Star Trek actor Annie Wersching dies aged 45

Tributes have been pouring in online for actor Annie Wersching after she passed away following a cancer diagnosis.

Wersching passed away at the age of 45 on the morning of Sunday, 29 January, her husband confirmed in a statement.

Wersching was best known for voicing Tess in The Last of Us video game as well as her role as FBI agent Renee Walker in the action television drama 24, but she also featured in series such as Star Trek: Enterprise, Star Trek: Picard and The Vampire Diaries.

Stephen Full, Wesching's husband, told CNN: "There is a cavernous hole in the soul of this family today. But she left us the tools to fill it. She found wonder in the simplest moment.

"She didn’t require music to dance. She taught us not to wait for adventure to find you. ‘Go find it. It’s everywhere.’ And find it we shall.

"As I drove our boys, the true loves of her life, down the winding driveway and street, she would yell BYE! until we were out of earshot and into the world. I can still hear it ringing. Bye my Buddie. 'I love you little family…'"

Fans of the actor have flooded to social media to pay their respects.

One user said: "my heart is aching. rest in peace to annie wersching, the first person to bring tess to life. taken from us way too soon."

"Saddened to hear the news about #AnnieWersching, she was a great actress, especially being Tess in the TLOU game, only a week after her character starred in the TV show adaptation.

"All love goes towards her family and friends, RIP love, we will miss you," a second commented.

A third wrote: "So sad to hear that Annie @Wersching has died. Too young. Cancer is a heartless, murderous thief."

Naughty Dog Central - who developed The Last of Us - wrote: "Tonight's episode will be dedicated to Annie Wersching. Her name will be added to the episode later this week."

The thread continues: "'We are dedicating it [Episode 3] to Annie's memory. It may be too late to get that on screen for tonight, but we will work to get it done as soon as we can.' - Craig Mazin."

A GoFundMe page has since been set up for Full as well as Wersching's sons, Freddie, Ozzie and Archie.

According to the page, Annie was first diagnosed with cancer in the summer of 2020.

"She wanted to get better so she could continue working. And honestly, she just didn't really want to talk about it. She wanted to live her life, on her terms, and be with her family," it states.

The page continues: "Annie lived for her family. She loved her work and cherished her friends, but Steve and the boys were her absolute everything. This Go Fund Me is for them.

"It's so Steve can have time to grieve without the pressure of needing to work. So he can be daddy to Freddie (12), Ozzie (9) and Archie (4) as they navigate the future without their mom, without sweet Annie. It's so they can continue to go to baseball games (Go Cardinals!) take music lessons and play little league. It's to help pay for college. It's so Steve can continue Annie's tradition of filling the house with every life-sized balloon that'll fit in the car for birthday mornings.

"It's to give them time to navigate life as a family of four without the burden of paying medical bills or funeral expenses. It's so they can continue to live life in a way that they know would make Annie proud."

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week

If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677