Entertainer and LGBTQ Activist Alexis Arquette Dead At 47 [Updated]
Actor Alexis Arquette, the second-to-youngest sibling of David, Rosanna, and Patricia Arquette, passed away early Sunday morning at the age of 47, according to a report from Radar Online.
Details surrounding Arquette’s sudden death are incredibly slim at this time, but sources connected to the entertainment gossip site say that the Bride of Chucky and Buffy The Vampire Slayer star, “was in a coma for four days at Cedars [Sinai Medical Center] and no one was allowed to see her except for family.” TMZ added that Alexis had been “battling an illness” for some time, although the specific malady he suffered from was not brought up in their report.
Arquette’s older brother, Richmond, first shared the sad news with the public on Sunday afternoon.
“Our brother Robert, who became our brother Alexis, who became our sister Alexis, who became our brother Alexis, passed away this morning, September 11, at 12:32 a.m.,” his note partially reads. “He was surrounded by all of his brothers and sisters, one of his nieces and several of his loved ones. As per his wishes, we cheered at the moment that his transitioned to another dimension.”
He went on to express that Alexis’ passing was “fast and painless,” and that as he took his final breath, the song “Starman” by late rock legend David Bowie played in the background.
“He died as he lived,” Richmond continued, “by his own terms. It was an incredibly moving experience, and I am humbled and grateful to have been with him as he began his journey onward. Thank you, Alexis. I love you and will love you always.”
Born Robert Arquette on July 28, 1969, Alexis would go on to change his name to the gender-neutral moniker in his mid-teens. While still publicly living as a male, he garnered roles in several big and small screen productions, including The Wedding Singer, Friends, Roseanne and Xena: Warrior Princess. Following his transition, which was documented in the film, Alexis Arquette: She’s My Brother, in 2007, she began to lean toward independent releases, appearing in more than 40 throughout her life. Her last mainstream role was in another Adam Sandlr-led production, Blended, in 2014.
Just recently, it was said that she began to back away from describing herself as “transgender.” Another of Alexis’ superstar siblings, David Arquette, would go on to confirm this in an interview with Khloe Kardashian for her now-defunct Kocktails With Khloe podcast.
“She was like, ‘Yeah, sometimes I’ll be a man, [but other times], I’ll be a woman,” he explained during the sit-down, adding that she preferred to be called “gender-suspicious” (more often referred to as “gender-fluid”).
Admittedly, the Scream star and former husband of Courteney Cox was a bit confused by Alexis’ admission.
“I [asked Alexis], ‘[so], you’re my sister and brother?’ [Alexis] said, ‘[well], it depends on how I’m dressed.'”
It has been rumored that during Alexis’ final days, he chose to solely refer to himself as a male, which is why Redmond bounced back and forth between male and female pronouns in the announcement of his sibling’s death. However, no official word has been made or given on this claim.
Arquette last made national headlines earlier this year, when, as noted by the Inquisitr, he blasted Hollywood “it-couple” Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith for their decision to boycott the 2016 Academy Awards ceremony over a lack of black actors being nominated for films. In his complaint, which was shared on his Facebook page, he questioned their intent for fighting for black causes, but not pro-LGBTQ ones, as they were both allegedly gay.
“Gays have enemies,” he wrote. “They lurk in gilded closets. Outing is healthy. You are either with or against us. You decide. Today.”
[Photo by Brad Barket/Stringer]
