Tributes have poured in for fans of The Last Of Us actor Annie Wersching after she passed away at the age of 45 following a cancer diagnosis.
Wersching's husband confirmed the news of his wife's death in a statement yesterday (29 January), saying the death of the actor, who was known for playing Tess in the video game version of The Last Of Us, had left a 'cavernous hole' in the family.
The couple shared three sons together, Freddie, 12, Ozzie, nine and Archie, four. An online fundraiser has since been launched to help support the family.
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Following the news of her death, Wersching's friends and former co-workers have flooded social media with condolences and memories of the 45-year-old star.
The Last of Us creative director Neil Druckmann was among those paying tribute as he commented: "We just lost a beautiful artist and human being. My heart is shattered. Thoughts are with her loved ones."
Meanwhile, Julie Plec, showrunner of Vampire Diaries, said on Twitter: "I became a fan from ‘24’ and was lucky to be able to have Annie play mama to two of the hottest vamps in town… RIP Annie, you wonderful soul."
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The Last Of Us video game creators Naughty Dog also announced last night that the latest episode of the TV adaptation of the game would be dedicated to Wersching, adding: "Her name will be added to the episode later this week."
“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," creator Craig Mazin explained.
Fans have also been among those paying tribute, with one supporter commenting: "So I just found out that #AnnieWersching had died. I'm so devastated. I knew her from runaways, and I loved that show, but didn't know until a few years ago that she played tess in the last of us game, who had always been one of my favourites. Rest in peace."
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Another wrote: "Annie wersching was a FORCE as renee walker and absolutely carried the later seasons of 24 — an increasingly ludicrous show that benefited immensely from her talent."
In his statement given to Deadline, Wersching's husband Stephen Full commended his wife for leaving the family with 'the tools' to fill the hole left in her absence.
"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," he continued, adding: "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…’ "
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The GoFundMe page launched for Wersching's family by her friend, actor Ever Carradine, has so far raised more than $134,000 (£108,000).
Topics: Celebrity, TV and Film
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Emily Brown