All My Children Star Esta TerBlanche Passes Away at 51

Esta TerBlanche, known for her role as Gillian Andrassy on “All My Children” from 1997 to 2001, passed away on July 18, 2024, at her Los Angeles home. She was 51 years old. Her publicist, Lisa Rodrigo, announced on Facebook that TerBlanche died of natural causes, though an autopsy report is still pending. Rodrigo expressed her shock and sorrow, describing TerBlanche as a beautiful soul inside and out, and someone she was proud to have known and worked with.

Others who had the pleasure of working with TerBlanche have also shared heartfelt tributes. Annie Spoliansky posted on Instagram Stories, saying, “She was a beautiful and gentle soul who will be incredibly missed.” TerBlanche’s death marks another significant loss for “All My Children” fans, occurring in the same year as the unexpected death of fellow alum Alec Musser.

Born on January 7, 1973, in Rustenburg, South Africa, TerBlanche grew up on a game farm and was named Miss Teen South Africa at 18 before venturing into acting. Despite her fame, she was one of those soap opera stars who maintained a relatively low profile. She left “All My Children” in 2001 to return to South Africa, where she opened a spa and continued to work in the entertainment industry, focusing on animal documentaries and TV hosting.

Before moving to the U.S. and landing her role on “All My Children,” TerBlanche starred as Bienkie Naude in the South African soap opera “Egoli: Place of Gold” from 1992 to 1995. The show’s Facebook page honored her with a tribute, stating, “Her presence on screen will be deeply missed … Esta’s legacy will live on through her remarkable body of work, inspiring future generations of actors and actresses.”

During an interview with Soap Opera Digest, TerBlanche shared her fondest memories from her time on “All My Children.” One challenging yet rewarding experience was when her character couldn’t talk. “It was really hard because I had to convey all these emotions without words to express myself. It was a big challenge,” she recalled.

Among the show’s notable storylines was the relationship between TerBlanche’s character, Gillian, who was portrayed as a Hungarian princess, and her first husband, Ryan Lavery, played by Cameron Mathison of Hallmark Channel fame. Although her character was killed off in 2001, fans were delighted when TerBlanche made a special appearance as a ghost for the series’ finale in 2011. Mathison posted his tribute to her on Instagram Stories.

Despite “All My Children” being off the air for over a decade, TerBlanche remained beloved by fans. They flooded her recent Instagram posts with comments expressing their sadness and condolences, reflecting her lasting impact on those who followed her career.