‘All My Children’ Actress Esta TerBlanche Dies at 51

(NEXSTAR) – Esta TerBlanche, an actress who appeared on “All My Children,” died Friday at the age of 51.

“I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of my dear friend and client Esta TerBlanche,” wrote Annie Spoliansky, talent manager at Key Management. “She was a beautiful and gentle soul who will be greatly missed. Her long-standing role on ‘All My Children’ will live on.”

TerBlanche played Gillian Andrassy on the soap opera from 1997 to 2001, but returned for one episode in 2011, according to IMDb. She also played a version of the same character in a 1997 episode of “Spin City.”

She previously starred in “Egoli: Place of Gold,” a drama series from her native South Africa, Soap Opera Digest reported in a recent interview.

After her first appearance on “All My Children” ended in 2001 (her character was killed by an assassin, according to Gillian Andrassy’s Fandom entry), TerBlanche spent some of her time in South Africa, where she opened a spa, worked with a cancer foundation and helped produce documentaries, the outlet reported.

TerBlanche’s cause of death was not listed on the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s website Monday morning, but she reportedly died at her home. Her cause of death is under investigation, and an examination is scheduled for a later date.