Esta TerBlanche, ‘All My Children’ Actor, Dies at 51

As a huge fan of “All My Children,” I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Esta TerBlanche, who brought the captivating and complex character of Gillian Andrassy to life. TerBlanche’s portrayal of the troubled Hungarian princess left a lasting impression on me and countless other viewers.


The well-recognized actress, Esta TerBlanche, who gained fame for portraying Gillian Andrassy on “All My Children,” has sadly passed away at the age of 51.

On Thursday, TerBlanche passed away at her residence, as reported by the Medical Examiner in Los Angeles County. The circumstances leading to her demise are currently being probed.

Annie Spolianky, TerBlanche’s talent manager, likewise verified the information to EbMaster. She described TerBlanche as an “amazing, gentle, and caring individual.”

From 1997 to 2001, TerBlanche portrayed the challenging role of Princess Gillian on “All My Children.” Her character was wedded to Ryan Lavery, played by Cameron Mathison. In a tragic turn of events, Ryan disconnected Gillian from life support after she was mistakenly shot by an assassin. In 2011, as the soap opera prepared for its final episode on ABC, TerBlanche made a reappearance, this time appearing as a ghost to haunt her former husband Ryan.

Upon my return, a deeply emotional moment ensued for Cameron and me. Our reunion brought us to tears as we had been separated for quite some time. (Soap Opera Digest, July 13, interview with TerBlanche)

Born on the seventh of January, 1973, in Rustenberg, which is located in South Africa’s North West province, TerBlanche claimed the title of Miss Teen South Africa in the year 1991.

As a passionate cinema enthusiast, I’d recount it this way:

Following Gillian’s passing on “All My Children” in 2001, TerBlanche moved back to South Africa and started a spa business there. She also collaborated with filmmaker Michael Kastenbaum on documentaries, according to Soap Opera Digest. At the time of TerBlanche’s death, she was dividing her time between living in South Africa and California.

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2024-07-21 20:46