Actress And Transgender Activist Alexis Arquette Dead At 47

This is so sad and unexpected.

Alexis Arquette, a well-known transgender actress and activist noted primarily for her memorable performance in The Wedding Singer, has died. She was just 47 years old.

Related: More Alexis Arquette News

In a post to his Facebook page on Sunday morning, Alexis’ brother Richmond shared the news first, writing:

“Our brother Robert, who became our brother Alexis, who became our sister Alexis, who became our brother Alexis, passed this morning September 11, at 12:32 am.”

No cause of death was disclosed.

Richmond continued, though, writing:

“He was surrounded by all of his brothers and sisters, one of his nieces and several other loved ones. We were playing music for him and he passed during David Bowie├óΓé¼╦£s Starman. As per his wishes, we cheered at the moment that he transitioned to another dimension. I am feeling immense gratitude to have been afforded the luxury of sharing life with him/her, for learning from Alexis, for being given the gift of being able to love her/him and to be loved by him/her. He was a force. He died as he lived, on his own terms. I am immensely grateful that it was fast and painless. It was an incredible moving experience and I am humbled and grateful to have been able to have been with him as he began his journey onward. Thank you, Alexis, I love you and will always love you.”

Truly, truly unexpected.

Further, media reports weren’t immediately clear why Richmond referred to Alexis by a male pronoun in the announcement.

Regardless, this is truly a big loss for the LGBT community and beyond, and a terrible tragedy for Alexis’ family, friends, and loved ones.

R.I.P.

[Image via FayesVision/WENN.]