Esta TerBlanche, the celebrated actress famed for her role in All My Children, has tragically passed away at 51.
The shocking news of her death, currently under investigation, follows her recent hints at a possible return to acting, with Esta expressing her eagerness to return to the small screen.
Her family revealed that Esta, who became a household name through her portrayal of Gillian Andrassy on the iconic show, was found dead in her Hollywood residence, as reported by TMZ.
Medical experts suspect that Esta may have passed away the day prior to the discovery of her body.
Her passing was confirmed by her manager Annie Spoliansky in a heartfelt statement to People magazine.
Spoliansky’s statement mourned the loss: “We are deeply saddened by this news. 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 added.
Annie continued to describe Esta’s compassionate nature: “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.”
Adding to the tributes, her publicist Lisa Rodrigo expressed her grief: “I am heartbroken upon learning about Esta’s death. 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.”
Esta, famed for her portrayal of a Hungarian princess on the soap from 1997 to 2001, had teased a return to daytime TV before her untimely passing.
Despite her character being killed off in All My Children, she made a ghostly comeback during the show’s final episodes after ABC announced the cancellation of the long-running series in 2011.
Esta’s All My Children character was so beloved that the soap opera once held the title of America’s most recorded TV show.
A fan account dedicated to the show honoured Esta with a heartfelt post featuring a photo of her alongside her on-screen partner Cameron Mathison, accompanied by the words: “Rest in Peace Esta TerBlanche. Thank you for entertaining us with your beautiful and captivating performance.”
The tribute poignantly concluded with a nod to her memorable role: “We will miss you, Princess.”