Hollywood is mourning the loss of another actress from The Parent Trap.
Years after Natasha Richardson’s tragic death, another star from the hit film has passed away.
Known for her scene-stealing role in the 1998 remake and her long career in TV and film, she is a big loss to the industry.
Lindsay Lohan - who played twins Hallie and Annie in The Parent Trap - has taken to social media to pay her respects, hailing the veteran actor as a "beautiful woman".
Remembering a beloved performer
Polly Holliday, the Alabama-born performer whose sharp wit and Southern charm made her one of television’s most beloved figures. Holliday, best known for her role as Flo on Alice and appearances in Mrs. Doubtfire and The Parent Trap, died at her Manhattan home on September 9 following complications from pneumonia. She was 87.
Holliday’s passing was confirmed by her longtime agent and friend Dennis Aspland, who told The New York Times she had faced several health challenges in recent years. Tributes soon poured in from colleagues and fans alike.
Director Nancy Meyers, who cast Holliday as camp director Marva Kulp Sr. in The Parent Trap (1998), wrote on Instagram: “So sad to hear of her passing. She was so kind and game and just wonderful in every moment on set. She was fantastic in that film. My condolences to her loved ones and friends.”
Lindsay Lohan, who starred in the beloved Disney remake, shared her own tribute in the comments section: “Oh my goodness. What a beautiful woman inside and out. God bless and RIP.”
Co-star Lisa Ann Walter, who played housekeeper Chessy, added: “I just realized it was her in that film. She was wonderful. RIP.”
From Alabama to stardom
Born in Jasper, Alabama, in 1937, Holliday’s road to fame began far from Hollywood. After earning a degree in piano from Alabama State College for Women (now the University of Montevallo), she taught grade-school music before discovering her passion for acting.
Her big break came in the 1970s when she joined the CBS sitcom Alice as Florence Jean “Flo” Castleberry, a sassy waitress with a heart of gold. Flo’s catchphrase, “Kiss my grits!”, became an instant pop culture sensation, earning Holliday three Emmy nominations and two Golden Globe Awards.
“We’d eat at truck stops, and there would always be a waitress like Flo,” she once said. “It was just a way to make everybody’s day happier.”
A versatile and lasting career
Beyond Alice, Holliday made her mark in film and theater. She appeared in the political thriller All the President’s Men (1976), Gremlins (1984) (for which she won a Saturn Award) and later as Robin Williams’ nosy neighbor in Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), per SFGate. In The Parent Trap, her warmth as the compassionate camp director made her a standout, even with limited screen time.
On television, Holliday guest-starred in The Golden Girls as Rose’s blind sister and had a recurring role on Home Improvement as Jill Taylor’s mother. On Broadway, she earned a Tony nomination in 1990 for her performance as Big Mama in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
Despite her fame, Holliday remained humble and deeply connected to her roots. She never married or had children, once telling PEOPLE: “Work is my life.” In 2000, she was inducted into the Alabama Stage and Screen Hall of Fame for her lifelong contribution to the arts.
Her final screen appearance came in 2010’s Fair Game, capping a career that spanned five decades.