Robert Deal Alley: Kirstie Alley’s Father – Family, Life & Facts

Robert Deal Alley was a Kansas businessman who spent decades running a wholesale lumber company in the Wichita area. He’s best known as the father of Kirstie Alley, the Emmy-winning actress who starred in Cheers and Look Who’s Talking. Robert lived a long, full life — he passed away on April 14, 2023, just a few months before what would’ve been his 100th birthday, and only four months after Kirstie’s own death in December 2022.

While Kirstie was the family member in the spotlight, Robert’s story matters on its own terms. He was a World War II veteran, a community-minded businessman, a father of three, and a man who endured one of the most devastating losses a family can face — the death of his wife Lillian in a drunk-driving accident in 1981. His life tells us something about the roots that shaped one of television’s most memorable personalities.

Early Life and Background

Robert Deal Alley was born on November 6, 1923, in Augusta, Kansas, a small city about 25 miles east of Wichita. His parents were Clifford William Alley and Annabelle (Underwood) Alley. He grew up alongside his brother Fred Alley and sister Elizabeth Lietzke in a close-knit Midwestern family that valued hard work and community involvement.

Growing up in rural Kansas during the Great Depression and its aftermath shaped Robert’s work ethic and practical approach to life. Details about his education aren’t publicly available, but he came of age during a period when many young men from the heartland went straight from school into military service or the workforce.

When World War II broke out, Robert enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served during the war and carried the discipline and sense of duty from that experience into his civilian life afterward. After returning home, he settled in the Wichita area, where he’d go on to marry, raise a family, and build a business over the following decades.

Robert Deal Alley’s Family

On October 28, 1945 — shortly after the war ended — Robert married Lillian Maxine “Mickie” Heaton in Wichita, Kansas. By all accounts, the couple shared a strong partnership. They built their life together in the Wichita area, where Robert was establishing himself in the lumber industry and Lillian focused on raising their family.

Their marriage lasted 36 years, until Lillian’s tragic death in 1981. Robert never remarried. Later in life, he was surrounded by an extended family that included grandchildren and eventually 15 great-grandchildren — a testament to the large, connected family he and Lillian had started together.

Who Are Robert Deal Alley’s Children?

Robert and Lillian had three children:

• Kirstie Alley (January 12, 1951 – December 5, 2022) — The eldest and most famous of the Alley children. Kirstie was born in Wichita, Kansas, and went on to become one of the biggest television stars of the late 1980s and 1990s. She won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her role as Rebecca Howe on Cheers and starred alongside John Travolta in the Look Who’s Talking film series. She died of colon cancer at age 71.
• Colette Alley — Robert’s second daughter. Colette has lived a private life away from the entertainment industry. She remained close to the family and was listed among those who survived Robert at the time of his passing.
• Craig Alley — Robert’s son. Like Colette, Craig has kept a low public profile. He was also listed as a survivor in Robert’s memorial information.

Robert’s nephew, Bruce Lietzke (son of his sister Elizabeth), became a professional golfer who won 13 PGA Tour events during his career. Sports ran in the broader family, and Robert was reportedly a dedicated supporter of his nephew’s career from the sidelines.

The Tragic 1981 Car Accident

In 1981, the Alley family suffered a devastating loss. Robert and his wife Lillian were involved in a car accident caused by a drunk driver. Lillian was killed. Robert survived but lost the woman he’d been married to for 36 years.

The accident had a profound impact on the entire family, particularly on Kirstie. She’s spoken publicly about how her mother’s sudden death sent her into an emotional tailspin. In interviews over the years, Kirstie described turning to Scientology in the aftermath of the accident as a way to cope with her grief and to overcome substance abuse issues she’d been struggling with at the time.

Kirstie credited Scientology’s drug rehabilitation methods with helping her get clean, and she remained a devoted member of the Church of Scientology for the rest of her life. Whether one views that turn positively or not, the connection is clear: the 1981 accident that killed Robert’s wife also became a pivotal turning point in his daughter’s life and career. Kirstie landed her breakout role in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan just one year later, in 1982, as she channeled her recovery into her work.

For Robert, the loss of Lillian meant continuing on as a single father and widower. He never remarried, choosing instead to focus on his business, his children, and his growing extended family.

Career in the Lumber Industry

Robert Deal Alley built his professional career in the lumber business. He owned and operated Alley Wholesale Lumber, a company based in the Wichita, Kansas area. He ran the business for over 36 years, supplying lumber products to clients throughout the region.

Under Robert’s leadership, Alley Wholesale Lumber developed a reputation for reliability and customer service. It wasn’t a glamorous industry — wholesale lumber is unglamorous, physical work — but it provided a stable foundation for his family and made Robert a respected figure in the local business community.

Beyond the lumber yard, Robert was active in civic life. He held a lifetime membership in the Cosmopolitan Club, an international service organization focused on community betterment and charitable causes. He was also involved in local youth programs, including a children’s swim initiative called Kids Swim that provided swimming opportunities for young people in the area.

Robert’s business career may not have generated headlines the way Kirstie’s acting career did, but it reflected the same determination and consistency. He showed up, did the work, and built something lasting — values that Kirstie herself often attributed to her upbringing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Robert Deal Alley?

Robert Deal Alley was a Kansas businessman and U.S. Navy veteran best known as the father of actress Kirstie Alley. He owned Alley Wholesale Lumber in the Wichita area and ran it for over 36 years. He was born November 6, 1923, in Augusta, Kansas, and died April 14, 2023, at the age of 99.

How did Robert Deal Alley’s wife die?

Robert’s wife, Lillian Maxine “Mickie” Heaton Alley, was killed in a car accident caused by a drunk driver in 1981. Robert was also involved in the same accident but survived. The couple had been married for 36 years at the time. Lillian’s death profoundly affected the family, particularly daughter Kirstie, who has spoken about the event as a turning point in her life.

How many children did Robert Deal Alley have?

Robert and Lillian had three children: Kirstie Alley, Colette Alley, and Craig Alley. Kirstie became a famous actress, while Colette and Craig lived more private lives. By the end of his life, Robert also had numerous grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

When did Robert Deal Alley die?

Robert Deal Alley died on April 14, 2023, at the age of 99. His death came just a few months after his daughter Kirstie’s passing on December 5, 2022. Private funeral services were held through Dunsford Funeral Home.

Was Robert Deal Alley a military veteran?

Yes. Robert served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After completing his military service, he returned to the Wichita, Kansas area, where he married Lillian Heaton in 1945 and eventually built his career in the lumber industry.

Related Celebrities

• Kirstie Alley — Daughter, Emmy-winning actress known for Cheers and Look Who’s Talking
• Parker Stevenson — Former son-in-law, actor known for The Hardy Boys
• William True Stevenson — Grandson (Kirstie’s adopted son)
• Lillie Price Stevenson — Granddaughter (Kirstie’s adopted daughter)
• Waylon Tripp Parker — Great-grandson