The short answer
Kirstie Alley, the Emmy-winning star of Cheers and Look Who's Talking, was diagnosed with colon cancer that her family said had only recently been discovered. She was treated at a cancer center in Florida and died on December 5, 2022, at age 71. Her death drew attention to colorectal cancer screening.
Kirstie Alley was diagnosed with colon cancer that her family said had only recently been found.
Reports indicated the cancer was advanced by the time it was discovered.
She was treated at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida.
She died on December 5, 2022, at age 71, a short time after her diagnosis became known.
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The full explanation.
Who she was
Kirstie Alley was an Emmy-winning actress best known for her role as Rebecca Howe on the hit sitcom Cheers and for the Look Who's Talking films. A vivid, outspoken presence for decades, she was a familiar face to television and movie audiences. Her death in December 2022 came as a shock to many fans, in part because so few people knew she was ill — her colon cancer had been discovered only a short time before.
The diagnosis
Alley's family announced her death by saying she had been diagnosed with colon cancer that had "only recently been discovered." Public reports indicated the cancer was advanced by the time it was found, and that she had been receiving care at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida. She had kept her illness private, and news of the diagnosis and her death arrived together for most of the public.
Colon cancer — part of the group doctors call colorectal cancer — frequently causes no symptoms in its early stages. When it is found only after symptoms appear, it has often had time to grow, which is part of what makes this cancer so important to screen for.
The story
Because Alley kept her diagnosis private, the timeline of her illness was brief in the public eye. Her family described a short battle, and she died on December 5, 2022, at age 71, at her home in Florida. In their statement, her family thanked her medical team and spoke of her zest for life.
Her sudden death prompted an immediate public conversation, led by doctors and cancer organizations, about colorectal cancer and the value of screening. It was a reminder that even a cancer that can often be caught early may go undetected when symptoms are missed or screening is delayed.
What her story teaches
Kirstie Alley's story is a powerful case for paying attention to colorectal cancer, one of the most common cancers — and one of the most preventable. Its early symptoms, when they appear at all, can be easy to dismiss: a change in bowel habits, blood in the stool, ongoing abdominal discomfort, or unexplained weight loss. But early disease often causes no symptoms, which is exactly why waiting for warning signs is not enough.
The key tool is colorectal cancer screening. A colonoscopy can find cancer early and can even remove precancerous polyps before they ever become cancer — something few other screening tests can do. Stool-based tests are another option. Screening is generally recommended starting at age 45 for people at average risk, and earlier for those with a family history or other risk factors. Alley's death underscores how much can be gained by not putting it off. If you notice persistent changes, it is always worth checking general cancer symptoms with your doctor.
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The bottom line
Kirstie Alley was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer only shortly before her death in December 2022 at age 71. Her story is a clear reminder that colorectal cancer often causes no early symptoms — and that screening, which can catch this cancer early or even prevent it, is one of the most valuable steps you can take.
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Common questions
▸What kind of cancer did Kirstie Alley have?
She had colon cancer, part of the group called colorectal cancer. Her family said the cancer had only recently been discovered, and reports described it as advanced by the time it was found. She died in December 2022 at age 71.
▸How was her cancer found?
Public accounts indicate the cancer was discovered not long before her death, with reports linking it to symptoms she had noticed. Colon cancer often causes no symptoms in its early stages, which is why screening tests that can find it early — before symptoms appear — are so important.
▸What are the warning signs of colon cancer?
Possible signs include a change in bowel habits, blood in the stool, ongoing abdominal discomfort, unexplained weight loss, and persistent fatigue. But early colorectal cancer often has no symptoms at all, so these signs can appear only once the cancer has grown.
▸Why does screening matter so much for this cancer?
Colorectal cancer screening, such as a colonoscopy or stool-based test, can find cancer early and can even find and remove precancerous polyps before they turn into cancer. Because early disease often causes no symptoms, screening is one of the best tools for catching it in time. Screening is generally recommended starting at age 45 for people at average risk.
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