Kelley Mack, ‘Walking Dead’ Alum, Succumbs to Brain Tumor at 33
Kai Montgomery: Look, I did not sign up for heartbreak, but here we are rolling out the red carpet for a sad sendoff.
This is about as uplifting as a zombie flick gone wrong. Kelley Mack, the actress best known for portraying Addy on season 9 of The Walking Dead, passed away on a Saturday evening at the age of 33. Family members confirmed in an Instagram announcement that she was surrounded by her mother and her aunt at the time of her death. Mack had been bravely battling glioma – a tumor that forms in the brain or spinal cord – for months before her final moments.
The news was first reported by TMZ and quickly picked up by entertainment outlets worldwide. According to the family’s post, Mack’s fight was marked by a fierce spirit and unwavering optimism, even as she faced overwhelming odds. Friends and co-workers remember her as a “bright, fervent light,” words that ring hollow against such a tragic outcome yet somehow capture her determination and joy on set.
Her career spanned more than three decades, beginning in the early 1990s. IMDb lists 35 acting credits and five producing credits to her name. Before she became Addy on The Walking Dead, she had guest spots on popular TV dramas like Chicago Med and 9-1-1. Those roles paid the bills, but her zombie apocalypse stint cemented her place in genre lore. Season 9 viewers saw her bring depth and vulnerability to a world overrun by the undead, making Addy a character fans still discuss online.
Mack’s resume didn’t stop at live action. She contributed a voice performance for Gwen Stacy (played on screen by Hailee Steinfeld) in the Oscar-winning animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. That movie remains a critical darling and box office juggernaut, and fans may not realize Mack’s talents played a part in its success. From TV dramas to blockbuster animation, she moved between mediums with enviable ease.
Her family’s Instagram tribute stressed the void left by her absence, writing that words cannot express the depth of loss felt by those who knew her. Colleagues posted black-and-white photos and personal anecdotes, underscoring how much she meant to people both on and off camera. Social media has been flooded with similar remembrances, from former roommates to makeup artists, each sharing how Mack’s warmth and humor helped them through tough days.
There you have it: another bright star dimmed too soon, courtesy of a disease that refuses to take a break for anyone, even a successful actress. And that, dear reader, is why we can’t have nice things.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
