Polly Dean Holliday, born on July 2, 1937, in Alabama, is an accomplished actress with a rich background in theater and television.
She began her professional stage career in outdoor drama in North Carolina before joining the Asolo Repertory Company in Sarasota, Florida, where she became a long-time company member. During her initial residency, she appeared in a wide range of productions, including "The Way of the World," "Major Barbara," "As You Like It," "Look Back in Anger," "Joe Egg," "Candida," "The Subject Was Roses," "House of Blue Leaves," "Hay Fever," and "Free and Clear."
Polly made her off-Broadway debut in "Orphee" in 1964 and later appeared in New York productions of "Wedding Bond" and "The Girl Most Likely to Succeed." She made her Broadway debut in "All Over Town" in 1974, directed by Dustin Hoffman.
Her breakthrough role came in 1976 when she played the iconic character of Flo on the popular sitcom "Alice," earning her two Golden Globes awards and an Emmy nomination. She went on to star in the spin-off series "Flo" in 1980, which lasted only one season despite an Emmy nomination.
To avoid typecasting, Polly returned to her roots in theater, appearing in numerous productions on Broadway and in regional theaters, including "A Sense of Humor," "Black Coffee," "Arsenic and Old Lace," "The Glass Menagerie," "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," "A Quarrel of Sparrows," "Harvey," "Picnic," and "Marco Polo Sings a Solo."
Polly has also appeared in various films, including "The Catamount Killing," "W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings," "All the President's Men," "Gremlins," "Mrs. Doubtfire," "Mr. Wrong," "The Parent Trap," "Stick It," "The Heartbreak Kid," and "Fair Game."
In television, she has had recurring roles on shows such as "Private Benjamin," "The Client," and "Home Improvement," as well as guest spots on "Stir Crazy," "The Golden Girls," "Amazing Stories," "The Equalizer," and "Homicide: Life on the Streets."
