Kirstie Alley Kirstie Alley is an American actress and spokesmodel from Wichita , Kansas , who made her feature film debut playing Saavik in . For her performance in this film , Alley was nominated for a Saturn Award by the Academy of Science Fiction , Fantasy & Horror Films . She was offered the chance to reprise the role in , but according to Alley , she was offered less money for that film than she was paid for " Star Trek II " and thus declined to return . According to Leonard Nimoy , Alley ' s talent agent demanded a salary that was higher than DeForest Kelley ' s after learning that Saavik was to have a large role in the film . It was also reported that " " Just before production began , negotiations with Kirstie Alley broke down . [ . . . ] The " Los Angeles Times " indicated the problem concerned money with Alley asking 10 times the salary she earned on " Star Trek II " . [ . . . ] Alley ' s representative , Michael Levine , agreed that the problem was financial , but refused further details . " " ( " " # 77 , , p . 15 ) After an intensive casting search , Nimoy opted instead to recast the role of Saavik , which was ultimately given to Robin Curtis . In a later interview , Alley reported wanted to reprise the role , but Paramount wasn ' t willing to pay what she was asking , which according to Alley was " " less money then they did for " Star Trek II " , so I figured they weren ' t very interested in me for Saavik . " " This , combined with the commitment of a co - starring role in the TV pilot " Masquerade " for ABC , forced Alley to bow out of the role . ( " " # 102 , , p . 43 ) Upon viewing " The Search for Spock " , Alley found the film an enjoyable but unnerving experience , as she came to the realization that of Curtis ' as Saavik , " She wasn ' t me " . Sympathizing with Curtis , however , Alley revealed that " I thought she was at a real disadvantage playing the role someone else established , especially with " Star Trek " , which has an enormous following . I think she did a fine job . I have no problem with what she was doing except that , when I saw the film , I said , ' She isn ' t Saavik . " I " am . " " ( " Starlog " # 102 , January 1986 , p , 43 ) When it was revealed that there would be an upcoming , and yet untitled , " " , Alley said that she would gladly join the crew if she was asked , " " I would be very interested in doing " Star Trek IV " , I really liked playing Saavik . It was my first role and I feel a certain allegiance to her . But they ' ve said noting to me about it . " " ( " Starlog " # 102 , January 1986 , p , 44 ) Career . Television . Alley is perhaps best known for her Emmy Award - winning role as on the long - running NBC comedy television series . She played the role for six seasons , from 1987 through 1993 , during which time she received an Emmy Award and four Emmy nominations . She also received a Golden Globe and three Golden Globe nominations . Her co - stars on " Cheers " included Kelsey Grammer , Bebe Neuwirth , and Paul Willson . Alley was the only living " Cheers " star who did not appear on Grammer ' s spin - off series , " Frasier " ( though Grammer was one of four cast members to make a cameo appearance when Alley hosted " Saturday Night Live " in 1991 ) . She did , however , appear as Rebecca in a 1993 episode of " Wings " , a series which starred Steven Weber . Alley is also known for starring as Veronica Chase in the NBC comedy series " Veronica ' s Closet " , for which she received nominations from the Emmy Awards , the Golden Globes , and the Screen Actors Guild Awards . Wallace Langham was a regular on this series , which ran from 1997 through 2000 . In 1983 , Alley starred in the short - lived TV series " Masquerade " . She then appeared in her first TV movie , 1984 ' s " Sins of the Past " , with John Anderson , Roger Aaron Brown , and Kim Cattrall . The following year , she starred as journalist Gloria Steinem in the TV movie " A Bunny ' s Tale " , again working with " Star Trek II " cinematographer Gayne Rescher . Alley starred in the 1985 mini - series " North and South " ' and its 1986 follow - up , " North and South , Book II " , in which she played Virgilia Hazard , the sister of the characters portrayed by s Jonathan Frakes and guest actor James Read . Other actors who appeared in the two " North and South " mini - series include John Anderson , Lee Bergere , Michael Champion , Mary Crosby , Kate McNeil , Jim Metzler , Mark Moses , Leon Rippy , Bumper Robinson , Maurice Roëves , William Schallert , Kurtwood Smith , Jean Simmons , David Ogden Stiers , and Anthony Zerbe . Alley was nominated for a CableACE Award for her performance in the " Out of the Night " episode of " The Hitchhiker " , which aired in 1985 . She returned to the series in 1987 in an episode with Brad Dourif . In addition , Alley won an Emmy Award for her performance in the 1994 CBS TV movie " David ' s Mother " , which co - starred Chris Sarandon . She was also nominated for an Emmy Award for her work in the 1997 CBS mini - series " The Last Don " . Her co - stars on this production included Seymour Cassel , John Colicos , Cliff DeYoung , and Mike Starr . Alley also starred in the 1998 sequel , " The Last Don II " . Joseph Sargent directed Alley in the 2002 TV movie " Salem Witch Trials " , in which Alley portrayed Ann Putnam . In 2004 , Alley guest - starred on the CBS drama series " Without a Trace " , on which Enrique Murciano is a regular . In 2005 , Alley attempted to capitalize on her much - publicized weight problems as the creator , executive producer , and star of the Showtime pseudo - reality series , . Alley was also seen on " Dancing With the Stars " hosted by Tom Bergeron . Films . After " Star Trek II " , Alley appeared in such films as " Champions " , " Blind Date " , and the science fiction thriller " Runaway " with Judi Durand , all of which were released in 1984 . " Blind Date " ( not to be confused with the 1987 comedy starring Bruce Willis , Kim Basinger , and John Larroquette ) is a thriller which featured an early appearance by Marina Sirtis , who became a regular on TNG three years later . " Runaway " was photographed by John A . Alonzo and composed by Jerry Goldsmith . In the late 1980s , Alley starred in such films as the 1987 comedy " Summer School " ( with Ken Olandt ) , the 1988 thriller " Shoot to Kill " ( with Clancy Brown ) , and the 1989 romantic comedy " Loverboy " . In the latter , Alley portrayed a doctor hoping to get even with her husband , also a doctor , for cheating on her . Her husband was played by Robert Picardo , who later starred on " Voyager " . Vic Tayback also appeared in this film . Alley had her greatest success in films with the 1989 comedy " Look Who ' s Talking " and its sequels , " Look Who ' s Talking Too " ( 1990 ) and " Look Who ' s Talking Now " ( 1993 ) . Also in 1989 , she and John Larroquette played a married couple in the comedy " Madhouse " ( released the following year ) , and in 1990 , Alley and Scott Bakula played a married couple in the comedy " Sibling Rivalry " . Alley ' s other film credits include " Village of the Damned " ( 1995 ) , " It Takes Two " ( 1995 ) , " Deconstructing Harry " ( 1997 ) , " For Richer or Poorer " ( 1997 , with Ethan Phillips and John Pyper - Ferguson ) , and " Drop Dead Gorgeous " ( 1999 , starring Kirsten Dunst ) .