Polly Dean Holliday (July 2, 1937 – September 9, 2025) was an American actress renowned for her stage, television, and film work, particularly her iconic portrayal of the sassy waitress Florence Jean "Flo" Castleberry on the 1970s sitcom *Alice*.[1][3] Born in Jasper, Alabama, to truck driver Ernest Holliday and Velma Mabel, she began her career as a piano teacher before joining the Asolo Theatre Company in Sarasota, Florida, a classical repertory theater.[2][3] In 1972, she moved to New York City, appearing in plays like *Wedding Band* and the Broadway hit *All Over Town*, where she befriended director Dustin Hoffman.[1] Her breakthrough came on *Alice* (1976–1980), where her catchphrase "kiss my grits" became cultural shorthand for defiance. For this role, she won two Golden Globe Awards for Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries, or Television Film (1979, 1980) and received three Primetime Emmy nominations.[1][4] Holliday reprised Flo in the short-lived spin-off *Flo* (1980–1981), earning Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for Best Actress in a Comedy Series.[1][2] She later joined *Private Benjamin* (1983) as a temporary replacement and guested on shows like *The Golden Girls* (as Rose's sister Lily), *Home Improvement*, and *The Client*.[2][5] Film highlights include *All the President's Men* (1976), the villainous Ruby Deagle in *Gremlins* (1984, Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress), *Mrs. Doubtfire* (1993), *Moon Over Parador* (1988), *The Parent Trap* (1998), and her final role in *Fair Game* (2010).[1][2] On stage, she shone in Broadway revivals like *Arsenic and Old Lace* (1986), earning a Tony nomination as Big Mama in *Cat on a Hot Tin Roof* (1990) and starring in *Picnic* (1994).[2][3] Holliday also spoke at acting seminars. She passed away in 2025, leaving a legacy tied to Flo's enduring sass.[1]