“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. 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.”
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.
TerBlanche’s life in the limelight began in 1991 when she was crowned the winner of the prestigious Miss Teen South Africa pageant. This early success set the stage for her burgeoning career in the entertainment industry.
Following her pageant victory, TerBlanche transitioned seamlessly into acting, securing a starring role in the popular South African drama series “Egoli: Place of Gold.” This marked the start of an illustrious on-screen career that would eventually take her beyond the borders of her home country.
In her personal life, TerBlanche was previously married to André Kock, a union that lasted from 1997 to 2008. This chapter of her life story serves as a testament to her multifaceted experiences both in the public eye and behind the scenes.