While the entertainment world mourns the loss of Kelley Mack, the gifted actress who graced screens in The Walking Dead, it is through the heartfelt tributes of her family that a truly intimate portrait of her life emerges. Beyond the glare of the studio lights was a devoted screenwriter, a cherished creative partner, and a beloved daughter and sister whose passing at age 33 has left a void filled only by memories of her boundless creativity and quiet strength.

Kelley passed away peacefully on August 2 in her hometown of Cincinnati, following a private battle with a rare central nervous system glioma. At her side were her mother, Kristen, and her aunt, Karen, ensuring she was, as her family described, “surrounded by love” in her final moments.

In the days since, her family has chosen to remember not the illness that took her, but the vibrant life she lived. Her sister, Kathryn, shared a powerful and raw tribute that captured both the pain of her loss and an immense pride in her sister’s courage. “She was a bright, fervent light… the most brilliant and radiant person,” Kathryn wrote, adding a poignant note that Kelley had “already come to many of her loved ones in the form of various butterflies,” a symbol of transformation and peace that the family now holds close.

With unfiltered love, Kathryn also shared an insight into her sister’s incredible fortitude: “And as her sister, I want you all to know how brave that tough SOB was, especially when she decided to make the leap to be reunited with God. I’m so f—ing proud of her.”

This strength was nurtured in a family unit grounded in shared creative interests. Kelley’s bond with her mother, Kristen Klebenow, extended beyond the traditional parent-child relationship into a professional collaboration. Together, the mother-daughter duo co-wrote several feature-length screenplays, weaving stories as a team. One such project, titled On The Black, was a 1950s-era college baseball story deeply rooted in their own family history, inspired by her maternal grandparents’ time at Ohio University. This partnership reveals a side of Kelley that audiences never saw: a dedicated writer with a passion for bringing historical and personal narratives to life alongside the person who knew her best.

The spirit of artistic camaraderie was a cornerstone of the Klebenow household. Kelley’s younger brother, Parker Mack, is also a successful actor, known for his roles as Finn Madill in Chasing Life and Felix Turner in MTV’s Faking It. Having both started their careers at a young age, the siblings shared the unique experience of navigating the pressures of Hollywood. Their relationship was one of mutual encouragement, a private support system built on a shared artistic language and a family environment that valued imagination and emotional depth above all else.

The family’s grief has been expressed through a lens of love and faith, with tributes that are both heartbreaking and comforting. Her aunt, Karen, shared a moving message on Instagram, envisioning a peaceful reunion for Kelley. “I am sad in my heart as my niece Kelley left this world to hang out with my mom and dad in heaven. Way too young. She is a beautiful soul and will be the best angel ever,” she wrote. Poignantly, she connected Kelley’s passing to family milestones, adding, “I guess she wanted to go wish my dad happy birthday and Gramma and Grandpa Fish happy anniversary in person… They are having a fun time I am sure.”

These tributes paint a picture of Kelley Mack that is far richer than any filmography could convey. She was described by her family as gentle, radiant, and full of purpose. Her strength throughout her illness was, in their words, “nothing short of extraordinary.” While the public knew her as Addy from The Walking Dead or for her appearances in Chicago Med, her family knew her as a collaborator, a confidante, and a brilliant light.

Kelley is survived by her parents, Kristen and Lindsay Klebenow; her sister, Kathryn; her brother, Parker; and her grandparents, Lois and Larry Klebenow. A remembrance gathering is scheduled for August 16 in Glendale, Ohio, with a larger celebration of her life to be held in Los Angeles, the city where she pursued her dreams with passion and grace. Her family’s memories ensure that while her time was short, the story of Kelley Mack is one of enduring love and a creative spirit that will never fade.