'Walking Dead' actress Kelley Mack's death was 'unexpected'

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Despite being diagnosed with cancer, Kelley Mack’s death came as a shock to her loved ones.

A representative for the actress, who played Addy on Season 9 of The Walking Dead, told PEOPLE that she was still auditioning for roles up until very recently and they were “totally surprised” by her death last week. 

“We had no idea the turn it took and it was very unexpected,” the rep added.

TMZ reported that Mack, 33, took a break from auditioning in early July, with her rep telling the outlet, “no one expected” her to die.

Mack’s death was announced in a post on her Instagram account.

“It is with indelible sadness that we are announcing the passing of our dear Kelley. Such a bright, fervent light has transitioned to the beyond, where we all eventually must go,” read a message shared with Mack’s more than 14,500 followers on Instagram.

According to an online obituary, Mack, who was born Kelley Klebenow, died on Aug. 2, after battling glioma, a type of cancer that attacks the central nervous system.

After undergoing initial treatments earlier this year, Mack was reportedly making a “nice recovery.”

But a source tells TMZ that her cancer returned “out of nowhere,” and spread through her body in recent weeks. They said she had a “quick end.”

Mack regularly updated fans on her health. Back in January, she revealed her glioma diagnosis telling her followers she hoped her fight would be “a short chapter in my long book.”

In March, she shared another hopeful post, saying, “This journey has not been easy, but things are getting better – improvements are tough to see when you’re in the thick of it.”

In addition to her work on The Walking Dead, Mack played Penelope Jacobs in Season 8 of NBC’s Chicago Med and booked a role on Fox’s 9-1-1.

Mack’s obituary also noted her commercial work, with parts in ads for Dr Pepper, Ross Stores, Budweiser, Eli Lilly, Dairy Queen, Chick-fil-A and Hyundai.

She also was a voice match for Hailee Steinfeld’s Gwen Stacy in 2018’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

Her big-screen work included roles in 2021’s Broadcast Signal Intrusion, 2024’s Delicate Arch and the soon-to-be-released Universal, which she also executive produced.

“Her vibrant spirit, creative passion and dedication to storytelling left an indelible mark on those who knew her and the audiences she captivated through her work,” her family said.

mdaniell@postmedia.com