Heartbreaking New Details On Death Of Actress Kelley Mack

Actress Kelley Mack, best known for roles in The Walking Dead and Chicago Med, was reportedly showing signs of improvement in her cancer battle before taking a turn for the worse right before her death, TMZ reported on Thursday (August 7).

Mack, 33, whose real name was Kelley Klebenow, reportedly experienced a "nice recovery" after undergoing treatment for the rare diffuse midline glioma in February before the cancer relapsed, spreading throughout her body in the weeks leading up to her death, according to a family source, who described the situation as a "quick end." The actress was reported to have spent an "immense" amount of time with loved ones during that span, having done some voiceover work last month.

Mack died in her hometown of Cincinnati last Saturday (August 20), according to a formal announcement shared on the health platform Caringbridge documenting her health journey, which included information on her upcoming life celebration scheduled to take place on August 16.

"It is with indelible sadness that we are announcing the passing of our dear Kelley," a Caringbridge blog post states. "Such a bright, fervent light has transitioned to the beyond, where we all eventually must go.

"Kelley passed peacefully on Saturday evening with her loving mother Kristen and steadfast aunt Karen present. Kelley has already come to many of her loved ones in the form of various butterflies 🦋 ❤️. She will be missed by so many to depths that words cannot express."

Mack initially noticed "persistent lower back pain" in October 2024 and her health issues progressed just before Thanksgiving, at which point she went to the emergency room and underwent an MRI that revealed "an abnormal mass" in her spinal cord. The actress was diagnosed with the rare diffuse midline glioma in January.

“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,” Mack wrote in a post shared on her Instagram account, having documented her health battle.

Mack shared a post in March showing herself "re-learning how to walk" during physical therapy, which including going up a set of stairs with support from a railing.

“Life has also had its ups and downs lately am I right,” Mack quipped.

Mack, who began her acting career in commercials as a child, played Addy in five episodes of The Walking Dead from 2018 to 2019 and Penelope Jacobs on Chicago Med for one episode in 2022. The actress was also credited for roles in the films Broadcast Signal Intrusion, Shot in the Dark, Mr. Manhattan, Delicate Arch and Universal, which was released earlier this year.