‘All My Children’ actress Esta TerBlanche dead at 51
“All My Children” alum Esta TerBlanche has died. She was 51.
The actress passed away unexpectedly at her North Hollywood, Calif., home, her goddaughter, Barbie Ashley, confirmed to TMZ Sunday.
Per the outlet, medical professionals suspect she had been dead for about a day before her body was recovered.
“All My Children” alum Esta TerBlanche died at the age of 51. ABC/Everett/Shutterstock
The actress passed at her West Hollywood, Calif., home, her goddaughter told TMZ Sunday. Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
TerBlanche’s publicist, Lisa Rodrigo, also announced her client’s death on Facebook, revealing she died on Thursday.
“I can not believe I am posting this. It’s with a heavy heart that my friend and client Esta TerBlanche passed away Thursday of natural causes,” she wrote.
Rodrigo continued, “An autopsy report is pending. I am still processing and in shock. Esta was a beautiful soul in and out. I was proud to know her and work with her. More to come in the days ahead.”
Reps for the former pageant queen weren’t immediately available to Page Six for comment.
The outlet reported that TerBlanche was likely dead for about a day before her body was recovered. Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
TerBlanche’s publicist, Lisa Rodrigo, also confirmed her death. Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
TerBlanche played the role of Gillian Andrassy Lavery in “All My Children” from 1997 to 2001 alongside Kelly Ripa and her husband, Mark Consuelos.
She moved to the US from South Africa to advance in her acting career, though she ultimately moved back to her home country in 2001 after she was killed off the soap opera.
ABC, Ripa and Consuelos didn’t immediately comment on TerBlanche’s sudden death.
“I can not believe I am posting this. It’s with a heavy heart that my friend and client Esta TerBlanche passed away Thursday of natural causes,” Rodrigo wrote on Facebook. Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
Rodrigo said an autopsy report “is pending.” Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
TerBlanche’s life in the limelight kicked off in 1991 when she was crowned the winner of Miss Teen South Africa.
From there, she hit the big screen, starring in the South Africa-based drama “Egoli: Place of Gold” before she moved abroad.
TerBlanche was previously married to André Kock from 1997 to 2008.
