Florence Jean Castleberry
Encyclopedia
Florence Jean Castleberry , better known to all as "Flo", is a fictional character in the movie Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
, the subsequent television series, Alice
, and that show's spinoff, Flo
. In the movie, Flo was played by actress Diane Ladd
(who would later play Flo's replacement, Isabelle Amanda Dupree
on the TV series), and on the television series, she was played by Polly Holliday.
) and Velma Castleberry (Sudie Bond). In many ways, Velma had been a raucous woman herself; and that was how Flo became who she was. She also had three younger brothers Jimmie Joe (Burton Gilliam
),Lonnie (G.W. Bailey),Rhett (Robert Ayers
) and a younger sister named Fran (Lucy Lee Flippin
).Jimmie Joe fell madly in love with Alice in the episode of "Alice", "Love Me, Love My Horse".Lonnie and Rhett appeared in an episode of "Flo", "A Castleberry Thanksgiving". Fran and Flo were opposites in every way. Where Flo was outgoing and graceful, Fran was introverted and clumsy. Fran, who worked at the Department of Motor Vehicles, was forever engaged to a feed store worker named Wendell Tubbs. Whilst in Cowtown, Flo had worked as a waitress, and was considered one of the best.
Her best friend in Cowtown was a woman named Miriam Willoughby (Joyce Bulifant
).
Flo dropped out of school at age 16 to get married. After three extremely unsuccessful marriages, (all three were in front of Justices of the Peace, she said that those three quickies didn't seem to take) Flo became a waitress at Mel's Diner in Phoenix, Arizona
, a roadside diner run by one Mel Sharples
.
She was the old-hand waitress and took on a motherly role when Alice Hyatt
came to Phoenix and began to work for Mel. Although she and Vera Louise Gorman-Novak
got along, she didn't know what to make of her, as she was shy and clumsy, much like her sister Fran would become. She also flirted with many of the male customers, mostly to annoy Mel.
Flo and Mel had an adversarial relationship. They respected one another, but Flo wouldn't stand for Mel's sexism and greed. Whenever she was angry at him, which was often, she would often floor him with her famous catchphrase, "Mel, kiss mah grits!!!" Other expressions she used most often were, "When donkeys fly!!!" and "You bet your sweet patoot!"
Sometimes, Flo would get insanely jealous over male attention being given to other people. She was jealous of her boyfriend, Sy, working with a female trucker named Toni, so she tried to learn to drive a semi herself, with the unwilling help of Alice, whose late husband, Donald, was a semi-driver. All Flo succeeded in doing was driving the semi right through the front of the diner, infuriating Mel who went after her.
Alice and Flo were best friends. She also liked Alice's son, Tommy Hyatt
, whom she called "Tiger".
After several years at the diner, Flo left Phoenix, to take a hostessing job at the Thundering Herd restaurant in Houston, Texas
, but stopped back in Cowtown and bought a roadhouse from her girlhood days, renaming it Flo's Yellow Rose.
On Flo, her main adversary was the tightwad banker, Farley Waters, who held the mortgage on Flo's Yellow Rose. He absolutely hated her, and she hated him and his shenanigans as well. She got on somewhat well with the bartender, Earl Tucker, who called her senorita, although she could also be annoyed by him, because he didn't much like working for a woman, however he did make a go of it. The only others whom she did easily get on well with, was Les Kincaid, the learned piano player; Miriam, who worked at the Yellow Rose with her friend; and Randy, the mechanic from the garage across the street from the Yellow Rose.
In one of the later episodes of Flo, Mel himself made a visit to Cowtown, to see how Flo was getting on running her own business and to meet her family and friends. Mel was the only character from Alice who had made a visit to Flo.
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore is a 1974 American drama film directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Robert Getchell. It stars Ellen Burstyn as a widow who travels with her preteen son across the American Southwest in search of a better life, along with Alfred Lutter as her son and Kris...
, the subsequent television series, Alice
Alice (TV series)
Alice is an American sitcom television series that ran from August 31, 1976 to July 2, 1985 on CBS. The series was based on the 1974 film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. The show stars Linda Lavin in the title role, a widow who moves with her young son to start her life over again, and finds a job...
, and that show's spinoff, Flo
Flo
Flo is an American sitcom which aired on CBS from 1980 to 1981. The series is a spin-off for Polly Holliday who portrayed the sassy and street-smart waitress Florence Jean "Flo" Castleberry on the sitcom Alice...
. In the movie, Flo was played by actress Diane Ladd
Diane Ladd
Diane Ladd is an American actress, film director, producer and published author. She has appeared in over 120 roles, on television, and in miniseries and feature films, including Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore , Wild at Heart , Rambling Rose , Ghosts of Mississippi, Primary Colors, 28 Days , and...
(who would later play Flo's replacement, Isabelle Amanda Dupree
Belle Dupree
Isabelle Amanda Dupree better known as Belle, was a fictional character in the television series Alice. She was played by actress Diane Ladd who, incidentally, played the character of Flo in the movie Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, on which the television show was based.-She "moves like the waves...
on the TV series), and on the television series, she was played by Polly Holliday.
Character biography
Florence Jean Castleberry was born in the small community of Cowtown, Texas, to Edsel Jarvis (Forrest TuckerForrest Tucker
Forrest Tucker was an American actor in both movies and television from the 1940s to the 1980s. Tucker, who stood 190 cm tall and weighed 93 kg , appeared in nearly 100 action films in the 1940s and 1950s.-Early life:Forrest Meredith Tucker was born in Plainfield, Indiana, a son of...
