as the bouffant-haired, “kiss mah grits!” waitress Flo on the abysmal sitcom Alice. The Alabama-born Holliday appeared on Broadway in All Over Town, Arsenic and Old Lace (as Martha to Jean Stapleton’s Abby), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (as Big Mama), and Picnic. She also had nice supporting roles in W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings and All the President’s Men, till Flo took over her life. Like Jimmy Walker’s J.J. on Good Times, Flo sucked all the air out of the room, and Holliday left the show in 1980. She continued acting till 2010 (The Golden Girls, Gremlins, Mrs. Doubtfire, Moon Over Parador, Stir Crazy), but was always “Flo” to her fans.