Members of the famous Arquette family announced Sunday, Sept. 11 that transgender actress and advocate Alexis Arquette passed away.
An actor since 1982, Arquette has a long list of credits to her name, from Pulp Fiction to Bride of Chucky to Of Mice and Men. In The Wedding Singer she played a Boy George impersonator. Her first role, at the age of 12, was in the music video for “She’s A Beauty” by The Tubes. She came out as a trans woman in 2006, changing her name from Robert and taking up the torch of transgender rights.
Siblings Patricia, David, Rosanna and Richmond released a joint statement following Arquette’s death.
“Alexis was a brilliant artist and painter, a singer, an entertainer and an actor,” the statement read. “Her career was cut short, not by her passing, but by her decision to live her truth and her life as a transgender woman.”
The statement also addressed Arquette’s role as an activist.
“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,” it read.
Thank you all for your love and kind words about Alexis. My hero for eternity pic.twitter.com/Z18xLtYTBv
— David Arquette (@DavidArquette) 11 September 2016
“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.”
Arquette’s siblings and family serenaded her with “Starman” by David Bowie as she passed, according to the statement.
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) 11 September 2016
The trans actress famously documented her experience with gender reassignment surgery and coming out in the documentary Alexis Arquette: She's My Brother released in 2007.
In lieu of gifts, the family has requested that fans wishing to pay their respects send donations to LGBT organizations.
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