How 911: Nashville paid tribute to Isabelle Tate after her death at 23
9-1-1: Nashville found a way to honor actress Isabelle Tate after her death at the age of 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 series premiere of 9-1-1: Nashville as a girl who frequents the club where Blue (Hunter McVey) danced as a stripper before becoming a firefighter. Her death was announced weeks later after her battle with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
“Isabelle was full of fire, a fighter, and never made excuses for the fact that she might have a disability compared to others,” her obituary read. “She was also quite musically inclined, often spending hours writing and recording songs with friends and even publishing a few. What she enjoyed most, however, was spending time with family and friends, always the life of the party. Her sister was her best friend and her mother was her shining beacon of light.”
A Tate representative 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’s had a great time,” Kim McCray shared via Instagram. “Special thanks to [Mark Fincannon and Shelby Holt] for casting her and [Caroline Locorriere] for that great encouragement and push into the acting world. Also to Lora Sorrentino for making her set experience so good. 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 many.”
After news of Tate’s death broke, McVey, 26, spoke about his experience working with her 9-1-1: Nashville.
“I was shocked to hear the news,” McVey said in a statement. “I didn’t know Isabelle before filming, but I couldn’t have asked for someone better to work with on one of my very first days on set.”
McVey recalled how Tate brightened his time on set, adding, “I was terrified and nervous, and after every take we would exchange a few words that were always supportive of her. I [had] the pleasure of talking to her after the scene and she had such great energy.
He continued, “You could tell she brought joy to a lot of people. I’m grateful that I had the opportunity 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 struggles after being diagnosed with a progressive neuromuscular disease when she was 13.
“I don’t normally make myself vulnerable on this app, but I feel like this is something I need to share that’s going on in my life. When I was 13, I was diagnosed with a progressive neuromuscular disease that weakens my leg muscles over time,” she wrote via Instagram in 2022. not so much where it stood out to me significantly.
Tate’s condition “really improved” before her death.
“I have come to the realization that if I want to live my life to the fullest, I will need to use a wheelchair at times. This has been a difficult journey for me as it has been extremely difficult to accept help and surrender to the progression of this condition,” she continued. “I 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 choose 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 easy to take for granted. You truly never know what someone else is going through, so always be kind and compassionate.”
