One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
Alexis Arquette, actress and transgender activist, dies at 47
Actress Alexis Arquette arrives at the HBO premiere of "Hung" held at Paramount Studios on June 24, 2009 in Los Angeles, California.
(
Jason Merritt/Getty Images
)
Actress and transgender activist Alexis Arquette died early Sunday morning at the age of 47, family members said.
The actress was best known for roles in “The Wedding Singer,” and “Pulp Fiction,” and came out as transgender in 2006. A 2007 documentary, “She’s My Brother,” chronicled her transition. People Magazine and CNN both confirmed her death, although the cause is still unclear.
“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,” wrote her brother Richmond Arquette in a Facebook post Sunday. “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.”
Alexis’s siblings include actors Rosanna, David and Patricia Arquette. Several family members and friends tweeted words and photos in remembrance early Sunday.
https://twitter.com/PattyArquette/status/774927542482415617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/DavidArquette/status/775071588790120448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/BoyGeorge/status/775020270771810304
https://twitter.com/therealroseanne/status/775028566207582208
Sponsored message
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
