The entertainment industry and fans alike were left reeling after the news broke of the tragic passing of comedian and actor Maddy Anholt, who died at the age of 35. Anholt, who was a talented performer and a devoted advocate against domestic abuse, left behind a legacy of laughter and inspiration. Her friend and fellow comedian, Emily Atack, paid tribute to Anholt, describing her as “one of the sweetest, FUNNIEST, gorgeous and most hard working women I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing and working with”. Atack added that Anholt’s death was an “unbearably tragic loss”.
Anholt’s family revealed that she was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer shortly after the birth of her daughter, Opal, last year. Despite the challenges she faced, Anholt continued to work on various projects, including her own BBC Radio comedy series, “No Smoke”, and her one-woman play, “Diary of a Dating Addict”. Her family described her final weeks as being “bathed in love and calm”, surrounded by the sounds of nature at her parents’ home.
As an ambassador for Women’s Aid, Anholt was passionate about raising awareness of domestic abuse amongst younger people. Her book, “How to Leave Your Psychopath”, looked at coercive control and abusive relationships, and was set to be followed up with a second book, “Red Flags”, in 2024. Women’s Aid chief executive, Farah Nazeer, praised Anholt’s dedication to the cause, saying: “Maddy worked closely with us as she wrote her book about unhealthy relationships, and her passion was to raise awareness of abuse amongst younger people, which she did by working with us on our Love Respect website and through her comedy and writing”.
Maddy Anholt (Via Maddy Anholt/Twitter)
Fans and colleagues alike took to social media to pay tribute to Anholt, with many expressing their shock and sadness at her passing. Children’s author Giles Paley-Phillips described Anholt as a “truly wonderful, inspiring human being, and cherished friend”, adding: “Finding it hard to find the words”.
Anholt’s family has asked that fans light a candle at 6pm on Saturday to remember her. Her legacy will continue to inspire and uplift those who knew her, and her work will continue to have a lasting impact on the fight against domestic abuse.
