- Jeffrey Carlson, known for portraying one of daytime TV’s first transsexual characters, has passed away at the age of 48.
- He rose to fame following his role as Freddie Luper/Zarf on ABC’s All My Children in 2006.
- Carlson’s other acting credits include the movie Hitch and an episode of Law & Order: SVU.
Jeffrey Carlson, an actor notable for portraying one of the first transgender characters on daytime-TV on ABC’s All My Children, has passed away at the age of 48. News of Carlson’s death was announced on Twitter by Time Out New York theater critic Adam Feldman, though no cause of death was provided.
Carlson first appeared on All My Children in August 2006 as Freddie Luper, better known by the stage name Zarf, a British rock musician. Zarf develops feelings for Bianca Montgomery and tries to kiss her, oblivious to her being a lesbian. On New Year’s Eve, Zarf comes out as transgender lesbian named Zoe after realizing her attraction to a lesbian woman. Daytime-TV’s first transgender character was Azure, played by Carlotta Chang in 1995.
Eden Riegel, who portrayed Bianca on the show, tweeted her condolences, stating, “Devastated beyond measure to hear of the passing of the beautiful and gifted Jeffrey Carlson. I feel fortunate to have called this kind soul a friend and see his brilliant work up close. Gone far too soon — an unimaginable loss. Love you, Jeffrey. Rest friend.”
Time Out New York’s Adam Feldman remembered Carlson as an “exposed-nerve star of Broadway” and “a powerful actor.” The Shakespeare Theatre Company also expressed their grief through a Facebook post, praising Carlson’s “beautiful and nuanced performances” throughout his career, which spanned television, film, and Broadway. Some of Carlson’s other acting credits include the Will Smith movie Hitch and a 2004 episode of Law & Order: SVU.