“9-1-1: Nashville” has paid tribute to late actress Isabelle Tate, who died at age 23 earlier this month.
A title card read “in loving memory” alongside Tate’s name at the end of Thursday’s episode.
Tate passed away on Oct. 19 from a rare form of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, per her talent agency, The McCray Agency.
The agency said she died “peacefully” and her family requested privacy as they dealt with the “sudden and shocking loss.”
The agency also included a link to donate to the CMTA, the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association.
According to that organization, “CMT is a rare multisystem, multiorgan disease that causes lifelong, progressive symptoms, including muscle weakness and atrophy in the arms and legs, sensory loss, and other complications.”
It often leads to challenges with balance, walking and hand use.
Per TMZ, the disease caused Tate to need a wheelchair.
The role on the ABC first-responder drama was Tate’s first major acting job. She filmed the pilot in June, four months before her death. She played a woman attending a bachelorette party.
Starring Chris O’Donnell, LeAnn Rimes and Hunter McVey, the show is the latest spinoff in the “9-1-1” franchise produced by Ryan Murphy, following fictional first responders in various cities. The flagship “9-1-1” is set in Los Angeles, starring Angela Bassett and Jennifer Love Hewitt, while “9-1-1: Lone Star” was set in Texas, starring Rob Lowe.
“9-1-1: Nashville” follows fire department Capt. Don Hart (O’Donnell) and other first responder characters, such as his long lost son, Blue (McVey).
“I was shocked to hear the news,” McVey, 26, told The Post in a statement. “I didn’t know Isabelle prior to filming, but I couldn’t have asked for someone better to work with on one of my first ever days on set.”
“After each take, we would get to exchange a couple words which were always supportive from her I got the pleasure of talking with her after the scene and she had such a great energy. You could tell she brought joy to a lot of people,” he continued. “I’m thankful I got a chance to work with Isabelle and that a part of her will live on forever in the pilot episode of 9-1-1 Nashville.”
He concluded by saying, “Prayers for her family.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
