Heartrending new details on death of All My Children star Esta TerBlanche, 51, who was found dead at her LA home
Esta TerBlanche was found dead surrounded by a number of rare animals she kept as pets, it has emerged.
The All My Children star was found dead in the bathroom of her Hollywood mansion last week by her assistant.
The 51-year-old South African had not been in contact with her team since her return from an overseas trip and is believed to have died on Wednesday.
Now sources have revealed what surprising pets she kept in her California home, including cats, dogs and even prairie dogs.
The South African actress (pictured in February 2023), who died last week, had at least three cats, two dogs and prairie dogs that had to be removed from her home by LA County animal control and a private animal shelter.
TerBlanche (pictured in 1998) was found on the bathroom floor by her assistant on Friday when she arrived at the actress’s home to check on her, having not heard from the soap star since she returned from her trip abroad.
TerBlanche had three cats, two dogs, and prairie dogs that had to be removed from her home by LA County Animal Control and a private animal shelter. TMZ defeated.
It is unknown what happened to her pets after they came into her home.
The All My Children star Instagram is filled with photos and videos of her beloved pets, often posting about them playing and cuddling with her.
The three cats and two dogs were taken in by the Los Angeles County Animal Control Department, while the prairie dogs were taken in by a private animal shelter.
Her death is under investigation and her autopsy report is awaiting toxicology testing (photo in August 2023)
All My Children star Esta TerBlanche died last week at the age of 51, TMZ reports
All My Children star Esta TerBlanche has died at the age of 51, TMZ reports. (Pictured with All My Children co-star Cameron Mathison)
The South African actress was found dead in her California home on Thursday, her goddaughter Barbie Ashley announced.
Rescuers suspect she had been dead in the North Hollywood home for about a day before she was found.
The soap star’s cause of death is under investigation, her rep Lisa Rodrigo told TMZ. Rodrigo said there was no further information at this time.
TerBlanche’s career took off after she won Miss Teen South Africa in 1991. She became best known for her role as Gillian Andrassy in the American sitcom All My Children.
She began her career as Bienkie Naudé Hartman in the South African drama Egolim, a role she played from 1992 to 1995.
TerBlanche’s character on All My Children, the troublemaking princess, was killed off in 2001 so she could move back to South Africa.
She was married to André Kock from 1997 to 2008, when they divorced. TerBlanche announced the breakup during an interview with Soap Opera Digest.
The TV star reportedly took a break from acting, returned to Los Angeles and opened a healing spa. She is survived by her ex-husband Kock and her godchild.
The South African actress died unexpectedly at her California home on Wednesday, her goddaughter Barbie Ashley revealed
Pictured: A 1999 scene from All My Children starring Cameron Matheson and Esta TerBlanche
This happened after TerBlanche’s All My Children colleague Alec Musser was found dead in his California home earlier this year at the age of 50.
Musser, who was known for his role on the series and a guest appearance on Desperate Housewives, died of unknown causes at his Del Mar home.
Alec Musser’s fiancée, Paige Press, called it the “worst day of my life” when she confirmed his death in January 2024.
The married couple got engaged last year and Press posted a series of throwback photos to her Instagram Story in tribute to the late actor.
“RIP to the love of my life,” she wrote on Instagram alongside a “2023 vision board” that included photos of him and engagement pictures. “I will never stop loving you.”
She captioned a photo of them together on the red carpet: ‘Today is the worst day of my life. We were so happy.’
‘You were the best fiancé I could have asked for. [sic] ever asked for,” she posted alongside a photo of him surprising her with matching Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUVs. “I don’t even think I can drive my g-wagon anymore.”