Actress and LGBT activist Alexis Arquette dies at 47

Alexis Arquette, best known for playing Boy George impersonator in the 1998 musical romance The Wedding Singer, has passed away. She was 47. 

Arquette, a transgender actress, died surrounded by family, her siblings Patricia, David, Rosanna and Richmond confirmed. Her cause of death was unspecified, reported People. "Our sister, Alexis Arquette, passed away this morning, September 11th, 2016," they said.

Thank you all for your love and kind words about Alexis. My hero for eternity pic.twitter.com/Z18xLtYTBv

— David Arquette (@DavidArquette) September 11, 2016

Arquette's brother Richmond also announced her death on a Facebook post, saying she died while listening to David Bowie's "Starman". "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," he wrote.

Arquette was best known for her appearances in films like Pulp Fiction, Bride of Chucky and Adam Sandler comedy The Wedding Singer. The transgender actress was also involved in LGBT activism and documented her transition in a 2007 documentary titled Alex Arquette: She's My Brother. It was believed that she had been suffering from a serious long-term illness.

Tributes have been paid to the star, by singer Boy George, Courteney Cox, Emilie de Ravin, Mark Gatiss and Ellen Barkin.

R.I.P my sister Alexis Arquette. Another bright light gone out far too soon. Love to the family and all that loved Alexis.

— Boy George (@BoyGeorge) September 11, 2016

Friends star Cox expressed her condolences to the family with a heartfelt message. 

My heart goes out to anyone who was lucky enough to know Alexis.
We will love and miss you forever.

— Courteney Cox (@CourteneyCox) September 11, 2016

Ravin posted, 

Sending bunches of love to the Arquette family and friends... #RIP #AlexisArquette 

— Emilie de Ravin (@emiliederavin) September 11, 2016

While Sherlock star Gatiss wrote,

I remember falling for Alexis Arquette (and Craig Chester) in a lovely and now sadly appropriately titled little film called 'Grief'.

— Mark Gatiss (@Markgatiss) September 11, 2016

"Now cracks a noble heart. Good-night sweet prince. And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest". Beautiful tender soul Alexis Arquette

— Ellen Barkin (@EllenBarkin) September 11, 2016