Irish actress Melanie Clarke Pullen has died aged 46. She had been battling cancer.
She was first diagnosed with cancer in January 2019. Sadly, she passed away on March 29 this year, after rounds of chemotherapy.
She had been given the all-clear in 2020. “I got the all clear. I’m cancer free, which is great, so now it’s all about recovery”, she stated.
However last June, Melanie Clark Pullen was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
Melanie Clark Pullen
Pullen was best known for playing Mary Flaherty in the British soap EastEnders between 1997 and 1999. Flaherty appeared in a total of 130 episodes.
Mary Flaherty was also the grand-neice of Albert Square matriarch Pauline Fowler who was played by the late Wendy Richard.
Along with East Enders, Melanie Clark Pullen also appeared in a host of other shows. These include RTE’s Fair City, The Clinic, RAW, and The Big Bow Wow.
She also featured in UK shows, Inspector George Gently, Doctors and Casualty. The actress also featured in the film Ordinary Love, starring Liam Neeson.
Pullen also appeared in Aisling Bea’s comedy series The Way Up.
Along with acting, Melanie Clark Pullen also presented her own Strut and Bellow podcast, as well as being a writer and producer.
She is survived by her husband Simon and three children.
Tributes have also been paid to the actress, with one person tweeting, “How sad to hear we have lost one of the gang. RIP dear Melanie”.
While EastEnders also paid tribute to the actress. “We’re deeply saddened to hear that Melanie Clark Pullen has passed away. Our love and thoughts are with Melanie’s family and friends”, they wrote.
We’re deeply saddened to hear that Melanie Clark Pullen has passed away. Our love and thoughts are with Melanie’s family and friends. pic.twitter.com/ThlR1VNb7S
— BBC EastEnders (@bbceastenders) April 12, 2022
“#melanieclarkpullen #maryflaherty @bbceastenders @EastEndersPress. Another one taking from the dreadful C. RIP Melanie Clark Pullen. She played Mary Flaherty in EastEnders from 1997 to 1999. The first Irish barmaid in EastEnders. Also a part of the 1997 Irish episodes. Fowler’s”, another added.
Melanie Clark Pullen’s death comes a week after EastEnders mourned the death of iconic actress June Brown, better known as ‘Dot’ Cotton in the soap. She was 95 years old.
She starred in the soap since 1985, before retiring last February.
