John, 50, who co-starred with Kirstie in the Look Who's Talking comedy movie series, is leading a group of concerned co-stars, colleagues and even her ex-husband rallying to help the 49-year-old actress.

A fellow member of the Church of Scientology, he has offered Kirstie the services of a chef, dietitian and personal trainer to help regain her health.

"John has met with Kirstie to assure her that her career is not over and she's very much loved by him and her friends," says a close friend of his.

"He feels he has something to offer because he's been in the same position himself. There was a time when he let his weight soar, his career was in a slump and he became depressed. But he sought help and found a way to revamp his career, get into shape and become a happy person again.

"John and Kirstie are both Scientologists and are very good friends. Just like many others, John is concerned that she seems to have given up on her health and happiness.

"He's offered Kirstie the services of a personal trainer, cook and dietitian to help her get back in shape. But more importantly, he's reminded her that he and many others still love her and want to see her healthy and happy again.

"Even Kirstie's ex-husband Parker Stevenson, who split with her six years ago after 14 years of marriage, is very concerned and has offered his help and support.

When John first tried to approach Kirstie, she avoided him and made excuses to put off meetings, claiming she had plans she couldn't break. "When they finally met. John was shocked at how Kirstie looked and had to fight back tears," the friend reveals.

"She admitted that her family and even Parker have been worried. She said she felt alone and unhappy. "John suggested doctors and trainers, and offered staff to cook for her. He thought she should see a doctor to see if she had a medical condition that caused her to gain weight."

It's not as if Kirstie's lying in bed all day eating bonbons," John told the friend. "Something has to be the problem, and we have to do all we can to help."

US magazine Globe recently reported Kirstie had confided to a friend that her weight is 6.5kg. During her six-year reign as Rebecca Howe in Cheers, the 170cm-tall star weighed 57kg. Her weight yoyoed after the comedy hit ended in 1993, but she hit the TV screen again in 1997, lookng trim and terrific for her series, Veronica's Closet.

During her three tumultuous years as Veronica, Kirstie divorced Parker, took up with actor James Wilder, who was eight years her junior, then broke up with him just days before their planned wedding. The career and private life of the one-time cheerleader haven't reached the same heights since, with Kirstie focusing on being a great mother to the two children she adopted with Parker - William True, 11, and Lillie Price, 9.

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She recently lost a lucrative three-year TV commercial deal as the face of Pier 1 Imports home furnishings, replaced by Thorn Filicia from Queer Eye For The Straight Guy.

Sources say Kirstie became depressed when she felt her career had stalled and she had no man in her life. Last May she went public about her desire to marry again, although she's kept quiet on the subject recently and has been equally silent about acknowledging her weight problem.

'Not long ago if you talked to Kirstie about losing weight, she would snap back that she is perfectly happy the way she is," says a close friend.

"She would tell you that the last thing on her mind was trying to find another husband because she has been hurt so much in the past by men.

"But now Kirstie obviously isn't happy with her life, and she has freely admitted she would like to be married again. She has become depressed and her friends are worried.

"Because John Travolta has been in a similar situation himself he decided he wanted to help her," the friend adds. "John told Kirstie that when he realised he had to lose weight he began a fitness routine of weights and cardiovascular exercises rather than dieting. He succeeded in losing 11 kg.

"They have been great friends for years, and John believes Kirstie will listen to his concern. She has promised him that she will pay attention to his suggestions."

It seems the pep talk has already had a positive impact. Last week a revitalised Kirstie returned to her home town of Wichita, Kansas, for a benefit performance to raise funds to restore the city's historic movie theatre.

Titled Kirstie Alley's Wild Ride, the multimedia show called on the help of musicians, singers and a chorus of actors to tell the highs and lows of Kirstie's career, framed around a Scientology doctrine called the Emotional Tone Scale.

"Everybody goes up and down the scale - that's not the problem," Kirstie told a Wichita reporter.

"The problem comes when a person is chronically angry, hateful or invalidating. It can destroy your life... "I don't want to give advice. I just want to say, 'This is what I've done'."

"Kirstie has had her own demons in the past, but she has always had the courage to battle back and come through," says her friend. 'Now she needs help herself and her friends are determined to see that she gets it.

"Her new, more positive attitude gives us all hope that she'll succeed."