Anne Heche’s son mourns mother in emotional tribute: ‘I am left with a deep, wordless sadness’
Anne Heche’s son Homer Laffoon says he’s been “left with a deep, wordless sadness” after his mother’s death. (Rachel Murray/Getty for Christian Siriano)
Anne Heche’s eldest son said he’s been “left with a deep, wordless sadness” as he paid an emotional tribute to his mother.
Heche died Friday (12 August) days after crashing her car into a house in Los Angeles. The 53-year-old actor spent several days in a coma and in critical condition following the incident.
Heche’s oldest son, Homer Laffoon, expressed his deep anguish and pain after his mother’s death in an emotional message provided to NBC News via a spokesperson.
“My brother Atlas and I lost our Mom,” Laffoon said. “After six days of almost unbelievable emotional swings, I am left with a deep, wordless sadness.”
He continued: “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, Homer.”
Anne Heche – known for her work in Men in the Trees and Donnie Brasco – has two sons: Homer Laffoon and Atlas Heche Tupper (13), who she shares with exes Coley Laffoon and James Tupper respectively.
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Heche’s family said the actor was being kept on life support to explore organ donation options as it has “long been” her choice to donate her organs.
The family mourned the loss of a “bright light, a kind and most joyful soul, a loving mother and a loyal friend” in an early statement confirming Heche’s passing.
“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. “Her bravery for always standing in her truth, spreading her message of love and acceptance, will continue to have a lasting impact.”
Anne Heche’s family says her legacy for “standing in her truth, spreading her message of love and acceptance” will live on. (Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
Heche made international headlines in 1997 for her relationship with comedian Ellen DeGeneres. DeGeneres and Heche faced backlash for going public about their relationship, and the couple parted ways in 2000.
Heche recalled in a 2020 interview how she was told by “Fox Studio executives” that her “contract would be terminated” if she brought DeGeneres to the Volcano premiere.
“I brought Ellen despite those threats, and we were escorted out of the theater before the lights came on by security and not allowed to attend the premiere party because they did not want any photos of us together,” Heche said.
“The difference between what would happen today and what happened then is that I would not have been ushered out of my own premiere and fired from a multi-million dollar picture deal with Fox for taking a girl as my date.”
Anne Heche described her time dating DeGeneres as a “beautiful part of [her] life and on that [she wore] with honor”.
“I was a part of a revolution that created social change, and I could not have done that without falling in love with her,” Heche said.
DeGeneres took to Twitter to express that it is a “sad day” after Heche’s passing.
“This is a sad day,” DeGeneres wrote. “I’m sending Anne’s children, family and friends all of my love.”
