Ann Heck’s son paid tribute to his mother Friday, saying the family had lost “a kind, happy soul, a loving mother and a loyal friend.”
Homer Lavon, Heck’s son, wrote in a statement: “My brother Atlas and I lost our mother. After six days of almost incredible emotional upheavals, I felt a deep, silent grief. I hope my mother is pain-free and begins to explore what I like to imagine as her eternal freedom.”
A week after the accident, Heche died but is still on life support, according to a statement from her family and friends and shared with CNN by their representative.
Under California law, because of her condition, Heche is considered legally dead.
Heche was not pulled off resuscitators until they had time to determine if they matched organ donation, according to the rep.
The family said in an earlier statement on Thursday evening that Heichi’s choice “was a long time ago” to donate its organs.
“We have lost a bright light, a kind and cheerful soul, a loving mother, and a loyal friend,” the family’s previous statement read. “Ann will be sorely missed but she lives on through her beautiful sons, her iconic figure of work, and her emotional calling. Her courage to always stand up for who she really is, and to spread her message of love and acceptance, will continue to make a lasting impact.”
Heche suffered a severe brain injury due to lack of oxygen, depriving the brain of oxygen, as a result of the accident, according to the family representative.
She told me that a woman who was inside the house at the time of the accident sustained minor injuries and sought medical attention.
In their letter Thursday, Heche’s family and friends thanked her care team at the Grossman Burn Center at West Hills Hospital and praised Heche for a “huge heart” and “generous spirit.”
Heche, seen here in 1990 with Russell Todd, won a Daytime Emmy Award for her performance in the TV series Another World. She played the twins Vicki Hudson and Marley Love.
Pictures and colon; Actress Anne Heck
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Heche, right, appears with Katherine Keener in the 1996 movie “Walking and Talking.”
Pictures and colon; Actress Anne Heck
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Heche, left, holds the hand of comedian Ellen DeGeneres at the world premiere of “Face/Off” in 1997. The two dated for several years.
Pictures and colon; Actress Anne Heck
Holton Archive/Getty Images
Heche starring Tommy Lee Jones in the 1997 movie “Volcano.”
Pictures and colon; Actress Anne Heck
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Heck and Johnny Depp in a scene from the 1997 movie Donnie Brasco.
Pictures and colon; Actress Anne Heck
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Heche appeared with Robert De Niro in 1998’s “Wag the Dog”.
Pictures and colon; Actress Anne Heck
Moviestore / shutterstock
Heche and Vince Vaughn in 1998’s “Psycho”.
Pictures and colon; Actress Anne Heck
Moviestore / shutterstock
Heche starred with Harrison Ford in the 1998 film Six Days, Seven Nights.
Pictures and colon; Actress Anne Heck
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Heche signs a fan’s hat at the Get Real premiere in 1999.
Pictures and colon; Actress Anne Heck
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Heche, right, directs Sharon Stone in a segment from the 2000 movie If These Walls Could Talk 2. DeGeneres, center, was also in the movie.
From left, Stone, Michelle Williams and Hitch received the Lucy Awards given in 2000 to the creators and actors of “If These Walls Could Talk” and “If These Walls Could Talk 2”.
Pictures and colon; Actress Anne Heck
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Heche married Coley Laffoon in 2001. They had a son together, Homer, before divorcing in 2009.
Pictures and colon; Actress Anne Heck
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Heche and Laffoon walk with their son in 2002.
Pictures and colon; Actress Anne Heck
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Heche attends the 2003 premiere of “American Splendor” in Los Angeles.
Pictures and colon; Actress Anne Heck
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Heche and boyfriend James Tupper arrived at an Emmy Awards reception in 2010. They had their son Atlas.
Pictures and colon; Actress Anne Heck
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Heche and actress Conchata Ferrell perform at a theater in Santa Monica, California, during cancer treatment in 2010.
Pictures and colon; Actress Anne Heck
Vivian Zink/NBC/Getty Images
Heche, center, appears in an episode of “Save Me” in 2013.
Pictures and colon; Actress Anne Heck
Eric Leibowitz/NBC/Getty Images
Heche and Juliette Goglia work with Michael J. Fox on the 2013 episode of “The Michael J. Fox Show.”
Pictures and colon; Actress Anne Heck
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Heche in the 2015 episode of “Quantico”.
Pictures and colon; Actress Anne Heck
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Heche poses for a photo with her son Homer in 2017.
Pictures and colon; Actress Anne Heck
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Heche bows with other actors during a curtain call to read the “Twentieth Century” concert in 2019. Earlier in her career, Heche appeared in a Broadway play and was nominated for a Tony Award.
Eric McCandless/Disney General Entertainment/Getty Images
Heche dances with Keo Motsepe in the TV competition “Dancing with the Stars” in 2020.
Pictures and colon; Actress Anne Heck
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Heche appears in an episode of “All Rise” in 2021.
Pictures and colon; Actress Anne Heck
Axelle / Bauer-Griffin / FilmMagic / Getty Images
Heche attends the Directors Guild of America Awards in March.
“More than her extraordinary talent, she saw spreading kindness and joy as her life’s work – especially moving the needle of acceptance of the one she loves,” the statement read.
Heche rose to fame on the television series Another World, playing the double role of twins Vicki Hudson and Marley Love from 1987 to 1991. She received a Daytime Emmy Award for her performance on the show.
Heche followed this success with several films, including “Donnie Brasco”, “Wag the Dog” and “Six Days Seven Nights” opposite Harrison Ford.
In recent years, Heche has appeared on TV shows such as “The Brave,” “Quantico,” and “Chicago PD.”
After the accident, there was a huge outpouring of support for the actress from the Hollywood community. James Tapper, the former and former star of “Men in Trees”, which she shares with one of her two sons, wrote Instagram: Thoughts and prayers for this beautiful woman, actress and mother of the night, Anne Heck. We love you.”
Ryan Tillotson, Heche podcast producer “Better together,” She said in a statement that she is “irreplaceable” and will be remembered for her “big heart, commitment to the people she loves, and the brave way she fought for what she believed in.”
“More than just a lovable hostess, Anne was my friend, collaborator, and good actress. Anne added life to every room she entered with her immense energy and welcoming presence.”
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