Television actor Annie Wersching, known for playing Renee Walker in the hit action series 24, has died. She was just 45.

Wersching passed away from cancer, her publicist said. 

"24" actor dies

She received the diagnosis in 2020 but kept the illness a secret and continued to work. One of her last roles was the Borg Queen in season 2 of Star Trek: Picard. 

Wersching's most famous part may be FBI special agent Renee Walker, the sidekick and doomed love interest to protagonist Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) in seasons 7 and 8 of 24. Sutherland called Wersching "one of the greatest actors I've ever had the pleasure of working with."

“The world lost a light today,” he tweeted. “@Wersching was one of the greatest actors I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with, and my friend. My heart breaks for her young family. May she be remembered for the beautiful person that she was.”

Prolific TV actor

Jon Cassar, director and executive producer of 24, said he was heartbroken by the news, calling Wersching an actor with incredible talent, "an open heart and a contagious smile."

"Annie became more than a workmate, she became a real friend to me, my family and every cast and crew member that worked with her," he wrote.

"She’ll be truly missed by them and the fans she always found time to interact with. Annie you’ll be missed, you left your mark, and we’re all the better for it.”

The prolific actor and St. Louis native debuted on Star Trek: Enterprise and went on to major roles in shows like 24, General Hospital, Bosch, The Vampire Diaries, Marvel’s Runaways, Timeless, and The Rookie.

Wersching also voiced the character Tess in the video game The Last Of Us, which was adapted into a television series.

Family shattered

Wersching leaves behind three children and her husband, actor Stephen Full, who issued a heartbreaking statement.

"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," he wrote.

"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,” he continued. “I can still hear it ringing. Bye my Buddie. ‘I love you little family…’"

A GoFundMe was set up to support her family.