Days following a premature announcement, Tanya Roberts passed away on Monday, Jan. 4 at the age of 65. The star’s spokesperson, Mike Pingel, confirmed her death in a statement.
“Her 18-year domestic partner Lance O’Brien received the phone call from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center last night at their home confirming her passing,” the statement read, adding that Tanya’s “cause of death was from a urinary tract infection, which spread to her kidney, gallbladder, liver and then bloodstream.”
For now, this seems to be not related to COVID. Her representative said the actress had not tested positive for coronavirus, however, Lance told NBC News in a phone interview that she may have been experiencing symptoms related to COVID-19. He also described his life partner as “the epitome of health and vitality.”
Lance also told NBC News that Tanya went to the bathroom around 4 a.m. PST and collapsed on the floor. “She felt like dead weight,” he mentioned when describing that he was trying to lift her up. After getting her a pillow and some water, he called 911.
“I didn’t think this would be the last time I was going to be seeing her,” he expressed, “I didn’t think it was that serious.”
Lance said doctors asked him to come to the hospital because it was an “end of life situation.” During his visit, Lance told the outlet he saw Tanya’s “eyes rolled into the back of her head and she passed out.”
When asked by NBC News why he didn’t confirm Tanya’s death with medical staff earlier, Lance explained, “They told me it was end of life. I was shaken up.” Despite the mix-up, Lance made it clear that the hospital staff was not at fault for the false report. But he noted the entire situation “was a terrible, terrible experience.”
According to Lance and Mike, an online memorial for Tanya is currently in the works. At this time, “The family asks for privacy as they mourn her death.”
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