Fans worldwide recognize actress Anne Heche for her double role as the twins Marley Love and Vicky Hudson on the soap opera “Another World.” Even though it was her first significant part in TV, the role won her several awards, including two Soap Opera Digest Awards and a Daytime Emmy Award.
In addition to her film roles, Heche was also famous for her appearance in the military drama series “The Brave,” “Aftermath,” “Save Me,” “Hung,” and “Men in Trees.”
Her prowess was, however, not limited to acting as she also voiced Suyin Beifong in the animated series “The Legend of Korra” and appeared on season 29 of “Dancing with the Stars.”
During her career, Heche also graced the Observer Magazine and Entertainment Weekly Magazine covers and was listed as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World by People Magazine in 1998.
Heche’s life was an overall success, and she seemed to progress with her career and personal life with every step she made until tragedy struck on August 5, 2022. The actress, 53, was driving in the Mar Vista neighborhood of Los Angeles when she crashed her mini cooper into a two-story house.
Witnesses say the actress had first driven her car into a garage in a nearby apartment complex. Residents then tried getting her out of the car, but she drove off before they could stop her.
Shortly after, surveillance cameras spotted her driving high speed through the neighborhood before leaving the T-junction and crashing into tenant Lynne Mishele’s home.
According to authorities dealing with the case, the crash caused terrible damage and a fire that took 59 firefighters 65 minutes to put off. Still, more tragically, it left Heche severely injured and with extensive burns.
Based on a statement made after the crash, Heche was rushed to the nearby local hospital, the Grossman Burn Center at West Hills Hospital. The doctors reported that she had suffered a severe anoxic brain injury.
Another rep, Michael A. McConnell, a member of the Los Angeles talent management company Zero Gravity Management, which represents Heche, told Reuters that the actress had significant pulmonary damage requiring her to breathe through a ventilator and burns that needed surgery.
Initially, “The Hour of Lead” actress’ reps reported that she was in stable condition, but come Monday, August 8, she slipped into a coma that she would, unfortunately, never come out of.
Five days after the Friday, August 5 crash, Heche was still in a coma, in critical condition, and on a ventilator. A representative disclosed that there had been no improvement in her condition since the crash.
Exactly a week after the crash, on Friday, August 12, the renowned actress finally breathed her last, leaving behind her two sons, Homer, 20, who she shared with ex Coley Laffoon and Atlas, 13, with ex James Tupper.
A rep for the “I Know What You Did Last Summer” actress expressed her pain in losing Heche, adding that she was a bright light, a joyful soul, a dotting mother, and a true-hearted and kind friend.
The statement stated that the actress would be missed, but she would live through her beautiful sons and advocacy work that impacted many people far and wide.
Following the “Six Days, Seven Nights” actress’ demise on Friday, her older son Homer spoke out for the first time, expressing his sadness and the emotional turmoil his family was going through.
In his exclusive statement with People, the 20-year-old shared how emotionally draining the days were when his mother was in hospital in critical condition. He shared that her death had left a void in his and his brother’s hearts but hoped she was now free of pain. He shared:
“I am left with a deep, wordless sadness. Hopefully, my mom is free from pain and beginning to explore what I like to imagine as her eternal freedom.”
He also thanked those who supported him and his brother through the challenging week, including the thousands of friends, family, and fans who reached out with comforting messages of love and support.
He thanked his father, Laffoon, and his stepmother Alexi who he said continued to be his rock during his time of mourning. Homer ended his statement with the simple declaration that he loved his mother, saying:
“Rest In Peace, Mom. I love you.”
Many others remembered Heche and her impact on people. The Emmy winner’s rep shared that, even in death, Heche would continue to impact many lives with her iconic advocacy work and bravery in standing up for the truth.
The rep added that the actress’s legacy would live on in her two beautiful sons and her courage in spreading love and acceptance, which will have a lasting impact on the world.
Even though Heche had been brain-dead for days, her heart continued beating. The concerned parties declared the actress brain-dead on Thursday night but added that she would remain on life support to test her organs for potential donation.
Despite being considered dead according to California law, the doctors kept her on life support as they identified potential organ recipients, which they determined would take several days.