Kelley Mack’s Inspiring Journey and Sudden Farewell
It’s hard to imagine watching Kelley Mack as Addy on The Walking Dead without thinking about her energy and fire. At just 33, she lost her fight with glioma, a tough brain tumor, leaving the entertainment world a little dimmer. She died peacefully at home in Cincinnati on August 6, 2025, with those closest to her by her side.
Kelley, whose real name was Kelley Lynne Klebenow, faced a whirlwind few months after doctors found the tumor. She kept friends and fans updated on her journey—from the tough days in hospital to the small wins, like learning to walk again after treatment. None of it was hidden; she put her struggle out in the open. It was raw, honest, and, for many, deeply relatable. Through it all, she cheered on others going through the same thing, turning her battle into a source of hope.
Acting was in her blood, even as a little kid. She took on everything from short films to big TV dramas, never shying away from tough roles. The breakout came in 2018, when she joined The Walking Dead for a five-episode run. Addy wasn’t just another survivor; she was a sign of hope and grit to fans. After that, Kelley popped up in episodes of Chicago Med (as recently as 2022) and 9-1-1, all while working on indie projects and shorts. Her final project, a movie titled Universal, is due out this year—one last chance for audiences to see her in action.
A Life Remembered Beyond the Screen
Kelley was way more than an actress, though. Her family and friends called her a ‘bright, fervent light.’ Any set she walked onto, you knew she was there. She was the kind of person who could make nervous extras feel seen, or turn an exhausting night shoot into something everyone remembered. Her family says that her enthusiasm—infectious is the only word that fits—drew people in, whether they were co-stars, directors, or just someone passing through a scene.
Now, her family is making sure people have room to remember and celebrate what she gave. On August 16, folks in Ohio will come together to share stories, laugh, and maybe cry a little. Then, in LA, the city she called home for almost a decade, another memorial is on the horizon. Neither one will be somber. Her family says Kelley would want it that way—full of life, just like she was.
She leaves behind her parents, Kristen and Lindsay Klebenow, siblings Kathryn and Parker, her grandparents, and her boyfriend, actor Logan Lanier. Every one of them described her legacy as one that lives on through her work and the people she inspired to be a little braver and a little louder in chasing what they love. For anyone who knew her, watched her, or followed her journey—whether on screen or through her honest updates about fighting cancer—she won’t be forgotten.
