What were Polly Holliday's iconic roles? Veteran actress's career explored as she passes away at 88

Iconic Alice actress Polly Holliday sadly passed away on September 9, leaving behind a career of work punctuated by her truly unique performances. The talented actress died at her home after struggling with a bout of pneumonia, although she also had several other underlying medical conditions. Holliday was 88.

Polly began her career on stage, performing in plays since her college days. She eventually transitioned successfully to television and film. After her breakthrough on the big screen in "All the President’s Men" alongside Dustin Hoffman, she went on to star in memorable roles in horror comedy and cult classic "Gremlins."

She also starred in the 90s hit film Mrs. Doubtfire with the late Robin Williams and appeared in Disney’s iconic Nancy Meyers adaptation, The Parent Trap, starring Lindsay Lohan.

Polly Holliday’s final film role was in 2010’s political thriller Fair Game, alongside Naomi Watts and Sean Penn.

More details about Polly Holliday, as legendary actress dies at 88

Polly Holliday was born in Jasper, Alabama, to working-class parents. Her love for theatre grew over time until it became her focus at the Alabama College for Women at Montevallo, where she studied before transferring to Florida State University. Once she moved to New York City in the early 1970s, she began working in the local theater scene before eventually landing her big break; she was cast alongside Dustin Hoffman in Broadway’s All Over Town.

This became a pivotal moment in Polly Holliday's career, as she was subsequently cast in her first feature film alongside Hoffman in the 1976 hit film All the President’s Men. Not only did this open the door for her Hollywood aspirations, but it also led to her being cast on Alice.

Fans are remembering Polly Holliday as the news of her passing continues to spread.

@Fairwinds10 wrote the following on X,

Reunited with the cast of Alice in Heaven telling Mel to Kiss My Grits - #RIP Polly Holliday. She was iconic in Alice as Flo but was also in The Parent Trap, Mrs Doubtfire & Channeled Miss Gulch as the dog hating Mrs Deagle in Gremlins (the Gremlins probably got Miss Gulch too)

Another user, @JayBobbin1, also shared his thoughts on X about her passing,

Trending

Sorry to see that #PollyHolliday has passed. She'll always be most famous as Flo, of "Kiss my grits" fame, on TV's "Alice" ... but my favorite performance of hers is in "All the President's Men," as Ned Beatty's receptionist. Her facial reaction to Dustin Hoffman is simply great.

Polly has no direct survivors, as she never married or had children.

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