Anne Heche Dies at 53 Following Fiery Crash

Actress Anne Heche, who crashed into a home on Friday, August 5, igniting a blaze, has died of her injuries after a week in a hospital. She was 53.

Though dramatic video showed Heche springing up from under a sheet while being removed from the scene, she had been in a coma since shortly after the accident.

Her rep told "Extra" that Heche's heart was still beating, but that she was "legally dead" while organ donation was explored.

"Today we lost a bright light, 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. Her bravery for always standing in her truth, spreading her message of love and acceptance, will continue to have a lasting impact."

Her rep had previously given the outlet a grim update on her condition on August 11, saying, "Unfortunately, due to her accident, Anne suffered a severe anoxic brain injury and remains in a coma, in critical condition. She is not expected to survive."

The rep continued, "It has long been her choice to donate her organs and she's being kept on life support to determine if any are viable.”

The family also wanted to show their appreciation for the medical staff who took care of Heche.

"We want to thank everyone for their kind wishes and prayers for Anne's recovery and thank the dedicated staff and wonderful nurses that cared for Anne at the Grossman Burn Center at West Hills hospital," the statement said.

Praising the star, the statement said of her legacy, "Anne had a huge heart and touched everyone she met with her generous spirit. More than her extraordinary talent, she saw spreading kindness and joy as her life's work — especially moving the needle for acceptance of who you love. She will be remembered for her courageous honesty and dearly missed for her light."

Anne's oldest son, Homer Laffoon, told People, "My brother Atlas and I lost our Mom. 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. Over those six days, thousands of friends, family, and fans made their hearts known to me. I am grateful for their love, as I am for the support of my Dad, Coley, and my stepmom Alexi who continue to be my rock during this time. Rest In Peace Mom, I love you."

Heche was allegedly driving erratically the day of her accident, hitting a garage, a Jaguar, and eventually a house, which burst into flames.

LAPD sources told TMZ that Heche's blood was tested after the crash, and that alcohol was not found — but cocaine and fentanyl were. The sources emphasized that Anne’s blood was drawn after she was admitted to the hospital and that fentanyl can sometimes be used as a pain medication. The insiders said more testing and investigating would be required to determine when the fentanyl entered her system.

It was a tragic end to a career that had once glittered with possibilities.

Born May 25, 1969, in Aurora, Ohio, Heche played twins Vicky Hudson and Marley Love on the soap "Another World" (1987-1991), which earned her a Daytime Emmy.

Her co-star, Russell Todd, wrote on Instagram, "I’m incredibly saddened and pained by this tragedy. Annie was my ex-wife and girlfriend on the NBC soap opera, 'Another World' for a year and a half while playing identical twins Vicky and Marley to my character Dr. Jamie Frame. We worked together almost every day, sharing laughs, love scenes, preposterous stories, long hours, drama and triumphs, including a remote shoot we did in Nice, France where our characters fell in love. She was a force of nature. A beautiful and wonderfully talented actress. She was a guide and mentor to me, always there with advice and support. God bless you Annie. I am eternally grateful for our time together and will never forget your talent, devilish smile, indomitable spirit and endless energy. God’s speed my friend. My condolences as well to the family and friends. Love, your Jamie..Russell."

Her TV work led to a film career, including in "Donnie Brasco" (1997), "Volcano" (1997), "I Know What You Did Last Summer" (1997), "Return to Paradise" (1998), a frame-for-frame remake of "Psycho" (1998), and more.

After she was cast as Harrison Ford's leading lady in "Six Days, Seven Nights" (1998), but well before the big-budget film's release, Heche had come out as the girlfriend of Ellen DeGeneres, whose own coming out had made TV history. A photograph of the two chatting with sitting president Bill Clinton made waves, and media pundits wondered whether the movie-going public would accept a lesbian in a heterosexual role in a blockbuster.

In 2020, Heche revealed on "Dancing with the Stars" that she lost her studio contract because she insisted on being open about dating Ellen.

“My movie premiere for ‘Volcano,’ I had told them that I was taking Ellen as my date and I was told if I took Ellen, I would lose my Fox contract," she said on the show. "At that moment, she took my hand and said, ‘Do what they say,’ and I said, ‘No, thanks.' I took Ellen to the premiere and I was ushered out by security before the movie even ended and was told I was not allowed to go to my own after-party for fear they would get pictures of me with a woman. I was in a relationship with Ellen DeGeneres for three-and-a-half years and the stigma attached to that relationship was so bad that I was fired from my multimillion-dollar picture deal and I did not work in a studio picture for 10 years.”

The same night her story aired, she was vote off "DWTS," and reportedly stormed off the set without speaking to assembled press.

DeGeneres and Heche discussed marriage (before same-sex marriage was legal), but broke up in 2000. At that time, Heche clarified she was not a lesbian, and that all her relationships aside from her experience with Ellen had been with men.

DeGeneres posted on Twitter moments before Heche's death was confirmed, writing, "This is a sad day. I'm sending Anne's children, family and friends all my love."

Heche left DeGeneres for cameraman Coley Laffoon, married him in 2001, and gave birth to his son in 2002.

In 2009, Heche and Laffoon divorced after she had begun dating James Tupper, her co-star on the TV series "Men in Trees" (2006-2008). She gave birth to a second son in 2009. The couple split in 2018.

Heche had long been public about her mental health struggles. After a widely publicized mental break in 2000, her 2001 memoir "Call Me Crazy" detailed alleged sexual abuse by her father, and she famously talked in interviews about having believed in other dimensions and having alter egos.

Following her split with DeGeneres and her public airing of her prior mental state, Heche appeared to raves on Broadway in "Proof" (2002) and "Twentieth Century" (2004).

She also continued working on TV and in smaller films. Along with her run on "Men in Trees," she appeared on "Ally McBeal" (2001), "Everwood" (2004-2005), "Hung" (2009-2011), "Blackout" (2012), "Save Me" (2013), "The Michael J. Fox Show" (2013-2014), "Dig" (2015), "Aftermath" (2016), "The Brave" (2017-2018), "Chicago P.D." (2018-2019), and "All Rise" (2021-2022), and will be seen posthumously on "The Idol."

In 2020, she competed with pro dancer Keo Motsepe on Season 29 of "Dancing with the Stars," placing 13th. She provided the voice of Suyin Beifong on "The Legend of Korra" (2014), starred in the TV movie "Looks Like Christmas" (2016).

Later films include "What Love Is" (2007), "Spread" (2009), "Cedar Rapids" (2011), "Rampart" (2011), "That's What She Said" (2012), "Black November" (2012), "Arthur Newman" (2012), "Wild Card" (2014), "Opening Night" (2016), "Catfight" (2016), and an acclaimed turn in "My Friend Dahmer" (2017) as the mother of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer.

In addition to her over 80 other credits, Heche has several films in post-production.

Heche, the fourth of five siblings to die young, is survived by her two sons.