The former All My Children star Esta TerBlanche was passed away last Thursday at her home in Los Angeles, California. She was 51 years-old.
TerBlanche Passes Away
TerBlanche’s death was confirmed by her manager Annie Spoliansky.
“We are deeply saddened by this news,” Spoliansky told People Magazine. “As for a personal statement, I’d like to say that Esta was such a kind, loving, giving, and caring person.”
“She cared so deeply for all people and animals,” she continued. “She had squirrels she fed and looked after daily, her two cats and recent kittens that she cared for as her own children. Esta was never anything but generous and lovely to me, and I’m grateful to have known her for the time that I did, and devastated to learn of her passing.”
TeBlanche’s publicist Lisa Rodrigo also spoke out to honor her.
“I am heartbroken upon learning about Esta’s death,” Rodrigo said. “She was and always will be a beautiful soul who I will miss every day. I am proud to have known her and call her not only a client but a friend.”
No cause of death for TerBlanche has been revealed publicly at this time. However, police believe that she had been dead for about one day when her body was found.
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TerBlanche’s History
Born in South Africa in 1973, TerBlanche went on to be crowned Miss Teen South Africa in 1991. From there, she started pursuing acting. She was soon cast as Bienkie Naudé Hartman on Egoli: Place of Gold, a popular drama in South Africa.
TerBlanche told Soaps Indepth in 2022 that being cast in Egoli was a “dream come true.”
“People were so kind to me,” she recalled. “It was my first time working in the industry with all these professional people. Everybody was really nice to me.”
TerBlanche made the move to the U.S. in 1995. She was best known for playing Gillian Andrassy Lavery on All My Children from 1997 until 2001. The character was a Hungarian princess who became romantically involved with Cameron Mathison’s character Ryan Lavery.
“RIP my Sweet Princess,” Mathison, 54, wrote on his Instagram Story alongside a photo of the two of them in character.
“Esta helped me last year when Red was sick and paralyzed and I was struggling,” he later added over a recent selfie of himself and TerBlanche. “One of the sweetest people ever.”
TerBlanche went on to reprise her All My Children role in a 2011 episode. In total, she appeared in over 100 episodes of the popular soap opera.
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TerBlanche’s Final Years
At the time of her death, TerBlanche was reportedly splitting her time between South Africa and California. After leaving All My Children, she opened a spa in her home country.
When asked in 2022 if getting back into the world of soaps would interest her, she was quick to reply that “it’s definitely something I would like to get back into.”
TerBlanche is survived by her father and her sister. Please join us in saying a prayer for them during this difficult time.
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