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- Ellen DeGeneres and More React to Anne Heche's Death: “This Is a Sad Day”
Ellen DeGeneres and More React to Anne Heche's Death: “This Is a Sad Day”
Getty / Jesse Grant
In the wake of Anne Heche’s death at the age of 53, stars are paying tribute to the “Six Days, Seven Nights” actor. On Aug. 5, Heche was in a car crash in Los Angeles, and on Aug. 12, her rep confirmed to People that although she’s still on life support because she wanted to be an organ donor, she is legally dead in the state of California. People went on to share a statement from the actor’s family and friends: “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.”
Heche originally rose to fame as a soap star on “Another World” before finding success at the box office in movies like “Wag the Dog,” “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” and “Six Days and Seven Nights.” From there, she went on to have a prolific television career starring in “Everwood,” “Men in Trees,” “Hung,” and “All Rise,” among other projects. Heche has upcoming roles in the HBO series “The Idol” and the Lifetime original movie “Girl in Room 13.”
Since her death was confirmed, celebrities have been turning to social media to share tributes to the late actor, including Ellen DeGeneres, who dated Heche from 1997 to 2000. “This is a sad day,” DeGeneres tweeted. “I’m sending Anne’s children, family and friends all of my love.”
Read more tributes to Heche ahead.
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Ellen DeGeneres
The former talk-show host paid tribute to her ex on Twitter. “This is a sad day,” she tweeted. “I’m sending Anne’s children, family and friends all of my love.”
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James Tupper
Tupper and Heche met on the set of “Men in Trees” and went on to date from 2007 to 2018. The former couple share a son, Atlas, who is 13. The actor paid tribute to Heche by sharing a photo of her on Instagram alongside the caption, “Love you forever ?.”
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Robert De Niro
Heche’s “Wag the Dog” costar honored her memory in a statement shared with Entertainment Tonight. “I’m very sad to hear of the tragic passing of Anne Heche,” De Niro said. “She was a wonderful actress and I enjoyed working with her tremendously in “Wag the Dog”. Sad! Sad! Sad!”
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Thomas Jane
Jane and Heche dated briefly in 2019 and 2020. “The Mist” actor shared a photo of Heche on Instagram alongside the caption, “Rest In Peace beautiful friend @anneheche … May 25th, 1969 – August 12th, 2022 Comments to come. Please keep her two sons, family and loved ones in mind, in your hearts . . . and in peace. With love.”
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Carrie Ann Inaba
“Dancing With the Stars” judge Carrie Ann Inaba shared a lengthy tribute to Heche, who was a contestant on the show in season 29, on her Instagram. She began by resharing a recent Instagram post from the actor. “This was a post by @AnneHeche a while back,” Inaba wrote. “I remember seeing it and being so happy for her. She looks at peace with herself and the world around her. She seems hopeful and free.”
“I’ve been thinking of her since her accident last week and like many of you, my heart is heavy . . .” she continued. “Anne was one of the stars on @dancingwiththestars that truly touched my heart. Her personal story was one that reached into my heart and squeezed it. I could feel the pain she felt, and I could also feel her resilient and courageous soul. And it was touching. I had no idea all that she had gone through in this lifetime and I felt a connection to her and the struggles she faced in life. Despite her trials and tribulations, she had a bright light when she came out on that stage to dance.”
Inaba added, “Every time she performed, there was a sense of complete joy and a celebration of life. It was pure. And it was special.✨❤️ We had reached out a few times to do her podcast but we never followed through. ? I am so heart broken for her and for those who love her. It is a tragedy in the fullest sense of the word . . . I just hope she can feel the outpouring of love. And I wish the best outcome for her.
Today I am reading that she is likely not to survive . . . Anne, I just wanted to say I’m grateful to have had the chance to SEE you. You had a great impact on many of us not only with your talent, but also with your free spirit. Thank you for the unique being you are. I’m praying for you. And so are many others. I hope you can feel it.May God keep you and all those involved, in his loving embrace during these difficult times.???”
Getty / Kelsey McNeal
Keo Motsepe
Like Inaba, Motsepe also met Heche on “Dancing With the Stars” where he was her dance partner. The dancer shared a series of photos from their time working together on Instagram alongside the simple message, “I love you @anneheche.”
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Ed Helms
Helms shared a special tribute to Heche on Twitter. “Anne Heche news today is so heartbreaking. A truly epic, vibrant spirit and a profound talent,” he tweeted. “Sending tremendous love and support to her family.”
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James Gunn
The “Guardians of the Galaxy” director honoured Heche by sharing one of her best performances with his fans. “Honest to God, I think maybe the best acting performance I’ve ever seen in my life was Anne Heche in PROOF on Broadway. #RIP,” he tweeted.
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Emily Bergl
“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” actor worked with Heche on “Men in Trees,” and she had nothing but kind words for her costar. “Anne was not only a genius, but one of the most astoundingly focused and prepared actors I’ve ever worked with,” she wrote in part on Instagram. “I don’t think I ever saw her miss her mark. I imagine she may have called for her line once or twice but I can’t recall her ever needing it. I asked her what her secret was, and she told me her first job was playing twins on Another World, so she had to memorize up to seventy pages of dialogue a day.”
“She was insouciant, joyous, insightful,” she continued. “We so rarely investigate the abuse, the gaslighting, the misogyny, the homophobia that drives people to finally take up the “crazy” mantle that’s been placed upon them. I would tell you to read Call Me Crazy, but it’s now $200 on Amazon. I paid it because I want to read it again. She was a true genius, and I miss her.”
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Isiah Whitlock Jr.
“RIP Anne Heche. My heart breaks,” Whitlock Jr. tweeted. “One of the kindest and most talented actors I’ve ever worked with. God bless you. You will be greatly missed.”
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Joanna Going
Going and Heche worked together on “Another World,” which led her to share a touching tribute to her former costar. “I had the honor of working with Anne Heche, on “Another World”. We had enormous fun as rivals onscreen & a lovely friendship off screen. She was a breathtaking star right out of the box & an extraordinary woman. My deepest condolences to her family, friends, & co-workers. ?,” she tweeted.
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Loni Love
“The Real” host shared a photo from an interview she did with Heche on Twitter. “Rest In Peace Anne Heche . . .” she added.
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Carrie Preston
After directing Heche in “That’s What She Said,” Preston was left with a great admiration for the actor. “Directing Anne Heche was like directing a charge of electricity; so full of life and warmth and brilliance,” she tweeted. “Her talent was immense, and her dedication to the work was absolute. My heart goes out to her family during this time.”
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Kyle Richards
“The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star commented on Tupper’s Instagram post. “I’m so sorry ? Thinking of you and both her boys,” she wrote.
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Taryn Manning
The “Orange Is the New Black” star shared a lengthy tribute to Heche on Instagram. She wrote in part, “Anne, we had only just met but I do know that you were very loved by our mutual friends and management team, and for this, I also loved you and saw all the magic in you,” Manning captioned a photo of the actor.
She continued, “I saw your heart too and I know you were a renegade in Hollyhood [sic] and that’s pretty rad to maintain in this business. I saw you and and some similarties [sic] in our upbringings as well. Though you were a freakin wild child and I wanted to bottle your energy, I know how truly authentic and sincere to who you are was.”
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Gregg Henry
Prolific actor Henry shared his admiration for Heche in a tweet “Anne Heche was a fierce wonderful actor. Funny and smart. Sad news. May she #RIP,” he wrote.
