Alexis Arquette Died Surrounded By Family

It’s always a sad news day when someone in Hollywood passes away, and the world lost a bright star over the weekend. As reported by Variety, Alexis Arquette died on Sunday, which her family confirmed with a statement. The actress and outspoken transgender activist was only 47, and it seems that Alexis Arquette's cause of death is currently being kept private. In a statement from her siblings, who include fellow performers Patricia and David Arquette, some more details about her death were released and fans should respect the family's decisions about what information to share publicly.

While we may not know what was the specific cause of Arquette’s death (TMZ reported that an unnamed source claimed she was "battling an illness"), her siblings have opened up about what it was like when the actress died in the early morning hours of Sunday. In a Facebook post that was later deleted but quoted by Variety, Alexis' brother Richmond wrote that she was surrounded by family and loved ones at the moment of her passing. He also said that the family was “playing music” for her when she passed and that she “transitioned to another dimension” while David Bowie’s “Starman” was playing.

As intimate as these details are, it does give the impression that Arquette had known about her fate for some time. Or, at least enough time to gather her family and be surrounded by them in the moment of her passing. Richmond's statement confirms that the actress was surrounded by all of her siblings, a niece, and several loved ones when she passed away.

In addition to Richmond’s Facebook post, a statement released to People by Alexis' siblings suggests that she knew about her death before it happened. They said in the statement:

“In the days leading to her death, she told us she was already visiting the other side, and that where she was going, there was only one gender. That on the other side, we are free from all of the things that separate us in this life, and that we are all one.”

Alexis came out as transgender in 2006, and when David spoke about his sister on Kocktails with Khloe in February, he said, "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.'"

The Arquette family applauded Alexis' bravery for coming out and standing up for the trans community in their statement as well. It reads in part:

"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."

During this sad time, it is comforting to be reminded of Alexis' amazing impact and insights like these, as they will surely live on forever.