Emmy-award-winning actress Kirstie Alley made her final TV appearance in April, dressed as an adorable pink Baby mammoth on The Masked Singer.
The sudden passing of the 71-year-old actress was made on Monday, stating that Kirstie had passed after a short battle with cancer.
Her final appearance, on the US version of the Fox singing competition, was made before her diagnosis earlier this year.
With a rendition of Walkin’ After Midnight by Patsy Cline, the Cheers actress wowed the audience with her debut during season seven of the hit reality show.
Receiving a standing ovation from before the judges and audience, the giant pink elephant was an immediate hit.
Sadly, Kristie was unmasked only a week later after receiving the fewest votes from panellists after going head-to-head with Shaggy – who was dressed as a space bunny.
Despite being a household name though, the judges struggled to identify the voice behind the fuzzy pink elephant.
Hangover star Ken Jeong thought that Walk The Line actress Reese Witherspoon was behind the fuchsia costume.
Meanwhile, fellow judge Nicole Scherzinger suggested the elephant could have been chef and TV personality Rachel Ray.
Even musician and judge Robin Thicke struggled, arguing that the fuzzy elephant was Kristen Dunst – who had actually appeared alongside Kristie Alley and Denise Richards in 90s cult film Drop Dead Gorgeous.
With all the clues they were given, only judge Jenny McCarthy was able to guess Kristie’s true identity correctly.
As the Look Who’s Talking actress revealed face, she and host Nick Cannon discussed why she was so eager to appear on the show.
She joked: “I've done a lot of things in my career, but I've never gotten to be in the circus…”
Still dressed in the bottom half of her fluffy costume, the Golden Globe winner said that it was her beloved grandchildren who inspired her to take part.
She told the audience: “I have grandchildren and they're really young, so they are going to think this is good…”
Kristie has two children, William, 30 and her daughter Lillie 28, whom she adopted with her second husband Parker Stevenson.
Though the pair split in 2000, they have three young grandchildren.
Speaking about his former spouse, after her death was announced on Monday, Parker Stevenson thanked the actress for their children.
In a memorial post on Instagram, he wrote: “Dear Kirstie, I am so grateful for our years together, and the two incredibly beautiful children and now grandchildren that we have.”
“You will be missed. With love, Parker.”
Tributes were also paid by the actress’s Cheers co-star Kelsey Grammer, as well as her close friend John Travolta.
In a loving tribute on Instagram, the Grease actor wrote in the caption: “Kirstie was one of the most special relationships I’ve ever had.”
“I love Kirstie. I know we will see each other again."
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