Actress and activist Alexis Arquette has died. She was 47.
The news of Arquette’s death was first reported on the sites X17 and RadarOnline, which posted a screenshot of a Facebook announcement by Arquette’s brother Richmond. Arquette’s other siblings are the actors David, Patricia, and Rosanna Arquette.
TMZ confirmed the actress’s death with her family and reported that Arquette had been “battling an illness.”
Arquette’s brother Richmond, who referred to his sibling as “our brother Robert, who became our brother Alexis, who became our sister Alexis, who became our brother Alexis,” said on Facebook that Arquette died surrounded by family and “loved ones,” adding, “We were playing music for him and he passed during Bowie’s Starman. As per his wishes, we cheered at the moment he transitioned to another dimension.”
Pop music icon Boy George also tweeted a tribute to Arquette:
R.I.P my sister Alexis Arquette. Another bright light gone out far too soon. Love to the family and all that loved Alexis.
— Boy George (@BoyGeorge) September 11, 2016
Arquette’s most notable film role was Georgette in Last Exit to Brooklyn. She also took roles in I Think I Do, Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror, The Wedding Singer, Blended and Sometimes They Come Back… Again and on television in The Surreal Life and Bravo’s Top Design.
Arquette’s transition was documented in the 2007 film Alexis Arquette: She’s My Brother. Here are some outtakes from that film:
Here’s the screenshot of the post Arquette’s brother Richmond made to friends on Facebook on Sunday morning:
Patricia Arquette tweeted the videos to “Starman”on Sunday morning, writing “Breaking through the veil singing StarMan…”
Breaking through the veil singing StarMan https://t.co/A3way5S3Lb
— Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) September 11, 2016
As well as the the track “Cosmic Dancer” by T. Rex, writing, “To My first best friend…”
To My first best friend – Cosmic Dancer https://t.co/jgAqLrqxW0
— Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) September 11, 2016
UPDATE:
The Arquette family released a statement:
Our sister, Alexis Arquette, passed away this morning, September 11th, 2016.
Alexis was a brilliant artist and painter, a singer, an entertainer and an actor. She starred in movies like Last Exit to Brooklyn, Pulp Fiction, Jumpin’ at the Boneyard, Of Mice and Men, The Wedding Singer, and The Bride of Chucky. Her career was cut short, not by her passing, but by her decision to live her truth and her life as a transgender woman. Despite the fact that there are few parts for trans actors, she refused to play roles that were demeaning or stereotypical. She was a vanguard in the fight for understanding and acceptance for all trans people.
She fiercely lived her reality in a world where it is dangerous to be a trans person — a world largely unready to accept differences among human beings, and where there is still the ugliness of violence and hostility towards people that we may not understand.
Alexis was born as Robert, our brother. We loved him the moment he arrived. But he came in as more than a sibling — he came as our great teacher. As Alexis transitioned into being a woman, she taught us tolerance and acceptance. As she moved through her process, she became our sister, teaching us what real love is.
We learned what real bravery is through watching her journey of living as a trans woman. We came to discover the one truth — that love is everything.
In the days leading to her death, she told us she was already visiting the other side, and that where she was going, there was only one gender. That on the other side, we are free from all of the things that separate us in this life, and that we are all one.
She passed away surrounded by love. We held her and sang her David Bowie’s “Starman” as she punched through the veil to the other side. We washed her body in rose petals and surrounded her with flowers.
Alexis always had to do everything first. She left before we were ready to let her go. We are all heartbroken that she is no longer with us, but we are grateful for the grace and kindness we were all shown during this difficult time. We are comforted by the fact that Alexis came into our family and was our brother and then our sister, and that she gave us so much love. We will love you always, Alexis. We know we were the lucky ones.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers or gifts, donations please be sent to organizations that support the LGBTQ community in honor of Alexis Arquette.
Please respect our privacy during this time of grieving.
Also, David Arquette tweeted a tribute to Alexis.
Thank you all for your love and kind words about Alexis. My hero for eternity pic.twitter.com/Z18xLtYTBv
— David Arquette (@DavidArquette) September 11, 2016
