John Travolta has paid tribute to his former co-star and longtime friend Kirstie Alley following her death from cancer at age 71.

“Kirstie was one of the most special relationships I’ve ever had,” Mr Travolta said on Instagram on Monday night. “I love you Kirstie. I know we will see each other again.”

Ms Alley, an actress who got her big break as Rebecca Howe in the TV show Cheers, starred with Mr Travolta in the Look Who’s Talking movies, and both were members of the Church of Scientology.

Io Dodds has the details.

After the news that actress Kirstie Alley died, fans are flocking to an old clip of her and John Travolta dancing in a scene from 1989’s Look Who’s Talking.

Here’s the scene in question.

John Travolta is one of a number of friends and former costars remembering Kirstie Alley, whose death was announced on Monday.

“Kirstie was one of the most special relationships I’ve ever had,” he wrote on Instagram of his Look Who’s Talking costar, sharing old photos of the two together.

“I love you Kirstie,” he added. “I know we will see each other again.”

Kirstie Alley has died at the age of 71, according to her family.

Here’s their full statement on the matter, which was posted on Alley’s Twitter account on Monday.

Actress Kirstie Alley has died at the age of 71 following a battle with cancer, her family has announced.

Alley, best known for her role as Rebecca in Cheers, died surrounded by her family after treatment at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Florida, her family announced on Monday evening.

“Our mother’s zest and passion for life, her children, grandchildren and her many animals, not to mention her eternal joy of creating, were unparalleled and leave us inspired to live life to the fullest just as she did,” her family wrote on Twitter.

Graeme Massie is following the story for The Independent.