Actress Kelley Mack, beloved for her roles in The Walking Dead and 9-1-1, tragically passed away at 33 in Cincinnati after a private battle with glioma, leaving fans and colleagues heartbroken over the loss of a rising star who faced her illness with remarkable courage and grace.

Actress Kelley Mack, best known for her memorable roles on hit series like The Walking Dead and 9-1-1, has tragically passed away at the age of 33, her family confirmed this week in a heartfelt public statement.

Mack died in her hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio, following a quiet and private battle with glioma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer that affects the central nervous system.

Her family’s statement, released on Monday, August 4, 2025, described her passing as peaceful and surrounded by close loved ones. “Kelley fought with grace and courage.

She wanted her final chapter to be private and surrounded by the people who truly knew and loved her,” the statement read.

The news has shocked the entertainment industry and devastated fans, especially those who followed her breakout role as Addy in The Walking Dead’s ninth season, where her character’s strength, vulnerability, and tragic ending left a lasting mark on the series’ fanbase.

She also appeared in multiple episodes of 9-1-1, where she portrayed a recurring guest character that resonated deeply with audiences.

Her talent, combined with a quiet but compelling on-screen presence, had made her a rising name in television drama.

Despite her growing profile, Mack remained intensely private about her personal life and health.

According to those close to the actress, her diagnosis came in early 2023, but she chose to keep her condition out of the public eye in order to continue working and avoid becoming a “story about illness.”

Friends say she continued to audition, act in smaller indie projects, and even volunteer at local theater programs in Cincinnati well into her treatment.

“She never wanted to be pitied,” said a former co-star who worked with her on The Walking Dead. “Even when she was tired or in pain, she showed up to the set with more energy and heart than any of us. She gave everything to her work. Everything.”

Born on June 15, 1992, Kelley Mack began acting in short films and local theater in Ohio before relocating to Los Angeles in her early twenties.

Her early work included appearances in indie films and guest roles on various TV shows, gradually building a resume that would eventually lead her to AMC’s The Walking Dead—a role she once described as “a dream and a turning point.”

In a rare interview in 2021, Mack spoke candidly about her desire to represent complex, flawed, and deeply human characters.

“I want people to see themselves in the roles I play—not perfect people, but real people, struggling and surviving,” she said. “That’s where the beauty of storytelling lives.”

The news of her death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from fans and colleagues. Angela Kang, former showrunner of The Walking Dead, posted on social media: “Kelley was a gentle powerhouse. Her work, her kindness, and her light will never be forgotten.”

Mack’s final on-screen appearance is expected to be in an upcoming indie drama Quiet River, which wrapped filming in late 2024. The film’s director has confirmed plans to dedicate the project to her memory, calling her “the soul of the film.”

In lieu of flowers, Mack’s family has asked for donations to be made to glioma research foundations and local arts education programs—two causes she supported passionately.

Though her time in the spotlight was brief, Kelley Mack leaves behind a legacy of emotional authenticity, artistic dedication, and quiet strength. As one fan wrote in tribute, “She didn’t need the lead role to steal a scene. She carried stories in her eyes.”

Her funeral will be held privately in Cincinnati later this week.

A public memorial is reportedly being planned for later this year in Los Angeles, where friends, fans, and industry peers will gather to celebrate the life and talent of an actress who gave everything to the stories she told—and left far too soon.