Esta TerBlanche, known to All My Children fans as Gillian Andrassy, the late wife of Ryan Lavery, played by Cameron Mathison, died suddenly at the age of 51 last Thursday. Now, Mathison, who plays Drew on General Hospital, and others are paying tribute to their beloved friend.

In Memoriam

“I am heartbroken upon learning about Esta’s death,” Lisa Rodrigo, TerBlanche’s publicist, tells Soap Hub. “She was and always will be a beautiful soul who I will miss every day. I am proud to have known her and call her not only a client but a friend.”

“Esta helped out last year when [my dog] Red was sick and paralyzed and I was struggling,” Cameron Mathison shared on Instagram stories. “One of the sweetest people ever.”

Mathison has spoken fondly of his pairing with TerBlanche when the two played AMC lovebirds. The actress began her performing career in South Africa, where she was born and lived. She made her move to the United States in 1995.

“I’m absolutely shocked and saddened to have learned of the sudden passing of dear Esta Terblanche,” Vincent Irizarry (ex-David, AMC) shared on Instagram. “She was truly a kind, sweet soul, whom I will be forever grateful to have had the pleasure of knowing and working with during our years together on All My Children. She left us way, way too soon… RIP, dear, sweet Esta.”

Former AMC casting director Judy Blye Wilson wrote: “What a beautiful post, Vince. I am also so very saddened by this news. She was a beautiful soul.”

In 1991, TerBlanche had been crowned Miss Teen South Africa and appeared in that country’s first soap opera titled Egoli: Place of Gold. She played the part of Bienke Naudé Hartman between 1992 and 1995. But her big break in the United States came when she was cast as Gillian. Not long after Gillian and Ryan (Cameron Mathison) were married, the heroine took a fatal bullet that was meant for Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) during the time that character lived in Pine Valley.

As AMC was sending Gillian to that great soap in the sky, it took the opportunity to write back onto the show other characters, who’d also died to help usher Gillian to her final resting place. They included Jesse Hubbard (Darnell Williams), Natalie Dillon (Kate Collins), Harold the dog, Jeremy Hunter (Jean LeClerc), Cindy Chandler (Ellen Wheeler), and Travis Montgomery (Larkin Malloy).

Former AMC co-star Cady McClain (ex-Dixie) also wrote on Instagram about TerBlanche’s death. “I I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Esta Terblanche,” McClain shared. “She was a friend and colleague from my early All My Children days in the 1990’s that I reconnected with in 2011 when I was in LA shooting the show again.

“We had a lot of fun working on a pilot together based on her life,” McClain adds. “She was a funny, and fun and full of good ideas. She was also a smart, kind person who was always looking out for others. She had a silly side but also loved drinking champagne and feeling fabulous, as I sometimes like to do! We were hardworking girls who became hardworking women. I admired the part of her that was determined to hold her own and stand her own ground while at the same time being a woman that loved very deeply. I wish her soul a peaceful journey and her living family, dear friends and loved one’s every comfort.”

TerBlanche reprised Gillian as AMC was exiting the ABC airwaves in 2011. Her other credits include Spin City and The Syndicate. Soap Hub sends sincere condolences to TerBlanche’s family and loved ones at this difficult time.