Melanie Clark Pullen, who starred in EastEnders in the 1990s has died aged 46.
The actress played Mary Flaherty, the long-lost great niece of Pauline Fowler between 1997 and 1999.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2019 and sadly died on March 29 2022.
She leaves behind husband Simon and three children.
Read more: Emmerdale’s Tony Audenshaw reveals pain of wife’s death aged 43
Who did Melanie Clark Pullen play in EastEnders?
Mary Flaherty was the long-lost great niece of show stalwart Pauline Fowler.
Pauline discovered she had a sister in Ireland in 1997 and the Fowlers took a trip to meet her.
Mary ultimately came back to live in Walford and was close to Pauline and her cousin Mark.
After romances with Joe Wicks and Matthew Rose, Mary left in 1999 to move to Scotland with her father and his pregnant girlfriend, Ruth Fowler.
Melanie Clark Pullen dies, aged 46
The actress was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019 and underwent chemotherapy.
During her treatment it was discovered she had the BRCA 2 gene and was advised to undergo a double mastectomy. She also had her ovaries and tubes removed and had five rounds of radiotherapy.
In 2020, she was given the all clear, telling The Irish News: “I got the all clear; I’m cancer free, which is great, so now it’s all about recovery.”
However, she revealed on her website in June 2021 that the cancer had returned and she now had a brain tumour.
She wrote: “I was only given the all clear from cancer 18 months ago and it’s a cruel blow to think that I will now be starting into some kind of treatment again and that this time it will be long term and a permanent fixture of my life.”
Melanie was very open on her Facebook page about her progress and treatment.
Her last post, on March 14, saw her happy and smiling as she visited family.
However, she had informed followers previously she was intending to keep a low profile as she worked out her next options in terms of treatment.
Tributes pour in
Friends and former colleagues have all shared tributes on social media.
Former EastEnders co-star Andrew Lynford, who played Tiffany Mitchell’s brother, Simon Raymond, lead the tributes.
How sad to hear we have lost one of the gang. RIP dear Melanie 💕
Remembering happy days @bbceastenders #MelanieClarkPullen pic.twitter.com/JzZUmR6a7j— ANDREW LYNFORD (@LynfordTweets) April 12, 2022
EastEnders also posted to Twitter.
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
Our funny, beautiful, eccentric, creative Goddess Melanie Clark Pullen is gone. What a writer you were @StrutandBellow , what a force of nature, & most importantly, what a Mama. Your words and your babies live on. Our love and thoughts are with Simon 😞💔https://t.co/BmAX4hppCE
— Maïa Dunphy (@MaiaDunphy) April 8, 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. pic.twitter.com/7zxYh46J9W
— Patrick Clohessy (@frodomunster) April 12, 2022
Sad to hear that Melanie Clark Pullen, who played Mary Flaherty in #EastEnders, has died aged 46. RIP.https://t.co/R5IC8HsT8w pic.twitter.com/L85edecMKH
— Walford Web (@walfordweb) April 12, 2022
Read more: Who is in the cast of EastEnders 2022?
What else was Melanie in?
As well as EastEnders, Melanie also starred in several period dramas, including Catherine Cookson’s A Dinner Full of Herbs.
She was in Inspector George Gently, and The Clinic.
Melanie also played a doctor in film Ordinary Love, which followed a couple through the wife’s cancer diagnosis and starred Liam Neeson and Lesley Manville.
Melanie also hosted a podcast called Strut and Bellow.
EastEnders usually airs Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One.
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