Alexis Arquette, Actress and Transgender Rights Activist, Dead at 47
Alexis Arquette passed away early Sunday morning, September 11, while surrounded by family and friends, TMZ reports. A source confirmed to PEOPLE that Arquette died from complications related to AIDS.
The transgender rights activist and actress, who most famously starred in films like Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction and Adam Sandler's 1998 romantic comedy The Wedding Singer, was 47 years old.
The sibling of famous actor and actress David and Patricia Arquette, Alexis was reportedly battling an undisclosed illness.
Her brother, Richmond Arquette, revealed that Alexis died while listening to David Bowie's "Starman."
According to UsWeekly, he wrote in a post 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. 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."
Richmond continued, "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."
On Twitter, Patricia payed tribute to her late sister by sharing Bowie's song.
Boy George, who inspired Alexis' flamboyant character George Stitzer in The Wedding Singer, also addressed her passing on Twitter, writing, "R.I.P. my sister Alexis Arquette. Another bright light gone out far too soon. Love to the family and all that loved Alexis." Courteney Cox, who was married to David Arquette, also honored Alexis on Sunday.
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