Esta TerBlanche (7 January 1973 – 19 July 2024)[1] was a South African actress, best known for her roles on television soap operas in both South Africa and the United States.[2]
Esta TerBlanche | |
|---|---|
| Born | 7 January 1973 Rustenburg, Transvaal, South Africa |
| Died | 19 July 2024 (aged 51)[1] Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1992–2013 |
| Spouse(s) | André Kock (1997–2008; divorced) |
Early life
editTerBlanche was born in Rustenburg, Transvaal (now North West Province). She was of Huguenot descent. She grew up on a game farm, replete with monkeys, cows, horses, sheep, warthogs, and elands.[3]
Television
editTerBlanche was crowned Miss Teen South Africa in 1991, and subsequently played Bienkie Naudé Hartman on the South African drama Egoli: Place of Gold from 1992 to 1995. In 1995, TerBlanche decided not to renew her contract with Egoli and, instead, opted to further her acting career in the U.S.[3] Within three weeks of arriving in Los Angeles, she found her first job, acting in a hair products commercial.[3] In 1997, TerBlanche was cast in the role of Gillian Andrassy[4][5][6] on the American daytime drama All My Children. Gillian, a troublemaking princess, was killed off in 2001[7][8] as TerBlanche asked to be written out of the show to move back to South Africa.
TerBlanche made a guest appearance on Egoli: Place of Gold in 2004.[9] She also made additional appearances on South African TV and in movies, but later returned to the United States.[citation needed] In 2010, she was interviewed by the American magazine Soap Opera Digest. She reported then that she had divorced and taken a break from acting.[10] She stated that she had opened a spa, exploring her interest in the medical field and in healing.[10]
In the interview, TerBlanche also noted that she had begun acting again and had recently filmed a pilot in South Africa.[10] She expressed interest in returning to All My Children or acting in another soap, citing her time on All My Children as the best of her life.[10] In 2011, she was briefly profiled in the People magazine tribute to All My Children.[11] In August 2011, it was announced that TerBlanche would reprise the role of Gillian during the final weeks of All My Children's broadcast on American network television.[12] TerBlanche made a guest appearance on the show on 24 August 2011.[13]
Plays she appeared in include: The Glass Menagerie, Pygmalion, Hear Ye, and Ten Times Worse on Friday. She also starred in the film, Three Thieves and a Wedding.[4] TerBlanche also worked as a TV presenter in South Africa for the environmental program 50/50[14] and the children's show, K-T.V.[15] TerBlanche was well known in South Africa and appeared on the covers of many magazines.
Personal life
editA native speaker of Afrikaans, TerBlanche also spoke English and German fluently. She could also speak French, Italian, and Russian to various degrees. TerBlanche married André Kock in 1997. They divorced in 2008.[16]
Death
editTerBlanche died in Los Angeles on 19 July 2024, at the age of 51.[1][2][17]
References
edit- ^ a b c Wright, Tracy; Stanton, Elizabeth (22 July 2024). "Esta TerBlanche, 'All My Children' actress, dead at 51". FoxNews.com. Archived from the original on 31 July 2024.
- ^ a b Petri, Alexandra E. (22 July 2024). "Esta TerBlanche, 'All My Children' Star, Dies at 51". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
- ^ a b c Nancy M. Reichardt, "South African finds success in America," Austin American-Statesman, 16 January 2000, p. 37. Retrieved 14 October 2011 from Academic (Lexis-Nexis).
- ^ a b "About the Actors: Esta TerBlanche Archived 19 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine," Soap Central. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
- ^ "Soap Suds Archived 22 July 2024 at the Wayback Machine," Bartow Press, 25 August 1997, p. 4. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
- ^ "Soap Bubbles Archived 22 July 2024 at the Wayback Machine," Calhoun Times and Gordon County News, 16 August 1997, p. 17. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
- ^ Kroll, Dan J., "Esta TerBlanche leaving; Darnell Williams Staying Archived 11 September 2001 at the Wayback Machine," SoapCentral, 8 September 2001. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
- ^ "'AMC' plans to drop actress and her character," The Dispatch (Lexington, N.C.), 1 December 2001, p. 27. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
- ^ "Celebrity Mailbag Archived 22 July 2024 at the Wayback Machine," The Blade (Toledo, Ohio), 5 April 1999. Retrieved 12 August 2012.
- ^ a b c d "Scene and Heard: Where Are They Now? Esta TerBlanche (Ex-Gillian, All My Children, 1997-2001)," Soap Opera Digest (7 December 2010), p. 60.
- ^ "Where Are They Now?," People Celebrates All My Children, 2011, p. 66.
- ^ ABC Soaps in Depth, "AMC Casting: TerBlanche Is Returning! Archived 5 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine" 1 August 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
- ^ She Knows Soaps.com, "All My Children Newsroom: Ryan's Long Lost Love Returns Archived 12 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine," 22 August 2011. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
- ^ "50/50 Beats the Odds Again and Again." IOL, 7 February 2004. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
- ^ "Esta TerBlanche Archived 18 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine," Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
- ^ "Esta TerBlanche Archived 7 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine," Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
- ^ Haring, Bruce (21 July 2024). "Esta TerBlanche Dies: All My Children Soap Star Was 51". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 21 July 2024. Retrieved 21 July 2024.