Kirstie Alley died following a short battle with cancer. She was 71. Alley left behind two children she adopted several years ago, thinking she would never become a mother again. The kids were her primary support system – they accepted her, loved and supported her despite her struggle with being overweight.
Award-winning television star Kirstie Alley believed she would never be a mother. However, she was blessed with two children whom she adored very much.
“Cheers” actress Kirstie Alley was a mother of two kids. But before she became a parent, she had a miscarriage in 1990 while three months pregnant.
At the time, Alley was married to her second husband, actor Parker Stevenson, whom she wed in 1983. The Emmy Award winner candidly discussed her pregnancy loss in her 2015 book, revealing it took its toll on her well-being.
Actress Kirstie Alley attends the “Delta Force 2” West Hollywood Premiere at the DGA Theatre on August 23, 1990 in West Hollywood, California.┃Source: Getty Images
Alley struggled to make peace with the fact that she had lost her baby and gained weight. She convinced herself that she was still expecting even months after losing her unborn child. Moreover, she learned there were fewer chances of ever becoming a mom:
“When the baby was gone, I didn’t get over it. […] I was still fat, I was still grieving.”
That said, she and her spouse opted for adoption. Alley and Parker became first-time parents in 1992 when they welcomed their first child, son True Stevenson, two years later.
The couple expanded their family after welcoming their daughter, Lillie Stevenson, another two years later. However, Parker and Alley divorced in 1997 but continued to share custody of their brood. The mom of two spoke proudly about her motherhood journey in an interview with People in 2006 and said one of her good qualities was being a mom.
Alley Raised Supportive Kids Who Made Her a Grandmother
Alley raised her son and daughter away from the prying eyes of Hollywood. Still, she could not stop raving about them in interviews. In 2006, the doting mom revealed her children were overly “protective” of her.
True and Lillie were also their mother’s source of inspiration in getting back into shape. They always encouraged her to join them in the water whenever they were swimming.
True Stevenson pictured with his mom Kirstie Alley and sister Lillie Stevenson at the “The Runaways” New York premiere at Landmark Sunshine Cinema on March 17, 2010 in New York City | Source: Getty Images
Alley eventually regained her confidence and was brave enough to appear on the “Oprah Winfrey Show” in a bikini in 2006. It was her way of celebrating her weight loss journey, and she told the media mogul that it would not have happened if her kids had not supported her.
After shedding weight, the Kansas native became a first-time grandmother when her son had his firstborn, Waylon Tripp Parker, in 2016.
The Golden Globe Award winner shared the exciting news on Twitter by sharing several photos of her new grandson and tweeted: “proud Gammy.”
The “It Takes Two” star marked her first Christmas as a grandparent with then-six-month-old Waylon. She told People that she had a blast while celebrating the holiday.
When True and his girlfriend worked for her for a few months, she spent more time with her grandchild and said the experience was “stupendous and exhilarating.”
The TV star would be the first to hold the newborn every morning and show him the holiday decorations while pacing around with him and “singing to him.” Alley said it was a joy to witness her son being a parent himself.
She lauded True and his significant other for being good parents and said they were meant for it. But True being a doting dad did not come as a surprise for his mother.
The “Look Who’s Talking” star revealed her son had always been good with kids. They, too, had always warmed up to him. “He loves babies,” said Alley about her son.
True married his high school sweetheart when he was only seventeen. The pair walked down the aisle after dating for one year. Speaking ahead of the wedding in 2010, True’s mom said he and his girlfriend were head over heels in love with each other, adding he treated her well.
Meanwhile, his sister also found love after she announced that she was engaged to be married to her boyfriend, Chaffee Burkhart Graham, on social media.
Lillie wrote Graham was the perfect match for her, adding she could not “wait to call you my husband,” alongside a picture of the couple as she flaunted her engagement ring in the snap.
She also became a first-time parent in May 2021 after welcoming her son, Ripp Woodrow Graham. Lillie thanked her child for making her a mom, and a year later, she celebrated his first birthday with a gallery of his photos. The mother of one deemed her firstborn her “best friend” and expressed her love for him grows daily.
Sadly, Alley did not live long enough to see his grandkids grow up. People reported that the Hollywood star died after a short battle with cancer at 71.
Lillie and True announced the news of their beloved mother’s death in a statement shared with the outlet, revealing the “Summer School” star took her last breath on December 5, 2022:
“We are sad to inform you that our incredible, fierce, and loving mother has passed away after a battle with cancer, only recently discovered.”
Alley passed on with her loved ones by her side. She died a fighter and left her kids with the reminder of always being happy and excited for what is to come in the future, said her children.
True and Lillie commended their mother for being a good parent and grandparent: “As iconic as she was on screen, she was an even more amazing mother and grandmother.”
The siblings shared the “Drop Dead Gorgeous” star was passionate about life and her family. Alley reportedly had immense love for animals and took pleasure in being a creative person.
Keeping that in mind when thinking about her, the celebrated showbiz veteran’s son and daughter said they are more determined to live their lives fully like their mom.
