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She later starred in another TV sitcom, Veronica's Closet
Born in Wichita, Kansas, Alley dropped out of university and moved to Los Angeles to work as an interior designer and pursue her interest in Scientology.
It was an interest she kept throughout her life,
reportedly donating $5m (£4.1m) to the church in 2007
.
She made her film debut in 1982 in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
Following her success in Cheers, Alley starred alongside Travolta in the big screen family rom-com Look Who's Talking, and its two sequels.
Travolta
took to Instagram to pay his respects, saying theirs was "one of the most special relationships I've ever had." "I love you Kirstie," he wrote alongside a photo of her. "I know we will see each other again."
In 1993, Alley won a second Emmy for best lead actress, for the TV movie David's Mother.
From 1997 to 2000, she starred as lead in the sitcom Veronica's Closet, earning additional Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for her role as the head of a New York City lingerie company.
She also featured in the 1999 film Drop Dead Gorgeous, a dark comedy about a beauty pageant.
Image source, Reuters
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