BY TROY MASTERS | Alexis Arquette, the groundbreaking actor/actress who, after declaring her transgender identity later said she was gender fluid, died Sunday morning at age 47, surrounded by family. The cause of death was not specified.
Her brother Richmond announced the death on Facebook:
“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,” Richmond posted on Facebook. “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’s Starman. As per his wishes, we cheered at the moment that he transitioned to another dimension.”
Born Robert Arquette, Alexis started acting at age 12, appearing in, among other films, “Bride of Chucky,” “Of Mice and Men,” and “The Wedding Singer.” Alexis most famously starred in a documentary about her gender transition in the 2007 film, Alexis Arquette: She’s My Brother.
Alexis is part of a famous acting family. Her siblings include David Arquette and Rosanna Arquette and 2015 Academy Award winner Patricia Arquette.
In February, Alexis’ borther David Arquette said during an appearance on “Kocktails with Khloe” that Alexis no longer identified as transgender.
“She was like, ‘Yeah, sometimes I’ll be a man, sometimes I’ll be a woman. I like to refer to myself as gender suspicious,'” David Arquette said.
Richmond Arquette says Alexis died surrounded by brothers, sisters, a niece and “several other loved ones.”
David Bowie’s song “Starman” was playing.
Richmond Arquette described Alexis to CNN as “a force” who “died as he lived, on his own terms” and said he was happy to have been “with him as he began his journey onward.”
A cause of death was not specified.
Singer Boy George also paid homage to Arquette, who famously portrayed a Boy George-inspired singer in the 1998 film “The Wedding Singer.”
“R.I.P. my sister Alexis Arquette,” Boy George tweeted. “Another bright light gone out far too soon. Love to the family and all that loved Alexis.”
