Polly Holliday turns 86

Kiss my grits, OP!

And she’s in one of the best Golden Girls episodes, as well as Gremlins!

Happy Birthday, Polly!

She rode her typecast role all the way to a comfy retirement. Good for Polly. And Happy Birthday!

Who?

Her spin-off 'Flo' could've lasted a number of seasons if it was built around a better concept. Her concept hyst wasn't too convincing.

However, she may have started the 'barroom' sitcom which became popular in the 80s. A season later, 'Archie Bunker's Place' premiered, and two years later we got the very successful 'Cheers'. Too bad 'Flo' didn't have the clever, witty writers that made 'Cheers' such a hit.

She was so sweet to my late gay son Tawmey.

What is a "concept hyst"?

My son Tawmey always loved to rub my tired smelly waitress feet at the end of a long shift...

Polly also played Jill's mom in "Home Improvement."

Flo actually did fine in the ratings, but they cancelled it anyway.

In honor of her birthday, this queen posted a photo of himself as Flo for Halloween back in the day...

Instead of "Trick or Treat," he'd shout "Kiss My Grits!" to get Halloween candy.

Rowdy redhead headed for the bigtime

When Donkeys FLY!

Sorry to be out of the loop, my dear DL-ers, but has Holiday made any kind of public appearance or done any kind of performing work at all on stage or screen in the past decade? Her last film credit on IBDB is 2010 and last tv credit 2004. Whereas Lavin and Weston keep chugging along, and even Diane Ladd will do a photo op. Tayback, Howland, McKeon are all dead.

There's not so much as a photo online from the past 5 years that I can find. You'd think she'd do a benefit for her Polly Holliday scholarship or a clips-and-chat retro evening or walk a red carpet or something. Where does she live?

She was also the inspiration for one of the most creative DL threads ever, and that's saying something. Some of these still make me howl.

I believe she has dementia/Alzheimer's, r16. I saw her in Marco Polo Sings a Solo.

Big Mama

Oh it's a Polly Holliday with Mary!

No wonder that it's Mary that we love!

hiss my tits!

Is she dead to us? I just watched the episode of Golden Girls where she plays Rose's sister, and as usual, I wondered why Rose's sister has a mild Southern accent. I looked her up on Wikipedia, and it says that she died today, 8.27.23.

I can't find anything on the news sites. Is she telling Saint Peter to kiss her grits, or does she still crawl across the skin of this world?

Absolutely loved her in All the President's Men, as the snarky secretary who makes Carl Bernstein wait all day in a municipal office lobby to talk to an informant (played by the always-great Ned Beatty). Her white skirt, crazy-patterned blouse and southern accent are all magnificent. You can just feel the awful, southern anti-semitism oozing out of her as she mis-pronounces Bernstein's surname. Perfectly played. She made it look easy.

Why is this thread grayed out, BTW?

R22 I was thinking the same thing. OP has the red 'troll' signature. Weird.

Polly and Dustin Hoffman were apparently friends. He wanted her for Doris Belack's role in Tootsie.

R24 Doris Belack made my life a living hell for a short while

Okay, you *can't* give the set up, but not the conclusion. Do tell!

Someone needs to find out if she's really dead. I nominate R21

I have returned her to life.

R28 Glad you felt the spirit

I just deleted her death date again from her Wikipedia because somebody had changed it to say she died today.

A friend of mine's mom belonged to a church. Polly Holiday was also a member. They were planning some kind of fundraiser, and it was suggested one of the ladies approach Holiday to use her celebrity to help.

My friends mom nervously approached her after services. "Excuse me, are you Flo?" Polly was FURIOUS. "Ah am NOT Flo!" And she turned on her heel and stalked off. So much for that idea!