'All My Children' Actress Esta TerBlanche's Cause of Death Revealed

TerBlanche was a beloved figure in daytime television, rising to fame in 1997 when she joined All My Children as the fiery Hungarian princess Gillian Andrassy.

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The cause of death for All My Children star Esta TerBlanche has been confirmed six months after she passed away at the age of 51. TerBlanche, the South African actress best known for her role as Gillian Andrassy on All My Children , passed away in July 2024. TerBlanche was a beloved figure in daytime television, rising to fame in 1997 when she joined All My Children as the fiery Hungarian princess Gillian Andrassy.

She quickly became a fan favorite, and though her character was killed off in 2001, she returned for a brief appearance in 2011, playing Gillian's ghost. Her work on the show cemented her place in soap opera history. Her death was met with shock and sadness from fans and those who worked with her in the soap opera industry.



Her manager, Anne Spoliansky, spoke of her deep kindness and love for animals following her passing. "We are deeply saddened by this news," Spoliansky told People . "She cared so deeply for all people and animals," she added.

"She had squirrels she fed and looked after daily, her two cats and recent kittens that she cared for as her own children." Six months after her death, the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner confirmed that TerBlanche died from an intracranial hemorrhage caused by blunt force trauma to the head, likely due to a fall from a low height. The manner of death was ruled accidental.

An intracranial hemorrhage, commonly referred to as a "brain bleed," occurs when blood accumulates between the brain and the skull, restricting oxygen flow to the brain. This type of stroke can cause severe complications, according to the Cleveland Clinic. TerBlanche was found unresponsive in her Los Angeles home on July 19, 2024, and was pronounced dead by paramedics at 11:10 a.

m. An examination was completed by the deputy medical examiner on July 22, but the cause of death was only officially certified on January 29, 2025, per TMZ . She was laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California, where other Hollywood legends such as Michael Jackson, Paul Walker, and Bette Davis are buried, according to the New York Post .

Before making her mark in Hollywood, TerBlanche was crowned Miss Teen South Africa in 1991 and starred in South African television productions, including Egoli: Place of Gold . She later took on roles in Spin City and The Syndicate , expanding her career beyond soaps. TerBlanche was married to André Kock from 1997 to 2008 and is survived by her former husband and goddaughter.

Though she had stepped away from acting in recent years, she had expressed a desire to return to Hollywood, telling Soap Opera Digest just a week before news of her passing broke. "It's definitely something I would like to get back into", she told the outlet..