'That '70s show' star Tanya Roberts is still alive! Here is how 'dead' Bond actress came back to life
Tanya Roberts, best known for her roles in 'Charlie's Angels', 'That '70s show' and for being a Bond girl, had her obituary out in several leading news outlets like CNN and Entertainment Tonight. But reports of her demise turned out to be false. The news of her death came from her publicist Mike Pingel. In his statement, he had said: "I'm devastated, I've been friends with Tanya for over 20 years. She was full of energy and we always had a wild time together. She was truly an Angel and I will miss her so much." Roberts had been taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles on December 24, after she collapsed at her California home following a morning walk with her dogs.
Her 'death' was also confirmed by longtime boyfriend, Lance O'Brien, in an interview with 'Inside Edition'. He had said that Roberts was hospitalized and placed on a ventilator at Cedars Sinai Medical Center after collapsing at her home on Christmas Eve, but he was not able to be by her bedside until Sunday, January 3. "When she saw me and I was there, I saw her eyes open up," O'Brien revealed. "I felt good. I said, ‘Hey, her eyes are opening. Her eyes are opening.’ They told me that's just a reflex." O'Brien supposedly also called up friends of the family to inform them of the star's death.
However, it has now been reported that O'Brien got a call just after 10 am on Monday, January 4, from the hospital saying that Roberts was still alive. Robert's publicist Pingel has said that O'Brien truly believed Tanya had died. It is still unclear whether O'Brien had misunderstood what the hospital staff told him or if the hospital had actually told O'Brien Roberts was dead when she was not. Details about how the mix up happened are still expected.
Twitter users were quick to comment on the bizarre incident, especially since tributes had started coming in from co-stars and friends since her death was announced. "So, if you're at the hospital when your spouse "dies," isn't there, like, a procedure to be followed and paperwork to be filled out? Who just leaves and calls the media?," asked one tweet. Another had a ready conspiracy theory, saying "Maybe I watch too much Dateline but the police should be speaking to her husband ASAP on exactly how & when she collapsed. Her husband’s statements are very suspicious."
So, if you're at the hospital when your spouse "dies," isn't there, like, a procedure to be followed and paperwork to be filled out?
— Brooke Tunstall (@YesThatBrooke) January 4, 2021
Who just leaves and calls the media?
Maybe I watch too much Dateline but the police should be speaking to her husband ASAP on exactly how & when she collapsed. Her husband’s statements are very suspicious.
— Jay Dem (@JayDen5210) January 4, 2021
However, others were rejoicing about how 2021 was reversing the celebrity death trend of 2020. "2020: Year of death. 2021: People coming back to life. Welcome back, Tanya Roberts!" said one tweet while another, commenting on the news of Roberts being 'un-dead' said: "I have a feeling 2021 will be 2020 on acid". Another fan pinged Topher Grace who had written a moving tweet about her death to tell him, she was still alive.
2020: Year of death.
— DCO Nightingale (@DCONightingale) January 4, 2021
2021: People coming back to life. Welcome back, Tanya Roberts! pic.twitter.com/rwclYJTfNp
Topher, have I got some news for you!
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) January 4, 2021
She's alive! https://t.co/xvNh0roMq0 https://t.co/MjAygZUsOD
Publicist Pingel since the news broke has now told news outlets that though the information about Roberts' death was not correct, she still remains hospitalized. There is still no news about her current condition and if she is out of danger.