Kelley Mack’s career: the film and television work that defined the star lost to glioma

Actress Kelley Mack, best known for her role as Addy in AMC’s The Walking Dead, has died at the age of 33 on August 2 following a battle with glioma, a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer affecting the central nervous system.

Her family confirmed the news in an emotional statement posted on Instagram:

“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.”

Rise of Kelley’s career

Born Kelley Lynne Klebenow on July 10, 1992, in Cincinnati, Mack began her journey in front of the camera as a child, acting in commercials.

While many fans knew her from The Walking Dead, where her character was abducted by the Whisperers in Season 9, her artistic contributions spanned a wide range of projects in television, film, and even animation.

Her television credits include appearances in 9-1-1, Chicago, and Schooled, the spinoff of Modern Family. On the indie film circuit, she starred in titles such as Broadcast Signal Intrusion opposite Harry Shum Jr., Mr. Manhattan, and Universal, a yet-to-be-released feature in which she also served as executive producer.

Behind the camera

Mack was a creative force behind the scenes as well. Her 2016 short film A Knock at the Door, which she produced, won the Festival Award at the Atlanta Horror Film Festival and was nominated for two FilmQuest awards. She wrote, directed, and edited the short film Positive in 2005, and previously worked as a cinematographer on The Kingdom (2014).

She also ventured into voice acting, contributing as a match voice for Gwen Stacy, the character played by Hailee Steinfeld in the Oscar-winning animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

A memorial service will be held on August 16 at the Glendale Lyceum in Glendale, Ohio, near her hometown. A separate celebration of her life is also being planned in Los Angeles by friends and collaborators in the film industry.