9-1-1: Nashville found a way to honor actress Isabelle Tate after her death at age 23.
The hit ABC series ended the Thursday, October 30, episode with an in memoriam message that read, “In loving memory. Izzy Tate 2002 – 2025.”
Earlier this month, Tate appeared in the 9-1-1: Nashville series premiere as a girl who attended the club where Blue (Hunter McVey) danced as a stripper before becoming a firefighter. Her death was announced weeks later following her battle with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
“Isabelle was full of fire, a fighter, never once making excuses for the fact that she might have a disability relative to others,” read her obituary. “She was also quite musically inclined, often spending hours writing and recording songs with friends and even publishing a few. What she loved the most though was spending time with family and friends, always the life of the party. Her sister was her best friend and her mom was her shining beacon of light.”
A rep for Tate reflected on the actress’ death in a separate statement.
“I’ve known Izzy since she was a teenager and she recently returned to acting. She booked the first series she auditioned for, 9-1-1 Nashville. She had a wonderful time,” Kim McCray shared via Instagram. “Special thanks to [Mark Fincannon and Shelby Holt] for casting her and [Caroline Locorriere] for that wonderful encouragement and nudge back to the acting world. Also to Lora Sorrentino for making her set experience a good one. My heart goes out to her wonderful mother [Katerina Kazakos Tate], her sister Daniella, family and friends. I was so lucky to know her and she will be greatly missed by so many.”
After news broke of Tate’s death, McVey, 26, spoke out about his experience working with her on 9-1-1: Nashville.
“I was shocked to hear the news,” McVey said in a statement. “I didn’t know Isabelle prior to filming, but I couldn’t have asked for someone better to work with on one of my first ever days on set.”
McVey recalled how Tate brightened his time on set, adding, “I was terrified, nervous, and after each take we would get to exchange a couple words which were always supportive from her. I [had] the pleasure of talking with her after the scene and she had such a great energy.”
He continued: “You could tell she brought joy to a lot of people. I’m thankful I got a chance to work with Isabelle and that a part of her will live on forever in the pilot episode of 9-1-1 Nashville. Prayers for her family.”
Tate previously opened up about her health issues after being diagnosed with a progressive neuromuscular disease when she was 13.
“I don’t usually get vulnerable on this app, but l feel like this is something I have to share that’s been going on in my life. When I was 13, I got diagnosed with a progressive neuromuscular disease that weakens my leg muscles over time,” she wrote via Instagram in 2022. “When I was first diagnosed, I couldn’t fully understand what it was or grasp what it could be. Over the years, I was going on with my life and would notice little things get more difficult for me, but not so much where it stood out to me significantly.”
Tate’s condition “really progressed” before her death.
“I’ve come to terms that if I want to live my life to the fullest I need to use a wheelchair at times. This has been a difficult journey for me because having to accept help and surrender to the progression of this condition has been extremely hard,” she continued. “I would have never expected something like this to happen to me, as most of us wouldn’t. I don’t know why these were the cards I was dealt in life, but I can’t change it so I’m choosing to embrace it and not let it define me.”
She concluded: “This has really changed my perspective on life, and if I’ve learned anything from this it’s to appreciate the little things that are easily taken for granted. You really never know what someone else is going through, so please always be kind and compassionate.”
