Jeffrey Carlson, a stage and screen actor best known for a historic turn as a transgender character on the daytime soap opera All My Children, has died. He was 48.

The Cook County Medical Examiners Office confirmed Carlsons July 6 death to People on Sunday, but did not announce the cause.

As most are aware our beloved Jeffrey has gone to rest, Carlsons sister Elizabeth Carlson Gingras told HuffPost in an email statement. We are devastated by his passing and trying our best to handle this in a way that allows us to grieve, protect our hearts, and celebrate every ounce of goodness about him. It seems impossible to move forward without him, but we must focus on the time we had, and bring to light his memory and beautiful soul.

Among those to express their condolences was fellow actor Susan Hart.

For those of you that dont know, Im very sorry to share the news that Jeffrey passed away yesterday, Hart wrote in a July 7 Facebook post . I have been respectful of his familys privacy in not sharing the news sooner also could not breathe or function still cant love to all just devastated ..

Other friends and former collaborators shared their memories of Carlson on social media.

A powerful actor and a painful loss, Adam Feldman, theater critic for Time Out New York, wrote on Twitter . I first saw him in a Lee Blessing play called Thief River when he was still in Juilliard and it was clear he was something special.

Jeffrey gave beautiful and nuanced performances during a career which took him from television and film to Broadway and, fortunately for us, to STC, the Shakespeare Theatre Company of Washington, D.C., wrote on Instagram . We send our love to Jeffreys friends, family, and colleagues, those who knew and loved him dearest.