Tragic Loss: All My Children Star Eden Riegel Breaks Silence on Actor Jeffrey Carlson's Shocking Demise at 48
'All My Children' star Jeffrey Carlson, known for his groundbreaking role as the first transgender character on daytime TV, sadly passes away at 48 Eden Riegel, his co-star, expresses her deep sorrow at this unimaginable loss
Jeffrey Carlson, the actor renowned for his groundbreaking portrayal of daytime TV's first transgender character on All My Children, passed away at the age of 48. Time Out New York theater critic Adam Feldman was the first to announce the sad news on Sunday, July 9, with no reported information regarding the cause of his death.
Eden Riegel, who previously worked with Jeffrey Carlson on All My Children, expressed her grief and admiration for him on Twitter following his death. She described him as beautiful, talented, and kind-hearted, and expressed gratitude for their friendship and the opportunity to witness his brilliant work. She mourned his untimely passing, calling it an unimaginable loss, and ended her message by expressing her love for him and wishing him rest.
Jeffrey Carlson, a native of Long Beach, California, pursued his passion for acting by studying at The University of California Davis and The Juilliard School in New York City. After gaining experience in Broadway productions such as Tartuffe and Taboo, he transitioned to screen work. He had a guest appearance on Law and Order: Special Victims Unit and a small role in the 2005 romantic comedy Hitch before landing his role on All My Children.
Eden Riegel and Jeffrey Carlson on ‘All My Children.’ Heidi Gutman/Abc Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock
Carlson started out with a brief role as flamboyant British rockstar Zarf on the soap opera. The producers recognized his talent and chose him to play the role of a trans character in an upcoming story arc. Zarf returned to Pine Valley and developed romantic feelings for Bianca (played by Riegel), eventually revealing her true identity as a woman and changing her name to Zoe.
Reflecting on the storyline in 2006, Carlson expressed his deep emotional connection to it and stated, "If it sparks a dialogue, then I believe we have fulfilled our purpose."
The story earned All My Children a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Daily Drama in 2007. Carlson wrapped up his run on the ABC soap later that year before returning to theater work.
