‘Walking Dead’ Actress Kelley Mack Dies at 33 – Details

Kelley Mack died on August 2, 2025, in Cincinnati, shortly after turning 33 on July 10. Her family shared the news on CaringBridge, a nonprofit health platform, and on her Instagram page in a statement written by her sister, Kathryn.

In a statement, Kathryn wrote that the actress “passed peacefully on Saturday evening with her loving mother Kristen and steadfast aunt Karen present,” calling her “a bright, fervent light” who “will be missed by so many to depths that words cannot express.”

On CaringBridge, the family said Kelley died after battling glioma of the central nervous system, a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer.

According to the Mayo Clinic, glioma begins in the brain or spinal cord and can form a tumor that presses on surrounding tissue. Some types grow slowly, while malignant ones spread quickly and can invade healthy brain tissue.

Besides Kathryn, Kelley is survived by her parents, Kristen and Lindsay Klebenow; her brother Parker; her grandparents Lois and Larry Klebenow; and her boyfriend, Logan Lanier.

A remembrance service will be held on August 16 at 1 p.m. at the Glendale Lyceum in Glendale, Ohio. A separate celebration of her life will be held in Los Angeles at a later date.

The actress was born Kelley Lynne Klebenow in Cincinnati. She later lived in Wyoming and Mt. Lookout, Ohio, and in Hinsdale, Illinois, where she graduated from Hinsdale Central High School in 2010.

In 2014, she earned a degree in cinematography from Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film. For the past 11 years, Kelley lived in Los Angeles, where she built a steady career in film and television.

Kelley was best known for playing Addy in “The Walking Dead” from 2018 to 2019. She also appeared in “Chicago Med,” “Broadcast Signal Intrusion,” and contributed to the crew of “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.” Her other credits include “9-1-1,” “The AM Archives,” “Vincent,” “Violet,” and “Universal.”

Away from her work, the actress publicly documented her illness on Instagram early this year. She explained that months of back pain and leg symptoms led to emergency magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans on Thanksgiving Eve, which revealed “an abnormal mass in my spinal cord.”

Kelley was later diagnosed with diffuse midline glioma, a rare form of astrocytoma. “Due to the biopsy surgery on my spinal cord, I have lost the use of my right leg and most of my left leg, so I now get around with a walker and a wheelchair,” she wrote on January 3.

Despite the diagnosis, she thanked her “supportive and loving family and boyfriend” and said the experience had brought her closer to God.

On January 13, Kelley began proton radiation treatment in Cincinnati, writing, “First day of proton radiation ☑️ 24 more sessions to go.” She compared the experience to filming a scene on a futuristic spaceship, a lighthearted remark that reflected her resolve to stay positive.

On February 1, Kelley shared that she was “feeling very positive overall” as she continued treatment. She highlighted spending time with her father, working on physical therapy, recording a voice-over for a national commercial, and receiving a visit from former baseball player George Foster.

On March 14, Kelley revealed that she had finished proton radiation treatment and was spending time in Florida with her loved ones. She noted that adjusting to a new environment was difficult, but credited their support for helping her stay grounded.

“Overall, this journey has not been easy, but things are getting better,” Kelley wrote, thanking supporters for “the support and prayers.”

Two weeks later, on March 26, she updated her online followers that she had been able to go up and down stairs twice in a few days, calling it “a big deal” and noting that recovery had been full of “ups and downs.”

Kelley is the latest TV star to pass away this month. Her death follows that of actress Loni Anderson, who died in Los Angeles on August 3, two days before her 80th birthday, according to her family and publicist.

“We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our dear wife, mother and grandmother,” Anderson’s family shared in a statement. Her publicist, Cheryl J. Kagan, confirmed that the actress died in a Los Angeles hospital after a “prolonged” illness.

Following the news of her death, actress Morgan Fairchild expressed her devastation on X, recalling her fond memories of working with Anderson on Bob Hope’s televised specials and a Christmas movie just two years ago.

Fairchild described Anderson as gracious and kind, and extended her condolences to Anderson’s husband, Bob Flick, as well as her children and grandchildren, whom she deeply adored.

Born on August 5, 1945, in St. Paul, Minnesota, Anderson became a television icon. Her acting credits include “Ladies of the ’80s: A Divas Christmas,” “My Sister Is So Gay,” “Love You More,” “Baby Daddy,” “A Night at the Roxbury,” “Stroker Ace,” and “All Dogs Go to Heaven.”

Among all her screen roles, she gained the most fame through her portrayal of Jennifer Marlowe on “WKRP in Cincinnati,” which aired from 1978 to 1982.

Her performance as the glamorous yet sharp-witted receptionist earned her two Emmy nominations and three Golden Globe nominations, redefining how women — especially blondes — were represented on TV.

In a 2021 interview with Fox News, Anderson reflected on her evolution as an actress and how she became known for her iconic blonde look.

She shared that she was originally a brunette but began experimenting with lighter hair after cameramen told her that her darker hair absorbed too much light. “And the lighter my hair got, the more work I got. Weird, right?” she said with a laugh.

When the “WKRP” pilot came along, Anderson explained that she was not yet fully blonde. According to her, series creator Hugh Wilson suggested they give her a Lana Turner-inspired look while making her “the smartest person in the room.”

The actress stated further, “I have to tell you that in ’78 that was unheard of. Girls now would say, ‘We can be glamorous and smart.’ But not in ’78. Those things just didn’t go together back then. Especially as a blonde.”

Anderson was determined to challenge the blonde stereotype. Initially, she hesitated to take the role, believing the character would be little more than decoration. However, Wilson and producer Grant Tinker reassured her that the part would have far more depth than she expected.

“I felt so instrumental that they listened to the concept of this glamorous person who could also be the smartest person,” she said. “And you know what? It was wonderful. I had a huge female following because of that. And that has always been one of my most treasured memories, knowing that it did have an effect on women.”

While she became known as a sex symbol, she chose not to resist it. “I never thought I would be Loni Anderson, sex symbol,” she admitted. “But I embrace it. I think I was lucky enough to have been able to play so many different things and sex symbol was a part of it. I took whatever my career threw at me.”

Even in her later years, Anderson’s passion for acting never wavered. “Actors never retire because we love it so much,” she said. “Comedy is my favorite. I’m always looking to do something different and comedy attracts me the most. I want to do something that challenges me.”

Off-screen, Anderson’s personal life drew significant attention. She was married four times. Her first marriage, to Bruce Donald Hasselberg in 1964, resulted in the birth of her daughter, Deidra, before their divorce in 1966.

She later married actor Ross Bickell in 1974, but the couple divorced in 1981. In 1988, she married actor Burt Reynolds, and they welcomed a son, Quinton, before their tumultuous marriage ended in a highly publicized divorce in 1994. In 2008, Anderson married Flick.

Her relationship with Reynolds was one of Hollywood’s most talked-about romances of the 1980s. In 2015, he reflected on their marriage, calling it a mistake and saying, “I should have known that you don’t marry an actress. That was a really dumb move on my part.”

In his memoir, “But Enough About Me,” he reportedly detailed their extravagant lifestyle, recalling that he once gave her a platinum American Express card with a $45,000 limit — and she maxed it out within half an hour. Despite their differences, they maintained a shared love for their son.

Anderson is survived by Flick, Quinton, Deidra and son-in-law Charlie Hoffman, grandchildren McKenzie and Megan Hoffman, stepson Adam Flick and his wife Helene, and step-grandchildren Felix and Maximilian. A private service will take place at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, according to Kagan.