Anne Heche Death: Ellen DeGeneres, Actress' Son Break Their Silence After She Was Declared Legally Dead
Ellen DeGeneres sent a short but heartfelt message to the family of her ex, Anne Heche, who was declared legally dead on Friday.
The 64-year-old talk show host tweeted a message of comfort to Anne's family as news broke that the 53-year-old actress had died.
"This is a sad day. I'm sending Anne's children, family, and friends all of my love," Ellen wrote.
Ellen DeGeneres and Anne Heche dated from 1997 to 2000. Their relationship was a barrier breaker for the LGBTQ community in the mainstream media. However, Anne admitted that her relationship with the talk show host hurt her career.
Others who paid tribute to the actress included James Tupper, her former partner and the father of her 13-year-old son, Atlas Heche Tupper, who posted a close-up photo of the actress with the caption: "I love you forever."
Anne Heche's other son is Homer Laffoon, 20.
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Anne Heche's Son Breaks Silence After Death of Their Mom
Homer Laffoon broke his silence after the death of their mother. In a statement, Homer said he and his brother Atlas lost their mother "after six days of almost unbelievable emotional swings."
"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," Homer noted.
Homer also said he was grateful to the "thousands of friends, family, and fans," who sympathized with them and "made their hearts known to me." He noted that his father, Coley, and stepmom Alexi were his "rock" during this time.
"Rest In Peace Mom, I love you," Homer concluded.
In a separate statement on Thursday night, Anne's family said they lost a "bright light." The family described the actress as a "kind and most joyful soul, a loving mother, and a loyal friend."
"Anne will be deeply missed, but she lives on through her beautiful sons, her iconic body of work, and her passionate advocacy," the family said.
Anne Heche Death
Anne Heche crashed into a two-story home in the Mar Vista neighborhood of Los Angeles on August 5 while the owner was in the backyard.
Authorities said the collision caused a "heavy fire" that burned the actress badly. Anne remained stable following the accident, but her health deteriorated after a few days.
A spokesperson for Anne said she fell into a coma and suffered a "significant pulmonary injury" that required mechanical ventilation. The spokesperson added that Anne's burns required "surgical intervention."
On Thursday night, the spokesperson said the actress suffered a "severe anoxic brain injury" and was "not expected to survive."
On Friday afternoon, representatives for Anne confirmed that she was brain dead. Under California law, the actress' condition is considered legally dead. Earlier in the day, it was announced that Heche would be taken off of life support.
Her heartbeat was reportedly being maintained, so they had time to determine if she was a match for organ donation. The actress' family noted that it has "long been" the actress' choice to donate her organs.
Anne Heche rose to popularity in the early 1990s when she played twins on the soap opera "Another World." Her first major role was playing Johnny Depp's girlfriend in the gangster drama "Donnie Brasco" in 1997.
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Written by: Joshua Summers
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