Polly Holliday made "Kiss my grits" a popular catch phrase

Kiss my grits was an adaptation from a movie

Polly Holliday was an American actress who appeared on stage, television, and in film. She appeared as waitress Florence Jean Castleberry, AKA Flo, in the sitcom Alice (1976-1980), and her signature phrase "Kiss my grits" became a pop culture slogan.

Alice was based on the 1974 film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. In the movie the character Flo said "Kiss Where the sun don't shine" This was considered to riske for the television show so the line was changed.

Holliday was on the classical stage

The actress was born Polly Dean Holiday on July 2,1937 in Jasper, Alabama, to Ernest and Velma Holliday. She grew up in Childersburg. Her brother Doyle was a boyhood friend of Jim Nabors (Gomer Pyle, The Andy Griffith Show), who lived in nearby Sylacauga.

She was vastly different from Flo as she graduated from the Alabama College for Women at Montevallo (now known as the University of Montevallo) in 1959 with a degree in piano. She attended Florida State University, and early in her career, she earned respect on the classical stage.

Flo, Alice, and Vera were a hit

As Flo, Holliday was a sassy waitress, and she earned two Golden Globe Awards for the role. She and her character, later appeared on the short-lived spin-off "Flo." (March 24, 1980, to June 30, 1981).

The saying remains the most memorable line associated with the series Alice to this date. Her fellow waitresses were Beth Howland as Vera Gorman and Linda Lavin as Alice Hyatt.

Together they kept audiences in stitches. Most of the action took place at Mel's Diner, which was run by Mel (Vic Tayback). Phillip McKeon portrayed Alice's son Tommy Hyatt.

There were rumors that Lavin was difficult to work with and may have been jealous of Flo's success on her show. Some cast and crew considered her to be strong-willed and demanding, but Lavin never gave her side of the story. The on-screen chemistry between the cast did not give any hint of trouble.

Holliday is remembered for other roles

Holliday worked as a piano teacher in Alabama and Florida. She began her professional acting career as a member of the Asolo Theatre Company in Sarasota, Florida, where she remained for 10 years

Holliday is also fondly remembered for other roles. She played Mrs. Ruby Deagle in Gremlins, for which she won the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1984.

Holliday also appeared on The Golden Girls, where she played Rose Nylund's blind sister, Lily. She had the recurring role as Jill Taylor's mother on Home Improvement, and was a regular character on The Client.

In 1998, Holliday portrayed Camp Walden owner and director Marva Kulp Sr. in the remake of the film The Parent Trap. Maggie Wheeler played her assistant and daughter, Marva Kulp Jr.

Personal life and death

For those who are interested in the religious beliefs of entertainers, Holliday was a Christian, an Episcopalian. She sang in the St. Andrews Episcopal Choir in Mobile, Alabama, and appeared as herself in January 2010, in an official advertising campaign for the Episcopal Church.

She also sang in the Grace Church (Episcopal) Choral Society in Greenwich Village in New York City and ran a chamber music series in the area.

Polly Holliday died in New York on September 9, 2025, at the age of 88 from complications pf pneumonia after a lengthy undisclosed illness. She was the last surviving member of the original cast of Alice. She never married or had any children. There is no record of any immediate survivors.