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Bond girl Tanya Roberts dead at 65 after mixup: 'Devastated'

Former Bond girl Tanya Roberts has died in hospital at the age of 65, a day after her death was mistakenly announced by her rep and partner.

The That 70s Show and Charlies Angels star had collapsed on Christmas Eve after returning home from a walk with her dogs, but her death was prematurely announced on Sunday, despite the fact she was still alive in hospital.

Tanya Roberts at the 27th Annual Night of 100 Stars Oscar Viewing Gala
Tanya Roberts has died at the age of 65. Photo: AP

Now TMZ has confirmed the actress passed away a day later at Cedars-Sinai Hospital. The cause of death has not been revealed however the publication confirmed it was not related to Covid-19, adding Tanya had appeared healthy in the days leading up to her collapse.

Reports of the star’s death were initially ‘greatly exaggerated’, with her partner, Lance O’Brien, receiving a shocking phone call informing him that she was still alive in the middle of an interview he was doing about her death.

Lance was speaking to Inside Edition about her death, before he appeared to received a phone call before telling the reporter “the hospital has told me she’s alive”.

Tributes had already begun being shared online on Sunday and Monday, with her fellow That 70s Show co-star Ashton Kutcher even taking to Twitter to point out she was ‘still alive’.

tanya roberts parnter lance o brien
Her partner Lance O'Brien thought Tanya had died prematurely. Photo: Youtube/Inside Edition

Tanya was well known in the ‘80s after appearing as Julie Rogers in the fifth and final season of the Charlie’s Angels TV series.

In 1985, she appeared as Bond Girl Stacey Sutton in Roger Moore's A View To A Kill, which she allegedly beat Priscilla Presley and Sharon Stone for the role, before becoming a TV staple after she made her debut as Donna Pinciotti's mum, Midge Pinciotti, in That ‘70s Show in 1998.

tanya roberts
Tanya Roberts was a Bond girl and a Charlies Angel. Photo: Getty

According to E! True Hollywood Story Tanya left the series in 2001 because her husband, actor Barry Roberts, had become terminally ill. The couple were married in 1974 and sadly Barry died in 2006.

Tanya started off as a model, appearing in TV ads for brands like Ultra Brite, Clairol and Cool Ray sunglasses.

Her acting career took off in the ‘70s, with credits on horror movie Tourist Trap and romance California Dreaming.

Throughout her career, she also featured in cult TV show The Love Boat and starred in 1984 film Sheena.

Roger Moore, right, poses with his co-star Tanya Roberts
In 1985, she was Bond Girl Stacey Sutton in Roger Moore's A View To A Kill. Photo: AP

Tanya’s longtime friend and rep, Mike Pingel, shared a tribute to the star, who he described as having “a huge heart.”

“I'm devastated. She was brilliant and beautiful and I feel like a light has been taken away. To say she was an angel would be at the top of the list,” he told the Hollywood Reporter.

“She was the sweetest person you'd ever meet and had a huge heart. She loved her fans, and I don't think she realised how much she meant to them.”

On social media, fans of the actress also paid their respects and reflected on her decades-long career.

“R.I.P. Tanya Roberts. She was one of my favourite Charlie's Angels. She gained her real angel wings today,” one person wrote.

While another added: “Deeply saddening news to wake up to. One of my favourite Bond girls.”

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