Mindy Cohn Announces She Has Defeated Cancer for the Second Time

Scooby-Doo fans know Mindy Cohn best as Velma, and she’s shared uplifting news with her followers: she has beat cancer for a second time. The update came on Instagram on April 19, accompanied by a photo of her giving a thumbs-up from a hospital bed.

In the post, Cohn explained that she had stepped away from social media briefly to focus on fighting the disease, crediting Providence Saint John’s hospital staff—especially nurses Finja, Patty, and Courtney—as well as the hospital’s GI oncology surgeon, Dr. Anton Bilchik, for their pivotal care. She thanked her family, naming Tara Karsian, John Stewart, and Gregory Zarian, describing them as advocates who are always ready to help when it’s “my turn.” She also hinted at a short recovery period of a couple more weeks before she embarks on her next adventure, ending with a defiant message: “Onwards! F**K Cancer!”

While the star hasn’t disclosed further details, her reference to gastrointestinal oncology suggests the cancer may have involved parts of the digestive system, which comprises organs such as the esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts, small and large intestines, rectum, and anus.

A veteran voice actress, Cohn has long been celebrated for voicing Velma in numerous Scooby-Doo productions over the past two decades. She’s also known for playing Natalie Green on the 1980s sitcom The Facts of Life. This isn’t her first cancer battle; she previously faced breast cancer in 2012 and successfully beat it in 2017 after undergoing a double mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation. She spoke candidly about that experience in a 2017 interview with People, describing the cancer’s recurrence and her emotional journey.

Support from friends, fans, and fellow actors has poured in on Instagram as she continues to navigate her health journey, coming on the heels of her 2024 appearance in the Apple TV+ series Palm Royale.