Credit: Screenshot, 'All My Children', ABCFor more than 40 years, ABC’s afternoon lineup consisted of popular soap operas, including Port Charles, All My Children, One Life to Live, and General Hospital. Sadly, many soap operas declined in popularity and were canceled. Of the ABC afternoon lineup, Port Charles was first on the chopping block, ending in 2003.
Next up was All My Children, which was canceled in 2011, with One Life to Live ending one year later. General Hospital has stood the test of time, celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2023.
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Sadly, on July 19, 2024, it was reported that one of the stars of All My Children was dead. Esta TerBlanche, who played Princess Gillian Andrassy, was found unresponsive in her home. Shortly after arriving at the actress’s home, paramedics pronounced her dead around 11 a.m. She was just 51 years old.
Fans were stunned that such a vibrant woman — who had been likened to a real-life Snow White — could have her life cut short so suddenly.
Two days after her passing, Ms. TerBlache’s manager confirmed her death, calling her “a kind, loving, giving, and caring person.”
“She cared so deeply for all people and animals. 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.”
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Now, six months after her death, The County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner revealed Ms. TerBlanche’s cause of death. In a press release, the medical examiner determined that the actress’s cause of death was “intracranial hemorrhage due to blunt force traumatic head injury,” most likely resulting from a fall.
After performing his detailed examination, the medical examiner listed her cause of death as accidental.
The former soap opera actress was born in South Africa on January 7, 1973. She began her career portraying Bienkie Naudé Hartman on Egoli: Place of Gold, a well-known drama in the country. She then went on to play Gillian Andrassy Lavery on All My Children, a role she held from 1997 to 2001.
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Ms. TerBlanche was written off All My Children in 2001, at her request, and moved back to South Africa. In a 2010 interview, she revealed that she had gotten divorced and taken a break from acting. She also announced that she had opened up her own spa and was pursuing her interests in the medical field and healing.
In All My Children’s final weeks, TerBlanche returned to her role and made a guest appearance.
We extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Esta TerBlanche.