Getty Tanya Roberts
1/5 UPDATE: TMZ has updated its previously updated post to reveal that Tanya Roberts has, in fact, died.
Tanya’s domestic partner, Lance O’Brien, received a call from the hospital on Monday night stating that Roberts had died. TMZ reported that her likely cause of death was a urinary tract infection that spread to her liver and kidneys, complicated by Hepatitis C, but an autopsy has not yet been performed. According to the outlet, she tested negative for coronavirus several times while in the hospital.
1/4 UPDATE: TMZ has reported that Tanya Roberts has not died. Her rep made a mistake.
TMZ’s update revealed that despite the fact that Roberts’ representative told the outlet that the actress died and even sent out a press release on the subject, she is still alive.
The rep, identified as Mike Pingel, previously told TMZ that Tanya’s husband, Lance, had informed him that she was dead.
Then, around 10 a.m. on Monday, Pingel told TMZ that Lance received a call from the hospital stating that Roberts was alive. They added, “… Lance truly believed Tanya had died.” In fact, according to the outlet, friends and family have stated that Lance called them to inform them of Roberts’ death.
The circumstances of Roberts’ previously presumed death are unclear at this time.
This is a developing story and will be updated with more information as it becomes available.
Tanya Roberts, a 1980s film star who appeared on That ’70s Show as Donna Pinciotti’s mom, has died, according to a report from TMZ.
Roberts’ reps told the outlet that she was walking her dog on Christmas Eve when she returned home and collapsed. “She was taken to the hospital and put on a ventilator but never got better,” TMZ reported. She died on Sunday, January 3, and no cause of death was reported.
TMZ added Roberts’ reps said her death was not COVID-related.
“In the days leading up to her collapse, we’re told Tanya appeared perfectly healthy … even doing video chats for her fans,” TMZ wrote.
She is survived by her husband, Lance, and her sister, Barbara Chase.
Here’s what you need to know about the actress:
Roberts Was a Bond Girl
Roberts, who was born Victoria Leigh Blum, according to IMDb, made her film debut in the horror film Forced Entry. She played Stacey Sutton in the James Bond film A View to a Kill and, according to CharliesAngels.com, she beat out 2,000 young hopefuls for the role.
She also portrayed Midge Pinciotti in That ’70s Show.
According to Showbiz CheatSheet, the Bronx-born actress modeled for brands like Excedrin, Clairol, Ultra Brite and Cool Ray sunglasses as an up-and-coming name in the world of entertainment. She also acted off-Broadway in Picnic and Antigone before booking a role in the drama Fingers in 1978.
One year later, she booked the movie Tourist Trap.
Her other credits include The Beastmaster, Sins of Desire, Deep Down, Night Eyes, Almost Pregnant and Favorite Deadly Sins. Her IMDb profile includes 41 acting credits between 1976 and 2005.
As a model, Roberts posed for Playboy and a number of TV commercials, according to her official website. Her most recent credit was the role of Ellie Palmer in the TV series Barbershop in 2005. Before that, she played Rebecca in one episode of the TV series Eve, preceded by 81 episodes of That ’70s Show from 1998 to 2004, according to IMDb.
She Was a Golfer & Animal Lover
According to an interview with Mike Pingel for CharliesAngels.com, Roberts was a wife, golfer and animal lover.
Asked what is something fans wouldn’t know about her, she shared, “I love to golf! Have been golfing for over two years. The only thing I hate is putting. I hear that Cheryl Ladd also is an avid golfer, I would love to play with her.”
The actress was married to her husband, actor and writer Barry Roberts, from 1974 until his death in 2006. They did not have any children together. A June article in Us Weekly revealed that she left That ’70s Show in 2001 “due to the declining health of her husband.” He died in Los Angeles.
During her interview with Pingel, Roberts said, “We have been together over 20 years. I’m not really sure, we don’t celebrate anniversaries. I feel it only leads to divorce. Barry and I are best pals. We’re both physical people and have similar interests. Yet, Barry does not like golf!”
She added that her favorite project was 1984’s Sheena.
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