• David Arquette, Rosanna Arquette, Alexis Arquette, Richmond Arquette, and Patricia Arquette in 2014.

David Arquette, Rosanna Arquette, Alexis Arquette, Richmond Arquette, and Patricia Arquette in 2014. (Photo : Getty Images/ Imeh Akpanudosen)

Alexis Arquette, a famous member of the Arquette acting family and a trailblazing transgender performer, has died at the age of 47. Her death was announced on Facebook by Richmond, her brother.

Richmond first shared a statement using a masculine pronoun to describe Arquette, who was born Robert Arquette. He later deleted it, replacing it with a post from Patricia Arquette on behalf of his family, using the feminine pronoun.

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The Arquette family is thanking sister Alexis for making the world accept the transgender people following her death Sunday morning at age 47, People reported.

The transgender actress died just after midnight with her family surrounding, including siblings David, Patricia, Rosanna and Richmond. Her cause of death was unspecified.

According to Rolling Stone, the cause of death was unspecified and is yet to be known. However, Alexis Arquette is rumored to have suffered from "a lengthy sickness." Her death was not a surprise to her family and friends.

In a press release published by Patricia Arquette and shared by Richmond Arquette, a sibling in the Arquette family, Alexis Arquette's siblings described them all as a "brilliant" transgendered person who did not play roles that were stereotypical or demeaning.

The press release noted that Alexis had expressed to family members that they had already visited "the other side," and that there was only one gender there.

"On the other hand, we are now free from things that separate us in this life, and, we are all one."

"She died surrounded by love. We sang her David Bowie's 'Starman' as she punched through the veil to the other side," the statement read. "We cleaned her body in rose petals and surrounded her with flowers."

Arquette started her acting journey at the age of 12 and starred in a number of shows, such as "Of Mice and Men," "The Wedding Singer" and "Bride of Chucky" and then made a documentation of her gender transition in the 2007 show, "Alexis Arquette: She's My Brother."

ABC News first used male pronouns to describe Alexis Arquette, which was different to how her brother identified her in his Facebook post. The media later on updated the story in accordance with the Arquette family's newer post.

Patricia Arquette, Oscar winner paid tribute to her sister on Twitter, by sharing the late Bowie's song, "Starman."


As news of Arquette's death spread on Sunday afternoon, many took to social media to remember her, among them, Boy George.

The singer shared on Twitter, "R.I.P my sister. One more bright light gone out far too soon. Love to the family and all those who loved Alexis."


In the Sunday morning post, Richmond expressed his feeling of immense gratitude to have shared life with him/her, for learning from Alexis and for being given the gift of being able to love him/her and vice versa.

Alexis Arquette had a brief but memorable role playing against Courteney Cox, her then sister-in-law in the "Friends" episode "The One with Chandler's Dad".

Watch a video of Alexis Arquette be remembered by siblings following the death: