Last night, the entertainment industry was shocked by the news of Annie Wersching's passing. Wersching, who played Tess in The Last of Us, died yesterday at the age of just 45, following a years long battle with cancer.Now, less than a day since the news broke, Wersching's friends, colleagues, and fans have come together for her family. So far, more than $142,000 has been raised for Wersching's husband and three sons, giving them the resources they need to mourn their loss in peace and comfort.The GoFundMe has a goal of $250,000, and it looks set to surpass in a matter of days. Over half of the goal has been reached already, despite it being less than 24 hours since the news was shared with the public.On the fundraising page, the names of fans and Wersching's industry peers can be seen in the donation feed, as her family is met with an outpouring of love and support. So far, the top donor is The Boys showrunner Eric Kripke, who had worked with Wersching on many of his shows. In mourning her passing, Kripke revealed that he was hoping to work with her once more, planning to include her in The Boys.
Neil Druckmann has also donated, having worked with Wersching during the production of 2013's The Last of Us. Speaking last night, Druckmann said that the actor was "forever part of the TLoU & Naughty Dog family," and encouraged fans to donate to her family.
The Last of Us costar Troy Baker is also leading tributes, remembering her strength, and how she brought her roles to life.
Throughout her almost three-decade-long career, Wersching was well known for appearing in a wide variety of television shows. From 24 to Supernatural, she could be seen in numerous shows in the 2000s, before going on to spend the 2010s in the likes of Timeless, Bosch, and much more.
Even after her cancer diagnosis, Wersching didn't slow down. 2022 saw her second stint in the Star Trek series, playing The Borg Queen in the Amazon Prime series, Picard. Fellow Trek actors Jonathan Frakes and Gates McFadden have also paid their respects.
While writing this article, thousands more in donations have been sent to Wersching's family. Everything raised in the GoFundMe will go towards helping her family adjust, and ensure that her husband Steve can remain at home to care for their three children.
"Everyone loved Annie. Everyone," reads the fundraising page. "But however much we loved her, she loved her boys more. Let's help take care of them for her."