Alexis Arquette (1969-2016)
Sunday, September 11, 2016 at 6:43PM 
Alexis Arquette, the youngest sister of the Arquette acting family, passed away today at the age of 47 after a lengthy illness. She was the fourth of the five Arquette kids, all of whom became actors, with Rosanna Arquette leading the way to fame in the early 80s. Alexis was surrounded by all her siblings when she died as they listened to her favorite songs. She passed during David Bowie's "Starman." (So many sad goodbyes in 2016.)
Born Robert, she took the name Alexis early on, long before coming out officially as transgendered. Onscreen her first appearance was uncredited in the Bette Midler comedy Down & Out in Beverly Hills (1986).
as "Georgette" in Last Exit to Brooklyn
Her official debut though was as the trans prostitute "Georgette" in one of Jennifer Jason Leigh's most critically acclaimed showcases Last Exit to Brooklyn (1989)...
Alexis was a fixture of indie cinema in the 1990s appearing in everything from Richard Glatzer's gay indie Grief (with Jackie Beat & Craig Chester) through Pulp Fiction (1994). Her biggest mainstream success was as Adam Sandler's Boy George-inspired bandmate in The Wedding Singer (1998).
Alexis, far left, and the wonderful cast of Richard Glatzer's Grief (1993) early in all of their film careers: Craig Chester, Lucy Gutteridge, Jackie Beat, Ileanna Douglas, and Carlton Wilborn (who is best known for Madonna's "Truth or Dare")
Doomed in a shoot out in Pulp Fiction (1994)
The Wedding Singer was a huge hit for all involved.
Alexis as Caligula in season 6 of Xena:Warrior Princess (2001)
But it was in Wigstock (1995) when Alexis was playing herself in the underappreciated drag documentary when I fell hard.
It was the moment where she crouched down to shove her shaved head under a giant fern and treated the plant like a wig and started singing. I'll never forget it even though one suspects it was highly rehearsed and not an off the cuff moment caught by the documentarian. At the time there was no RuPaul's Drag Race and only the LGBT community was into famous drag queens like Alexis, Jackie Beat, LadyBunny, Joey Arias, Mistress Formika, RuPaul (who was making mainstream inroads with her hit "Supermodel of the World") and the rest. Now of course it's a different world entirely since RuPaul's Drag Race has created a veritable franchise universe worth of famous queens.
the sisters, Alexis, Rosanna (the eldest child), and Patricia
In the 1990s, the most Arquette of times at the movies, with all of them working. From left to right and they're even posed by age from youngest to oldest: David, Alexis, Patricia, Richmond, and Rosanna
Back in the 1990s we thought of Alexis as a famous drag queen but the term no longer applies in retrospect. Alexis later came out publicly as transgendered, famously transitioning in the Aughts (documented in the film Alexis Arquette: She's My Brother)
Alexis is survived by her siblings. Richmond Arquette posted the family statement (written by Patricia) to announce the death. The family asks that in lieu of flowers or gifts people donate money to organizations that support the LGBTQ community. Patricia Arquette, who was very close to Alexis (they were born just 15 months apart) tweeted out these two goodbyes.
To My first best friend - Cosmic Dancer https://t.co/jgAqLrqxW0
— Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) September 11, 2016
Breaking through the veil singing StarMan https://t.co/A3way5S3Lb
— Patricia Arquette (@PattyArquette) September 11, 2016
Reader Comments (8)
So very sad I didn't know she was ill. And in the scheme of things so young.
A memorable performer. Many terrific pieces of work. All the big ones have been mentioned but I remember a role before the transition in the 2002 indie The Trip playing one of the leads best friend. Hysterically funny but also shaded nicely creating a full character.
RIP Alexis. Her part in The Wedding Singer was pretty eye-opening for me, allowed to be as funny as she wants without being the butt.
And coming out as transgender so long ago surely helped open minds a little earlier.
So sad! I didn't even know Alexis was ill (if indeed she was). May she rest in peace -- a life well lived.
P.S. Last Exit to Brooklyn was 1989/90.
So sad.
I send my love to Patty and Rosanna, marvelous ladies.
I always liked Alexis. She was fun to watch as I loved the moment she went apeshit during an episode of The Surreal Life where a bunch of assholes were ragging on her and she went nuts. The first thing I think she did was play the kid in the video for the Tubes' "She's a Beauty" as she got the part because the band were friends of Rosanna at the time. The songs that Patricia picked out are amazing but I don't want to listen to "Starman" because it's going to make me cry again.
We should note that Alexis died as a man. He transitioned back from female to man and identified himself as such in the last years. Nonetheless, thank you for posting this. It's very sad. Alexis paved the road for many. RIP
Yup, so sad and so young. I feel like we never got to see the extent of Alexis' talent, but I am a fan in films you mentioned like LAST EXIT TO BROOKLYN and THE WEDDING SINGER as well as BRIDE OF CHUCKY. As you mentioned, it's WIGSTOCK that will give me my fondest memories - especially the fern wig, which is just a miracle moment in that very entertaining doc.
So sad. Thoughts are with his loved ones. The Last Exit to Brooklyn is a terrific film and soooo difficult to watch.