'That '70s show' star Tanya Roberts is still alive! Here is how 'dead' Bond actress came back to life

Tanya Roberts' publicist Mike Pingel said when her boyfriend Lance O'Brien had given him the news, he had truly believed the actress had died
UPDATED JAN 5, 2021
Tanya Roberts in 'That '70s Show' (IMDb)
Tanya Roberts in 'That '70s Show' (IMDb)

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."



 



 

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. 



 



 



 

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. 

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

John Oliver was bleeped out twice during his brief, 15-second Emmys acceptance speech on live television after he roasted host Nate Bargatze
Sep 15, 2025
Kevin Hart doesn't appreciate paparazzi’s question after viral video of him hosting Diddy’s party resurfaces
Apr 6, 2025
Diddy’s childhood friend Tim Patterson claims Janice Combs’s wild parties often involved pimps, homosexuals, and other adult activities
Apr 6, 2025
Lisa Marie Presley and Michael Jackson tied the knot in 1994, but she initially thought the King of Pop was a creep—and we totally get why
Apr 6, 2025
Riley Keough opens up about the Presley family curse in a candid interview while on tour for her book, 'From Here to the Great Unknown'
Apr 5, 2025
Natalie Morales hits back after her interview with Seth Meyers is removed from all platforms due to a revealing outfit
Apr 5, 2025
"Babyface, can you believe she wants me to dress like a girl?" Michael Jackson told a producer.
Apr 2, 2025
Sofia Vergara also dished out on why she doesn't ever want to play Modern Family's Gloria again
Apr 2, 2025
"It took more and more to get high, and I honestly don't know when your body decides it can't deal with it anymore," Lisa Marie Presley wrote.
Apr 1, 2025
A family member's last-minute intervention saved Michael Jackson from the 9/11 tragedy—here’s what happened
Apr 1, 2025