Originally appeared on E! Online
Viewers watched Kelley Mack's character Addy fight off zombies on The Walking Dead. But little did the actress know, she’d be in a whole new kind of fight just a few years later.
Kelley—also known as Kelley Klebenow—died Aug. 2 after a battle with a cancerous tumor known as glioma of the central nervous system, her family recently announced. She was 33 years old.
The voiceover artist announced in January that she was diagnosed with diffuse midline glioma, which she explained was "an extremely rare" type of astrocytoma cancer.
However, Kelley had started experiencing symptoms months before her diagnosis.
"In September, I moved into a new apartment with my boyfriend, Logan," she recalled in a Jan. 3 Instagram post. "For a month after that, I had persistent lower back pain and thought I slipped a disc. A few weeks later, I had neuropathic itching in my right quad. And then, the shooting pains in my legs and back began, which resulted in me having to sleep in a recliner for a month because laying down was too painful."
Then, "on Thanksgiving Eve," Kelley continued, "I had emergency MRIs done at the hospital, which revealed an abnormal mass in my spinal cord."
PHOTOS Celebrity Deaths: 2025's Fallen Stars
Following the biopsy surgery on her spinal cord, she lost use of both her right leg and most of her left—leading her to use a walker and wheelchair.
As Kelley embarked on this new journey, she was thankful to have the love and support of her family and boyfriend, who were there “every second of the process.”
"It has been a very emotional and challenging time, truly testing my mental fortitude, faith, and physical strength," she added. "They are so positive and we have a sense of calm knowing that my healing is taking place and we will overcome.”
After moving from Los Angeles back to her home state of Ohio, Kelley began radiation on January 13.
"First day of proton radiation [check]," Kelley wrote on Instagram at the time. "24 more sessions to go.”
Over the next few months, she shared updates on her journey, including her physical therapy sessions. And in March, Kelley announced she finished radiation treatment—uploading a video of her ringing the bell.
"Overall, this journey has not been easy, but things are getting better," she wrote on Instagram March 14, "improvements are tough to see when you’re in the thick of it."
Kelley shared one of those improvements later that month by posting a video of herself relearning how to walk and going up the stairs.
"I’ve been up and down these stairs now 2x in the past few days," she captioned the March 26 clip. "It’s a big deal for me (Life has also had its ups and downs lately am I right lol)."
One of her final Instagram posts before her passing celebrated the premiere of her film Universal. And while Kelley’s work will live on—with other credits including Chicago Med, 9-1-1, Broadcast Signal Intrusion and several commercials—those who knew her best will also remember the person she was off-camera.
"Kelley was known for her warmth, creativity and unwavering support for those around her,” part of an obituary posted to CaringBridge read. "She cherished time with her family and friends, finding joy in collaboration and storytelling. Her infectious enthusiasm and dedication to her work inspired countless others in the industry and beyond.”
To look back at her life in photos, read on.
PHOTOS Kelley Mack of "Broadcast Signal Intrusion" during the 57th Chicago International Film Festival, 2021
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
