Anne Heche has died of a brain injury and severe burns after speeding and crashing her car into a home in the residential Mar Vista neighborhood last Friday, Aug 5. The building erupted in flames and Heche was dragged out of the vehicle and rushed to the Grossman Burn Center at West Hills Hospital in Los Angeles.
The 53-year-old, Emmy Award-winning actress is best known for her roles in 1990s films like Volcano, the Gus Van Sant remake of Psycho, Donnie Brasco and Six Days, Seven Nights.
Holly Baird, a spokesperson for Heche’s family, sent NPR a statement Friday afternoon saying: “While Anne is legally dead according to California law, her heart is still beating, and she has not been taken off life support.”
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Baird added an organ procurement company is working to see if the actress is a match for organ donation, and that determination could be made as early as Saturday or as late as next Tuesday.
Heche launched her career playing a pair of good and evil twins on the long-running daytime soap opera Another World, for which she earned a Daytime Emmy Award in 1991.
In the 2000s, Heche focused on making independent movies and TV series. She acted with Nicole Kidman and Cameron Bright in the drama Birth; with Jessica Lange and Christina Ricci in the film adaptation of Prozac Nation, Elizabeth Wurtzel’s bestselling book about depression; and in the comedy Cedar Rapids alongside John C. Reilly and Ed Helms. She also starred in the ABC drama series Men in Trees.
Heche made guest appearances on TV shows like Nip/Tuck and Ally McBeal and starred in a couple of Broadway productions, garnering a Tony Award nomination for her performance in the remount of the 1932 comedy Twentieth Century.
In 2020, Heche launched a weekly lifestyle podcast, Better Together, with friend and co-host Heather Duffy and appeared on Dancing with the Stars.
Heche became a lesbian icon as a result of her highly-visible relationship with comedian and TV host Ellen DeGeneres in the late 1990s.
Heche and DeGeneres were arguably the most famous openly gay couple in Hollywood at a time when being out was far less acceptable than it is today. Heche later claimed the romance took a toll on her career. “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,” Heche said in an episode of Dancing with the Stars.
But the relationship paved the way for broader acceptance of single-sex partnerships.
“With so few role models and representations of lesbians in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Anne Heche’s relationship with Ellen DeGeneres contributed to her celebrity in a significant way and their relationship ultimately validated lesbian love for both straight and queer people,” said the Los Angeles-based New York Times columnist Trish Bendix.
Bendix said that while Heche was later in relationships with men — she married Coleman Laffoon in the early 2000s and they had a son together, and was more recently in a relationship with Canadian actor James Tupper with whom she also had a son — “her influence on lesbian and bisexual visibility can’t and shouldn’t be erased.”
In 2000, Fresh Air host Terry Gross interviewed Heche in advance of her directorial debut on the final episode of If These Walls Could Talk 2, a series of three HBO television films exploring the lives of lesbian couples starring DeGeneres and Sharon Stone. In the interview, Heche said she wished she had been more sensitive about other people’s coming out experiences when she and DeGeneres went public with their relationship.
“What I wish I would have known is more of the journey and the struggle of individuals in the gay community or couples in the gay community,” Heche said. “Because I would have couched my enthusiasm with an understanding that this isn’t everybody’s story.”
Heche was born in Aurora, Ohio in 1969, the youngest of five siblings. She was raised in a Christian fundamentalist household.
She had a challenging childhood. The family moved around a lot. She said she believed her father, Donald, was a closeted gay man; he died in 1983 of HIV.
“He just couldn’t seem to settle down into a normal job, which, of course, we found out later, and as I understand it now, was because he had another life,” Heche told Gross on Fresh Air. “He wanted to be with men.”
A few months after her father died, Heche’s brother Nathan was killed in a car crash at the age of 18.
In her 2001 Memoir Call Me Crazy, and in subsequent interviews, Heche said her father abused her sexually as a child, triggering mental health issues which the actress said she carried with her for decades as an adult.
In an interview with the actress for Larry King Live, host Larry King called Heche’s book, “one of the most honest, outspoken, extraordinary autobiographies ever written by anyone in show business.”
“I am left with a deep, wordless sadness,” wrote Heche’s son with Lafoon, Homer, in a statement shared with NPR via Baird. “Hopefully my mom is free from pain and beginning to explore what I like to imagine as her eternal freedom.”
Barbara Eden, a cherished Hollywood legend, continues to defy the passage of time and embrace life with a vibrant spirit
At 93 years old, Barbara Eden continues to radiate beauty and charm, bringing joy to everyone who sees her. Her timeless elegance is reminiscent of her iconic role as the enchanting genie in “I Dream of Jeannie,” and her latest photos show her stunning looks as if no time has passed.
Born Barbara Jean Morehead on August 23, 1931, Barbara Eden began her career in entertainment with a background in church choir and band performances before carving out a niche for herself in both singing and acting. Her natural beauty was recognized early on when she was crowned Miss San Francisco in 1951.
Eden’s television career began with her appearance on The Johnny Carson Show in 1955, followed by a series of roles in various series and films. Her role as the quirky ghost in “I Dream of Jeannie” remains her most celebrated and captivating role with audiences for five years.
On her recent birthday, Barbara Eden’s official Instagram account delighted fans with a stunning photo of the actress, proving she’s still as radiant as ever. The post celebrated her lasting legacy with a heartfelt message: “Happy Birthday to our beloved Blonde, the Wild Surf Rider, the Voyager to the Bottom of the Sea, the Enemy of the Harper Valley PTA, and of course, the Timeless Lady in the Bottle!”
In 1988, Barbara Eden was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, recognizing her significant contribution to television. Her memoir, “Jeannie Out of the Bottle,” published in 2011, offers an intimate look at her early life, rise to fame, personal milestones, and the tragic loss of her son.
Despite reaching the age of 93, Barbara Eden remains undaunted by the passage of time. She views each birthday as just another day and expresses gratitude for her continued vitality. In a recent interview with the Hollywood Reporter, she emphasized her excitement to return to work, sharing that she was actively working up until the pandemic shutdown in March.
Barbara remains deeply engaged in the entertainment industry, appreciating the evolving landscape with new opportunities from streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon. Reflecting on her career, she expressed her enthusiasm for having been part of a transformative era in show business.
Maintaining a youthful spirit, Barbara Eden continues to lead an active life. While she once frequented the gym and spin classes, she now enjoys personalized training sessions at home. She also remains socially active, delighting fans with her vibrant presence at events.
At a recent Beverly Hills red carpet event, Barbara captivated onlookers with her ageless appearance. Dressed in a navy satin blouse, black leggings, and complemented by elegant black and silver jewelry and high-heeled shoes, she looked every bit as glamorous as ever.
In an interview with Page 6, Barbara revealed some of the secrets behind her youthful look, including her focus on a balanced diet. She enjoys a variety of foods, particularly meats like steak, and appreciates the joy her work continues to bring.
Barbara Eden’s enduring beauty and vitality are truly remarkable, a testament to her positive outlook and vibrant lifestyle. Feel free to share this article with friends and family on Facebook to celebrate Barbara Eden’s incredible presence!
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