Samantha Weinstein, known best for her appearances in the 2013 adaptation of “Carrie” and as other animated characters’ voices, has passed away, aged just 28-years-old.
She passed away from ovarian cancer on May 14 at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, Canada, according to a statement by her father David Weinstein on Thursday.
“We’re overwhelmed with the outpouring of tributes to Samantha,” he said. “She led a very full, charmed and authentic life. She was very passionate about her art and worked up until her last days voicing animated characters and living as full a life as she possibly could.”
Additionally, he said that Samantha took the pictures for her goodbye Instagram post that was published on May 15 on her Instagram account. She may be seen grinning and floating through space in the pictures.
The caption reads: “After two and a half years of cancer treatment, and a lifetime of jet setting around the world, voicing a plethora of cartoon animals, making music, and knowing more about life than most people ever will, she is off on her next adventure.”
Despite her devastating diagnosis, Weinstein continued to live life to the fullest until the very end, and just last October she tied the knot with Michael Knutson, later celebrating their honeymoon in Japan.
Weinstein, who was also a member of the punk music group Killer Virgins, reminisced on her cancer diagnosis at age 25 and her relationship with Knutson in an article for Love What Matters.
“First dates were nerve wracking enough, but I had just received some devastating news the week before- it was cancer. Talk about scaring a guy off!” she wrote. “Eyes fixed on the dirt ground of the dog park, I told him I’d been diagnosed with a rare ovarian germ-cell yolk sac tumor, and I’d be starting chemotherapy in just a few months. I held my breath, squeezed my eyes shut, and waited for the inevitable rejection… but it never came.”
She continued: “When my hormones were raging from IVF injections, we screamed at each other as we built an IKEA vanity and collapsed on the floor laughing. When my hair started falling out, we shaved our heads together. When my fingers were turning black from nerve damage, he took me out for ice cream and held the cone. He taught me love is selfless and reminded me to let others take care of me too.”
Dozens of fans have shared tributes to the star following the devastating news of her passing, with one commenting on her final Instagram post: “Godspeed. Most ppl on this earth just exist and never truly live even if they reach 100. May your family find comfort that you may have had your life shortened by an illness but that didn’t stop you from living a full life. May others find the courage and live each day as gift.”
While another said: “Sam, you brave, beautiful, radiant, effervescent light. We’re all so lucky to have known you. Deeply saddened by this news, sending love.”
“My heart aches but these photos also make me smile so hard ❤️ She was one in a trillion. An incredible creature to behold. I was constantly in awe of her. She did indeed burn incredibly bright. Sending so much love x,” a third wrote on her post.
Rest in peace.
