That ’70s Show and Bond actor Tanya Roberts has died at a Los Angeles hospital following a bizarre series of events.
Roberts’ boyfriend, Lance O’Brien, told TMZ he received a call from the hospital on Monday night confirming that Roberts had died.
Fox News confirmed Roberts’ death Tuesday, and reported that she was originally hospitalized for a urinary tract infection that had spread to her surrounding organs.
On Monday, news outlets around the world reported that Roberts had died at age 65 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Several publications got independent confirmation of her death, and that it was not linked to COVID-19.
Her publicist and longtime friend, Mike Pingel, confirmed the then-erroneous news to media.
“I’m devastated, I’ve been friends with Tanya for over 20 years,” he said to CNN. “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.”
He said Roberts was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on Dec. 24 — more than a week ago — after she collapsed in her California home upon returning from a walk with her dogs.
According to multiple reports, the actor was put on a ventilator but never recovered.
In a Monday afternoon report from Inside Edition, it turned out that Roberts was actually alive.
During an interview with the outlet, O’Brien answered a phone call, which was captured on camera.
“You’re telling me she’s alive?” O’Brien exclaims in the video, before he starts crying.
“The hospital is telling me she is alive,” he continues. “They are calling me from the ICU team.”
Pingel confirmed Monday evening that she was still alive and in intensive care, saying: “It’s not looking good, it’s very dire. Hold her in your prayers.”
It’s unclear how the incredible miscommunication happened.
Roberts was best-known as Midge Pinciotti from That ’70s Show and she also played a “Bond girl” in A View to a Kill.
Born Victoria Leigh Blum on Oct. 15, 1955, Roberts started off her career as a model before landing her biggest film role in the James Bond movie A View to a Kill.
She starred next to Roger Moore in his last appearance as the British spy.
Roberts also starred on multiple television shows, including Charlie’s Angels and Fantasy Island, but was beloved by recent TV audiences for the role of Midge on That ’70s Show.
Midge was the ditzy, often clueless mother to Donna (Laura Prepon).
Her last role was in the 2005 series Barbershop.
She is survived by O’Brien and her sister.
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