Actress Kelley Mack, remembered for portraying Hilltop resident Addy during season nine of “The Walking Dead,” has died at 33 in her hometown of Cincinnati after a seven-month fight against diffuse midline glioma, a rare central-nervous-system cancer. Her family announced the Aug. 2 passing in an Instagram post, describing her as a “bright, fervent light” who faced treatment with remarkable resolve.
Born Kelley Klebenow, the actor studied screen acting at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts before earning a film degree from Chapman University in 2014. She appeared in series such as “Chicago Med” and “9-1-1,” accrued 35 acting credits and produced five shorts, several made in partnership with her mother.
Mack shared her diagnosis publicly last September, using social media and a CaringBridge journal to chronicle surgeries and rehabilitation, efforts that drew praise from cancer-awareness advocates for their candor. According to relatives, she spent her final hours surrounded by her mother and aunt. A funeral service is scheduled for Aug. 16 in Ohio, with plans for a later celebration of life in Los Angeles.
Messages of grief have poured in from colleagues and fans: cast-mate Alanna Masterson called Mack “an incredible human” in the comments under the family announcement, while actor Gustavo Gomez wrote that her optimism “lifted every set.” Fan pages dedicated to the long-running AMC drama shared montage clips of Mack’s Hilltop scenes, noting her character’s defiant stand against the Whisperers.
Industry data show gliomas account for about 3 percent of primary brain tumors; experts say the diffuse midline subtype progresses swiftly and offers limited treatment windows. Health foundations echoed that awareness remains low and credited Mack’s openness with sparking new conversations about early screening.
