• Anne Heche at the 74th Annual Directors Guild of America Awards in Beverly Hills on March 12, 2022. The Hollywood actress was in a fiery car crash in Los Angeles in August. Reuters
    Anne Heche at the 74th Annual Directors Guild of America Awards in Beverly Hills on March 12, 2022. The Hollywood actress was in a fiery car crash in Los Angeles in August. Reuters
  • Anne Heche at the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg Reception at the 68th Berlinale International Film Festival in 2018. Getty Images
    Anne Heche at the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg Reception at the 68th Berlinale International Film Festival in 2018. Getty Images
  • The actress at the premiere of the HBO television series 'Big Little Lies' in Los Angeles in 2017. Reuters
    The actress at the premiere of the HBO television series 'Big Little Lies' in Los Angeles in 2017. Reuters
  • Canadian actor James Tupper, left, Anne Heche, right, and son Atlas Heche Tupper at the premiere of 'Mr Popper's Penguins' in 2011. EPA
    Canadian actor James Tupper, left, Anne Heche, right, and son Atlas Heche Tupper at the premiere of 'Mr Popper's Penguins' in 2011. EPA
  • A pregnant Heche at the premiere of the movie 'Spread' in 2009. EPA
    A pregnant Heche at the premiere of the movie 'Spread' in 2009. EPA
  • From left, Anne Heche, Hugh Jackman and Donna Murphy pose for photographers during the the Tony Award Nominee class picture at the Minskoff Theatre in New York in 2004. EPA
    From left, Anne Heche, Hugh Jackman and Donna Murphy pose for photographers during the the Tony Award Nominee class picture at the Minskoff Theatre in New York in 2004. EPA
  • Alec Baldwin and Heche at the American Theatre Wing Gala annual Luncheon in 2004. Reuters
    Alec Baldwin and Heche at the American Theatre Wing Gala annual Luncheon in 2004. Reuters
  • The cast of the new film 'John Q', from left, Anne Heche, Kimberly Elise, Denzel Washington, young Daniel Smith and James Woods, at the film's premiere in 2002 in Los Angeles. Reuters
    The cast of the new film 'John Q', from left, Anne Heche, Kimberly Elise, Denzel Washington, young Daniel Smith and James Woods, at the film's premiere in 2002 in Los Angeles. Reuters
  • Hugh Grant and Anne Heche attend the Warner Brothers/ 'InStyle' party after the 58th Annual Golden Globe Awards in 2001. Reuters
    Hugh Grant and Anne Heche attend the Warner Brothers/ 'InStyle' party after the 58th Annual Golden Globe Awards in 2001. Reuters
  • Anne Heche and Robert Downey Jr at the premiere of 'Snatch' at the Directors Guild, Los Angeles, California. Getty Images
    Anne Heche and Robert Downey Jr at the premiere of 'Snatch' at the Directors Guild, Los Angeles, California. Getty Images
  • Anne Heche, right, directing Sharon Stone, left, and Ellen Degeneres on the set of 'If These Walls Could Talk'. Getty Images
    Anne Heche, right, directing Sharon Stone, left, and Ellen Degeneres on the set of 'If These Walls Could Talk'. Getty Images
  • Ed Harris as Father Frank Shore and Anne Heche as Roxanna in the 2000 film 'The Third Miracle'. Getty Images
    Ed Harris as Father Frank Shore and Anne Heche as Roxanna in the 2000 film 'The Third Miracle'. Getty Images
  • Anne Heche in the 1998 remake of 'Pyscho'. Getty Images
    Anne Heche in the 1998 remake of 'Pyscho'. Getty Images
  • Director Gus Van Sant, left, Anne Heche and Vince Vaughn at the premiere of 'Return To Paradise' in October 1998. Getty Images
    Director Gus Van Sant, left, Anne Heche and Vince Vaughn at the premiere of 'Return To Paradise' in October 1998. Getty Images
  • Harrison Ford, left, and Anne Heche in the 1998 film '6 Days,7 Nights'. Getty Images
    Harrison Ford, left, and Anne Heche in the 1998 film '6 Days,7 Nights'. Getty Images
  • From left, Dustin Hoffman, Anne Heche and Robert De Niro on the set of 'Wag The Dog' in 1998. Getty Images
    From left, Dustin Hoffman, Anne Heche and Robert De Niro on the set of 'Wag The Dog' in 1998. Getty Images
  • Tommy Lee Jones and Anne Heche in 1997 film 'Volcano'. Getty Images
    Tommy Lee Jones and Anne Heche in 1997 film 'Volcano'. Getty Images

Priyanka Chopra and Ellen DeGeneres lead tributes after death of Anne Heche


Selina Denman
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Tributes continue to pour in for Anne Heche, after the actress was declared legally dead in Los Angeles on Friday.

Heche, 53, suffered extensive brain injuries after a car accident in Los Angeles last week, which left her in a coma. She was taken to hospital on August 5 after the collision left her vehicle "engulfed in flames". She was driving her blue Mini Cooper when she veered off the road and struck a two-storey home.

Priyanka Chopra, who worked with Heche on the television series Quantico, called her “a lovely person and an incredible actress”.

“My heart goes out to Anne Heche’s children, family, friends, and everyone who grieves,” Chopra posted on Instagram. “It was an honour to have known you and worked by your side. You will always have a special place in my heart.”

Priyanka Chopra paid tribute to Anne Heche on Instagram. Photo: Priyanka Chopra / Instagram
Priyanka Chopra paid tribute to Anne Heche on Instagram. Photo: Priyanka Chopra / Instagram

Ellen DeGeneres tweeted her condolences, sending her love to Heche’s children, family and friends. “This is a sad day,” she wrote.

According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, 59 firefighters took more than an hour to remove Heche from the wreckage and extinguish the flames.

The occupant of the home Heche crashed into escaped without injury — investigations are ongoing if she under the influence of drugs after reports Heche suffered a minor car crash on the same day.

"Today we lost a bright light, a kind and most joyful soul, a loving mother, and a loyal friend,” Heche's family said on Friday.

“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."

Heche’s son, Homer Laffoon, also released a statement of his own, saying: “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.”

Heche rose to fame after starring in soap opera Another World, for which she won a Daytime Emmy Award in 1991. She is also known for her performance in Donnie Brasco, starring Johnny Depp, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Six Days, Seven Nights and Return to Paradise.

Heche’s ex-husband and Men In Trees co-star James Tupper posted a picture of Heche on Instagram, with the simple caption: “Love you forever.”

Fellow actress Rosanna Arquette posted a similarly stark message on Twitter: “Rest in peace now Anne.”

Actor Levi Meaden, who acted alongside Heche in the 2016 TV series Aftermath, called her “an icon” and recalled her vulnerability and “ferocious courage”.

“Lord knows she had her struggles in life, but it led her to carry herself the way she did, led her to be the woman I met … She gave me so much advice … I’m heartbroken and I know many, may other people are as well.”

Actor Isiah Whitlock Jr also posted a tribute on Twitter, writing: "RIP Anne Heche. My heart breaks. One of the kindest and most talented actors I’ve ever worked with. God bless you. You will be greatly missed.”

Updated: August 13, 2022, 7:44 AM