Polly Holliday dead: The Parent Trap and Mrs Doubtfire star dies as tributes flood in

Comedy legend Polly Holliday, who found fame on the small screen playing waitress Flo in the iconic 1970s TV show Alice before hitting the big screen in movies such as The Parent Trap, Gremlins and Mrs Doubtfire, has died at the age of 88. Her theatrical agent Dennis Aspland confirmed she had passed away on September 9 but didn't reveal a cause of death.

Tributes flooded in for the star as the news broke with fans taking to Facebook to share their condolences and memories. "Polly Holliday's passing is a big loss. Her portrayal of Flo on Alice became an iconic part of TV history, and her career beyond that in theatre was just as impressive. She had such a memorable presence, and it's always sad when we lose legends like her. Hopefully, her work and contributions continue to be remembered and celebrated," one pondered. "My condolences to her family she brought people a lot of joy through her artistry," a second penned.

A third chimed in: "I definitely will never forget her as Miss Deagle from Gremlins. Hopefully, those monsters didn't have anything to do with her recent passing."

"Rest in peace, Polly Holliday. You gave us sass, Southern charm, and the unforgettable 'Kiss my grits!' - and we'll forever cherish every flip of that bleached-beehive and every zingy line at Mel's Diner. Thank you for making Flo a legend. You'll be greatly missed," a fourth penned.

"She was truly one of the most memorable TV characters of my childhood. "KISS my Grits" was a the tag line that everyone remembers and knows who said it," a fifth recalled.

Meanwhile a sixth wailed in all capitals: "NOOOOO, NOT FLO!!!! MEL, KISS MY GRITS!! LOVE THEM ALL!!!!"

Having found huge fame in Alice she left in 1980 to star in her own short-lived spin-off titled Flo. That only lasted a year but she worked continually on stage and screen.

She won the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress for her memorable role in Steven Spielberg's 1984 comedy Gremlins. She played the cantankerous Mrs Deagle who met an unfortunate end when the Gremlins interfered with her stairlift.

In Mrs Doubtfire in 1993 she played Gloria Chaney, the next door neighbour of the Hillard family who hired Robin Williams titular character as their nanny. For The Parent Trap in 1998 she co-starred with Lindsay Lohan playing the role of camp counsellor Marva Culp Sr. Her final film credit was Fair Game in 2010.

She also continued to work on TV with a memorable role as the blind sister of Rose Nyland (Betty White) in The Golden Girls amongst other parts.