The late voice actor who left an imprint on more than six hundred titles in film and animation is remembered for a remarkable range of characters. Among her most notable roles were Nastasya in Three Heroes, Mary Jane in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man, and Vesper Lind in Casino Royale. Audiences have heard her voice in popular works such as You, Twin Peaks, Stranger Things, and many more projects that became a part of modern entertainment.
On the evening of April 7, tragedy struck when she was struck by a trolleybus while at a stop near house number 13 on Zagorodny Prospect in St. Petersburg. A clip circulating online showed a woman being assaulted, and it appears that the incident unfolded as the trolleybus was docking at the stop, with the pedestrian momentarily stepping onto the road.
The city transport officials, as cited by 78.ru, indicated that the dubbing actor may have been attempting to move out of the way of passengers gathering at the stop. The vehicle braked, yet Elena Shulman was struck. An eyewitness on social media said that at the location where the accident happened, crowds often bypass the line of traffic at the bus stop. He added he did not witness the moment of impact.
“The trolleybus was inching toward the stop. I did not see the collision itself, but in front of it there was a river of blood under the trolleybus”, a Petersburg resident wrote online.
Emergency responders reached the scene. Elena Shulman was transported to the Janelidze Research Institute with multiple injuries and fractures. Her son, Peter Shulman, told Fontanka that she died at 6:40 p.m. on April 8. A colleague, Dmitry Cherevatenko, wrote on Telegram that Shulman passed away around 6:45 a.m. on April 9. She would have turned 54 on April 10.
The Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia announced that inspectors were reviewing the case. Based on their findings, a procedural decision would be made, as reported by 78.ru.
Dmitry Cherevatenko noted that Shulman’s colleagues organized a fundraiser to support her family financially in the wake of the tragedy.
K Konstantin Bronzit, a director at Melnitsa Studio, reflected on Shulman’s potential impact on society and the film industry. He recalled their close collaboration and described Shulman as the official voice behind Disney’s Dory, among many other roles in both television and cinema. Bronzit mourned a tragic and senseless death and lauded her extraordinary talent. He urged people to take care of themselves and heed a famous admonition about personal safety.
Fans took to social media to share memories of Shulman’s work. One admirer recalled her performances in Dwarf Nose, Ilya Muromets and the Robber Nightingale, and Ivan Tsarevich and the Gray Wolf as part of a cherished childhood experience. Another fan from Ulyanovsk expressed ongoing admiration for her body of work and the hope of a chance to meet her someday. A St. Petersburg user, under the name Olena78, thanked Shulman for voicing Bree Van de Kamp in Desperate Housewives, noting how the voice brought the character to life with nuance and clarity. The sentiment spread across forums, with many praising the way her voice helped audiences understand and connect with the characters she portrayed.
In the wake of the news, fans offered condolences to Shulman’s family and friends. Some expressed sorrow and shock at the events, while others recalled the impact of her performances on their own lives. The community reflected on the fragility of life and the enduring value of artistic work that touches audiences across generations.