The actor who originated the role of Tess in the critically acclaimed The Last of Us franchise has passed away at 45. Annie Wersching, who portrayed the tough-as-nails survivor in the 2013 PlayStation 3 game, died Sunday after a two-year battle with cancer. The news was shared through a GoFundMe page that was intended to help raise money for Wersching’s treatments.
Her death comes only a few weeks after a TV series based on the beloved game franchise started airing on HBO Max. The Last of Us is a bleak and brutal game, but Wersching brought warmth and humanity to her role as Tess which helped make her a very memorable character throughout her part in the story.
The Last of Us showrunner Neil Druckmann made a public statement after the news of Wersching’s passing went public. “We just lost a beautiful artist and human being. My heart is shattered. Thoughts are with her loved ones,” Druckmann wrote on Twitter.
Remembering Annie Wersching
Annie Wersching was a very active actor throughout her career. Her first credited role came in a 2002 episode of the Star Trek series Enterprise. After a handful of other small roles on sitcoms and syndicated fantasy series, Wersching landed a headlining job as Renee Walker on the massively popular 24. She also played Amelia Joffe in General Hospital, helping solidify her as a household name in the world of prestige TV.
After roles on The Vampire Diaries and Timeless, she picked up the role that many gamers most remember her for–Tess in The Last of Us. Tess is a no-nonsense survivor who helps the protagonist Joel in the 2013 game before bravely staying behind to fight off enemies who want to capture Joel and Ellie.
Cancer Diagnosis
Wersching was tragically diagnosed with cancer in 2020 but was able to carry on and continued acting for another two years. The actor’s GoFundMe page notes that her family was her main motivation. “Annie lived for her family. She loved her work and cherished her friends, but Steve and the boys were her absolute everything,” the fundraiser notes. Now, the fundraiser will pivot from helping Wersching with her hospital bills to helping her husband, Stephen, take care of their family while he grieves.
“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.”
