The late Kirstie Alley was a well-known animal lover, and in addition to her beloved dogs, she also kept some slightly more unconventional pets at her LA home.
The Cheers star died aged 71 following a ‘battle with colon cancer’ that she only ‘recently discovered’, her children announced on Monday.
The actress and devout Scientologist lived a wacky life at her grand 1930s villa in the hills of Los Feliz – where she housed monkeys, 14 lemurs and flocks of wild birds who she had special licenses for.
Wacky: The late Kirstie Alley was a well-known animal lover, and in addition to her beloved dogs, she also kept some slightly more unconventional pets at her LA home including 14 lemurs (pictured together)
Back in 2016 during an appearance on The Meredith Vieira Show she opened up about how she needs a man that loves her furry friends just as much as she does.
She said: ‘Lemurs are one of the few primates that you can actually bring little kids, anybody in, and they will sit on your lap and you’re safe
The beauty then quipped: ‘I need a man who loves the monkeys!’
Pets: The actress and devout Scientologist lived a wacky life at her grand 1930s villa in the hills of Los Feliz – where she housed monkeys, 14 lemurs and flocks of wild birds who she had special licenses for
She went on to explain: ‘I started out having lemurs because they are a great animal, and I was very interested in conservation in Madagascar where they are from and saving rainforests and forests.
‘It’s actually really easy in Los Angeles, because the climate is almost identical. And then I just fell in love with them.’
Many tributes poured in for Kirstie after her death including form close friend Jessica Alves, 39.
Tragic: The Cheers star died aged 71 following a ‘battle with cancer’ that she only ‘recently discovered’, her children announced on Monday
The pair bonded when they both appeared on Celebrity Big Brother back in 2018 and spent time in Italy together after the show.
Jessica said of her animals as she spoke to MailOnline after her sad death: ‘She might have been a big Hollywood star but she was very down to earth and wise.
‘However, she did show me pictures of all the monkeys and wild birds she had at her house in LA. She had to have a special licence for them but she loved animals.
‘She really was a special lady and I am absolutely devastated to hear of her passing – my heart goes out to all her loved ones.’
Candid: Back in 2016 during an appearance on The Meredith Vieira Show she opened up about how she needs a man that loves her furry friends just as much as she does (her lemur Leo is pictured)
After Kirstie’s death animal rights nonprofit organization PETA paid tribute to her.
They said in a Tweet: ‘From the smallest monkey to the largest elephant, Kirstie Alley appreciated every animal.
‘She fought for a future without animal experiments or marine park captivity. Her desire to improve the world for every species will leave a lasting impact. Rest in peace.’
She even took one of her pet lemurs through airport security once.
Exotic: One of her pet birds is pictured in a cage in her living room
Kind: In February this year she also revealed that she adopted a squirrel and nursed it back to health for six months after it fell from a tree
She explained in an old interview: ‘When one [of my lemurs] was a baby, I was taking her [through the airport] and I fibbed and I said she was a cat.
‘So I had the little carrier and she was in there and I thought they’d just let me walk through. But they changed the rules, so they said, ‘You have to take your cat out, ma’am. So I was like, ‘Oh my God.’
In February this year she also revealed that she adopted a squirrel and nursed it back to health for six months after it fell from a tree.
Sharing a clip of the animal running around her home she penned in the caption: ‘He fell from a 40 foot palm tree when he was four weeks old.
Huge star: Alley’s breakout role as Rebecca Howe in the sixth series of Cheers in 1987 launched her to Hollywood stardom (front row, second from left)
‘He was very sick. I nursed him back to health for six months. He’s not releasable. Some are and some aren’t!’
Her devastated children William True, 30, and Lillie Price, 28, revealed her death in a statement on Monday.
They added that she had only ‘recently discovered’ the cancer. It is not yet known which type she suffered.
‘We are sad to inform you that our incredible, fierce and loving mother has passed away after a battle with cancer, only recently discovered.
‘She was surrounded by her closest family and fought with great strength, leaving us with a certainty of her never-ending joy of living and whatever adventures lie ahead,’ her children said in a statement.
Alley’s breakout role as Rebecca Howe in the sixth series of Cheers in 1987 launched her to Hollywood stardom.
Loss: Kirstie was last pictured during an Instagram video on September 8 as she touted for work on Cameo