) and Velma Castleberry (Sudie Bond). In many ways, Velma had been a raucous woman herself; and that was how Flo became who she was. She also had three younger brothers Jimmie Joe (Burton Gilliam
Burton Gilliam
Burton Gilliam is an American actor.-Career:Prior to acting, Gilliam was a member of the Coast Guard's boxing team and reportedly posted a record of 201 wins out of 217 fights during his enlistment. Gilliam was credited with winning more Golden Gloves bouts than anyone in its history at that time...
),Lonnie (G.W. Bailey),Rhett (Robert Ayers
Robert Ayers
-Denver Broncos:Ayers was drafted by the Denver Broncos as the second one of their two first round picks at 18th overall of the 2009 NFL Draft. On August 4, 2009, Ayers signed a five-year contract with $9.7 million guaranteed. In his rookie season he recorded 19 tackles and no sacks...
) and a younger sister named Fran (Lucy Lee Flippin
Lucy Lee Flippin
Lucy Lee Flippin is an American film and television actress. She is best known for her performance as Eliza Jane Wilder on the TV series Little House on the Prairie. She also played Fran Castleberry, the sister of Polly Holliday's character on the show Flo...
).Jimmie Joe fell madly in love with Alice in the episode of "Alice", "Love Me, Love My Horse".Lonnie and Rhett appeared in an episode of "Flo", "A Castleberry Thanksgiving". Fran and Flo were opposites in every way. Where Flo was outgoing and graceful, Fran was introverted and clumsy. Fran, who worked at the Department of Motor Vehicles, was forever engaged to a feed store worker named Wendell Tubbs. Whilst in Cowtown, Flo had worked as a waitress, and was considered one of the best.
Her best friend in Cowtown was a woman named Miriam Willoughby (Joyce Bulifant
Joyce Bulifant
Joyce Bulifant is an American television actress, notable for her sunny "little girl"-like Southern lilt of a voice. She was a frequent panelist on the television game show Match Game, more often than not giving bizarre answers that seldom matched the contestants.-Life and career:Bulifant was born...
).
Flo dropped out of school at age 16 to get married. After three extremely unsuccessful marriages, (all three were in front of Justices of the Peace, she said that those three quickies didn't seem to take) Flo became a waitress at Mel's Diner in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, a roadside diner run by one Mel Sharples
Mel Sharples
Melvin Emory Sharples is a fictional character in the 1974 film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore and the television sitcom series, Alice. The character was played by the late Vic Tayback, who reprised his movie role for the television show.- The man with the Spatula :Melvin Emory Sharples was born...
.
She was the old-hand waitress and took on a motherly role when Alice Hyatt
Alice Hyatt
Alice Hyatt is a fictional character in the movie Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore and in the subsequent television remake Alice. In the movie, she was played by Ellen Burstyn, who won an Academy Award for the role...
came to Phoenix and began to work for Mel. Although she and Vera Louise Gorman-Novak
Vera Louise Gorman-Novak
Vera Novak was a fictional character in the long-running television series Alice. She was played by actress Beth Howland.-The "Dingy":Vera was the only original waitress besides Alice who lasted all of the show's run...
got along, she didn't know what to make of her, as she was shy and clumsy, much like her sister Fran would become. She also flirted with many of the male customers, mostly to annoy Mel.
Flo and Mel had an adversarial relationship. They respected one another, but Flo wouldn't stand for Mel's sexism and greed. Whenever she was angry at him, which was often, she would often floor him with her famous catchphrase, "Mel, kiss mah grits!!!" Other expressions she used most often were, "When donkeys fly!!!" and "You bet your sweet patoot!"
Sometimes, Flo would get insanely jealous over male attention being given to other people. She was jealous of her boyfriend, Sy, working with a female trucker named Toni, so she tried to learn to drive a semi herself, with the unwilling help of Alice, whose late husband, Donald, was a semi-driver. All Flo succeeded in doing was driving the semi right through the front of the diner, infuriating Mel who went after her.
Alice and Flo were best friends. She also liked Alice's son, Tommy Hyatt
Tommy Hyatt
Tommy Hyatt is a fictional character in the film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore and the television sitcom Alice. Tommy was played by Alfred Lutter in the movie and the television series pilot. Throughout the rest of the series, he was played by Philip McKeon.-Alice's pride and joy:Tommy was the...
, whom she called "Tiger".
After several years at the diner, Flo left Phoenix, to take a hostessing job at the Thundering Herd restaurant in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, but stopped back in Cowtown and bought a roadhouse from her girlhood days, renaming it Flo's Yellow Rose.
On Flo, her main adversary was the tightwad banker, Farley Waters, who held the mortgage on Flo's Yellow Rose. He absolutely hated her, and she hated him and his shenanigans as well. She got on somewhat well with the bartender, Earl Tucker, who called her senorita, although she could also be annoyed by him, because he didn't much like working for a woman, however he did make a go of it. The only others whom she did easily get on well with, was Les Kincaid, the learned piano player; Miriam, who worked at the Yellow Rose with her friend; and Randy, the mechanic from the garage across the street from the Yellow Rose.
In one of the later episodes of Flo, Mel himself made a visit to Cowtown, to see how Flo was getting on running her own business and to meet her family and friends. Mel was the only character from Alice who had made a visit to Flo.