Heartrending new details on death of All My Children star Esta TerBlanche, 51, who was found dead at her LA home

Esta TerBlanche was found dead surrounded by an array of rare animals that she kept as pets, it has been revealed.

The All My Children star was found dead in her bathroom at her Hollywood mansion by her assistant last week.

The 51-year-old South African had not been in touch with her team since returning from a trip overseas - and it's believed she passed away sometime on Wednesday.

Now sources have revealed the surprising pets she was keeping in her California home, including cats, dogs and even prairie dogs.

The South African actress (pictured in February 2023), who died last week, had at least three cats, two dogs, as well as, prairie dogs that had to be removed from her home by LA County Animal Control and a private animal rescue

TerBlanche (pictured in 1998) was found on the bathroom floor by her assistant Friday when she arrived at the actress' home to check on her after not hearing from the soap opera star since returning from her trip overseas

TerBlanche had three cats, two dogs and prairie dogs that had to be removed from her home by LA County Animal Control and a private animal rescue, TMZ reports. 

It is unknown what happened to her pets after they were taken in. 

The All My Children star's Instagram is full of photos and videos of her precious pets, where she often posted about them playing and cuddling with her. 

The three cats and two dogs were taken in by LA County Animal Control, while the prairie dogs were taken by a private animal rescue. 

Her death is under investigation and her autopsy report is pending toxicology (pictured in August 2023)

All My Children star Esta TerBlanche died last week at the age of 51, according to TMZ

All My Children star Esta TerBlanche has died at the age of 51, according to TMZ. (Pictured with All My Children co-star Cameron Mathison) 

The South African actress was found dead on Thursday in her California home, her goddaughter Barbie Ashley revealed.

Medical responders believe she had been dead in the North Hollywood property for around one day before she was discovered.  

The soap star's cause of death is under investigation, her representative Lisa Rodrigo told TMZ. Rodrigo said there is no further information at this time. 

TerBlanche's career took off after she won Miss Teen South Africa in 1991. She was best known for her role as Gillian Andrassy in American sitcom All My Children.

She got her start playing Bienkie Naudé Hartman on the South African drama Egolim, a role she starred in from 1992 to 1995.

TerBlanche's character in All My Children - the trouble-making princess  - was killed off in 2001 so that she could move back to South Africa. 

She was married to André Kock from 1997 to 2008, when they divorced. TerBlanche announced the split during an interview with Soap Opera Digest. 

The TV star reportedly took a break from acting, returned to Los Angeles and opened a healing spa. She is survived by her ex-husband Kock, and her goddaughter.

The South African actress passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday in her California home, her goddaughter Barbie Ashley revealed

Pictured: a 1999 scene from All My Children starring Cameron Matheson and Esta TerBlanche

It comes after TerBlanche's All My Children co-star, Alec Musser, was found dead at age 50 in his California home earlier this year.

Musser, who was known for his role on the show along with a guest appearance on Desperate Housewives, died of an undisclosed cause at his house in Del Mar.

Alec Musser's fiancee Paige Press declared it the 'worst day of my life' as she confirmed his passing in January 2024. 

The couple got engaged last year and Press posted a series of throwback photos on her Instagram Story in a tribute to the late actor.

'RIP to the love of my life,' she wrote on Instagram over a 'vision board for 2023' on which she had posted photos of him and engagement images. 'I will never stop loving you.'

Over a photo of them at a red carpet appearance together, she wrote: 'Today is the worst day of my life. We were so happy.' 

'You were the best fiancé I could of [sic] ever asked for,' she posted alongside a photo of him surprising her with matching Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUVs. 'I don't even think I can drive my g wagon anymore.'