'One of the sweetest people ever': All My Children star Esta TerBlanche dies aged 51
All My Children star Esta TerBlanche, who was best known for her role as a troubled Hungarian princess on the soap, has died. She was 51.
The former Miss Teen South Africa's death was confirmed by her manager Annie Spoliansky in a statement overnight.
"I'd like to say that Esta was such a kind, loving, giving, and caring person," Spoliansky told People.
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Esta TerBlanche, pictured here with her All My Children co-star Cameron Mathison, has died. She was 51. Disney General Entertainment Con
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Highlighting her penchant for taking in and caring for stray animals, Spoliansky said TerBlanche "cared so deeply" for them as well as "all people".
"Esta was never anything but generous and lovely to me," Spoliansky her statement continued.
"I'm grateful to have known her for the time that I did, and devastated to learn of her passing."
No cause of death has been given at this time, but reports state she had died at her North Hollywood home late last week.
TerBlanche's death, per Deadline, was first announced by her publicist Lisa Rodrigo to Facebook.
"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," Rodrigo wrote.
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TerBlanche, pictured here with actress Amelia Marshall at the Daytime Emmys, was famous for her role on the soap. Ron Galella Collection via Getty
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"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," Rodrigo wrote.
"Thank you for the messages so far. If I haven't gotten to you, I will soon. May she RIP with the angels that she is."
Born in the North West province of South Africa in 1973, TerBlanche was crowned Miss Teen South Africa in 1991.
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TerBlanche played troubled Hungarian princess Gillian for four years. Disney General Entertainment Con
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She went on to star in Egoli: Place of Gold for three years, before moving to the United States to further pursue acting.
In 1997, TerBlanche landed the role that made her a household name, playing troubled Hungarian princess Gillian Andrassy Lavery on All My Children until 2001.
"RIP my Sweet Princess," Cameron Mathison, who played TerBlanche's onscreen husband Ryan Lavery on the soap, wrote on Instagram on Sunday.
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Mathison paid tribute to TerBlanche on Instagram once he learned the news. Instagram
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"Esta helped me last year when Red was sick and paralysed and I was struggling," he continued in another tribute.
"One of the sweetest people ever."
TerBlanche, who had hosted several television shows, worked on multiple documentaries and opened a spa following her time on the soap, was understood to have been splitting her time between California and South Africa at the time of her death.
She is survived by her goddaughter, Barbie Ashley, and her ex-husband.
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