Alice Cast Then and Now (2023)

The Alice cast, starring Linda Lavin and many other memorable names, is likely the secret to this sitcom's successful 9-year run. But a lot has changed since the series ended in 1985. Today, we're taking a look at the Alice cast then and now to see how they've changed through the years.

00:00 - Intro
0:17 - Charles Levin as Elliot Novak
1:22 - Celia Weston as Jolene Hunnicutt
2:26 - Philip McKeon as Tommy Hyatt
3:32 - Diane Ladd as Belle Dupree
4:36 - Polly Holliday as Florence 'Flo' Jean Castleberry
5:42 - Beth Howard as Vera Gorman
6:47 - Vic Tayback as Mel Sharples
7:53 - Linda Lavin as Alice Hyatt

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Polly Holliday left the show to star in her own spin-off series, Flo. In the episode airing February 24, 1980, Flo leaves to take a hostess job in Houston. On the way to Houston, Flo stops at her hometown Fort Worth, Texas (which she refers to by its moniker "Cowtown"). Flo decides to buy and run a failing roadhouse bar there, which she renames Flo's Yellow Rose. Polly Holliday never made a guest appearance on Alice after beginning Flo, although flashback including Flo were shown in the final episode of Alice. Vic Tayback made one guest appearance on Flo.

Diane Ladd, who received an Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of Flo in the film version joined the cast in 1980 as Isabelle "Belle" Dupree, a hard-edged but kind-hearted woman. She had been a waitress of Mel's in the past, during which the two had a romantic relationship. Despite Ladd's Golden Globe-winning performance as Belle, the character was not retained for the duration of the series and was replaced early in 1981, the character making one last appearance in which she telephones the diner to inform everyone that she had taken a job as a backup singer in Nashville, Tennessee. It has been said that Ladd clashed with her co-stars, and no flashbacks including Belle were shown during the series' final episode.

Theatre actress Celia Weston then joined the cast as the good-natured, boisterous truck driver Jolene Hunnicutt, who came from Myrtle Point, South Carolina. Jolene arrives as she and her male driving partner are in the midst of an argument over his unwelcome advances, during which she throws and breaks many of Mel's dishes. Mel agrees to hire her "temporarily" to work off the cost of the dishes, but she stays until the end of the series. Jolene frequently mentions her grandmother, "Granny Gums", who had only three or four teeth. Jolene also mentions her distant relative Jefferson Davis "Boss" Hogg, a character from the concurrent CBS series The Dukes of Hazzard. In one episode Sorrell Booke guest stars in this role, along with fellow Dukes character Enos (Sonny Shroyer).

The latter years of the show focused on some character development, such as the hasty courtship and marriage of Vera and lovable cop Elliot (Charles Levin). Tommy eventually goes to college and is seen less frequently. The final story arc began in the spring of 1985, when country singer Travis Marsh (played by Lavin's real-life husband Kip Niven), discovering that he's falling for Alice, "kidnaps" her to take her to Nashville, telling her it's time to follow her dream there. Bewildered at the thought of her dreams finally coming true, Alice agrees, but not without extracting a promise from Travis to drive her back to Phoenix so she can get her affairs in order, including ending her current relationship with a writer.

In the series finale, which aired March 19, 1985, typical of sitcoms of the era, news of several life-changing events is revealed within a matter of minutes. After 9 years of trying, Alice finally gets a recording contract and is moving to Nashville with Travis Marsh. Vera announces she is pregnant and decides to be a full-time mother, Elliott having been promoted from officer to detective. Jolene's "Granny Gums" dies and leaves her enough money to open her own beauty parlor in her hometown. Besides all three waitresses suddenly leaving simultaneously, by an amazing coincidence Mel has just sold the diner for a large amount of money to a real-estate developer and must close within days. On closing day, he surprisingly gives each waitress a $5,000 farewell bonus. The remainder of the episode shows flashback to humorous and major events, and many of the big stars who had appeared on the show, including Polly Holliday. Finally, while cleaning out her locker, Alice finds the "Waitress Wanted" sign that first drew her to the diner. The series' regular customers, including Henry, Chuck, and Earl, say their emotional farewells, followed by Elliot, and finally the principal characters Tommy, Jolene, Vera, and Alice. The last thing we see is Mel putting up the "Closed" sign and locking up.

[davidclark]

Love the show back then a good 9 years stretch. Still watch it at 2:00 in the morning enjoy every minute of it. Good comedy at its best simply awesome.

[dsw]

This show was one of my favorites as a very young kid. In the 70s the show was great ….1980 and afterwards it “jumped the shark“. One of the absolute best theme songs ever. The first season opening and closing theme were musically brilliant. The following seasons not so much. Linda Lavin is just fantastic.

[wisheduknew]

Such a good show. I sure do miss it. Watch it when I can in re-runs. They just don’t make shows like this anymore! Classic. A few are gone but many are still alive from this show! I love Flo, Alice! I wished I knew what happened to Tommy. I guess it’s really none of our business but I just wonder.

[bobholmes]

I have watched all 9 seasons countless times. I start watching Alice with my parents and siblings when the show premiered. I was 9 years old. I love the show to this day. Sad that most of the stars are gone especially Tommy!

[catherinestgermain]

One of my favorite tv series! Love all the characters in this tv series! They still look great!

[Kathleen-rhmc]

Rest in peace Linda Lavin, our "Alice".

[SOCORROSILVA-inpx]

I remember seeing every single episode of "Alice" very much when I was much younger and boy did I enjoy watching it very much.
Now that I am an adult I can see it whenever I am confined to staying at home during this quarentine as much as possible.
Please think positive daily. ©®
April 05, 2021 @ 1:35 pm ©®

[carloslatorre]

I love this show. That is right, the good old days for sure.

[jimjohnson]

I hadn't remembered that so many of the cast had passed away. RIP

[laurabentzinger]

Wonderful still one of my very favorite shows. It's amazing how great they all look I'm only 55 and I'm pretty sure a couple of the ladies look way better than I do ah it gives me hope for my future 😊 Anyway this was cool thank u

[FortyBlack]

My friend was just talking about this show, I couldn't relate because I was a baby then lol

[riadanabtawi]

It was a good show.
I am 75 now . I was much younger watching this show.

[fredrodnick]

The guy that used to eat there and always made jokes about the food had a distinct voice. I am pretty sure he did cartoon characters years before. I would say he was on the top cat cartoon.

[georgemaster]

Linda is now on the sitcom B Positive on CBS.Was that Peter Marshall in the last scene with her?

[JR-ezzd]

Alice like so many TV shows was based on a movie! It was called Alice doesn't live here anymore. Vic Tayback was the only one who appeared in the movie playing that character! Adam West wasn't the only one who played a superhero in TV.
And appeared in that show! The actor who played Captain America 🇺🇸 in TV also appeared in it! I did see the 🎥
The Last Full Measure! Sadly two Lagendary actors made their last movie appearances!!
Four of those actors have passed away!!!! This is a bitter sweet moment to remember.
One last thing Marvin Kaplin who played Henry was in a true
made for TV movie called MURDER IN THE FAMILY in which he plays a chilling murderer who escapes from prison along with another prisoner.

[DaveHunter]

Linda Lavin passed away, before New Year's Eve 2024.

[heathbarker]

I often wondered how Linda Lavin got her own show, she could not act or sing and she surely was not funny. It was the other members of the show that made it a pretty good show.

[beatorres]

Linda Levin didn't know how to sing 😮I loved the show though

[reginabeasley]

I stopped watching this when Polly holiday left as the show wasn’t spunky afterwards

[donnagriffis]

Fol was The best one. On. The. Show