Anne Heche’s son files to control estate after actress died without will
The son of actress Anne Heche is seeking control of her estate after she died last month without a will.
Homer Heche Laffoon, 20, filed a petition in Los Angeles Superior court on Wednesday to be named the administrator of his mother’s estate, the Los Angeles Times reported. Laffoon also asked to be named the legal guardian of his 13-year-old brother, Atlas Heche Tupper, according to the newspaper. Both are named as the only heirs of Heche’s estate in court documents.
According to court documents, the value of the Emmy Award-winning actress’ estate is unknown, The Associated Press reported. That is often the case in initial filings before anyone has the legal authority to assess a dead person’s assets.
Laffoon is the son of Heche and her ex-husband, Coleman “Coley” Laffoon, 48, the Times reported. The actor and the real estate broker were married from 2001 to 2009. Tupper is the son of Heche and her ex-partner, 57-year-old James Tupper. The actors dated from 2007 to 2018 after meeting on the set of the ABC series “Men in Trees,” according to the newspaper.
A hearing on Homer’s request is set for Oct. 11, according to Rolling Stone. An email to a Heche representative seeking comment was not immediately returned, the AP reported.
Anne Heche: Actress’ death ruled an accident by coroner’s office
Heche, 53, died from injuries she sustained when her vehicle crashed into a Los Angeles home on Aug. 5, according to the Times. According to KCBS-TV, a blue 2020 Mini Cooper owned by the soap opera star was traveling at a high rate of speed when it went off the road at a T intersection and slammed into a two-story Mar Vista home, setting the vehicle on fire.
Heche’s vehicle stopped inside the home and started a fire that took 59 firefighters 65 minutes to fully contain and extinguish, the Times reported. According to KTTV, Heche was alone in the car at the time of the crash and was pulled out of the car by the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Anne Heche: Actress, legally dead, removed from life support for organ transplants
Heche suffered an “anoxic” brain injury. She was declared brain dead but remained on life support for several days in order to donate her organs, her family said at the time.
A person declared brain dead is considered legally dead under California law.
The Los Angeles Medical Examiner ruled Heche’s death an accident caused by “inhalation and thermal injuries” compounded by a sternal fracture suffered in her shocking crash, Rolling Stone reported.
Actress Anne Heche dies at 53 after car crash
During the 1990s, Heche played opposite actors including Johnny Depp (“Donnie Brasco”) and Harrison Ford (“Six Days, Seven Nights”).
She recently had recurring roles on the network TV series “Chicago P.D.” and “All Rise,” and in 2020 was a contestant on “Dancing With the Stars.”
Heche was also known for her roles as Vicky Hudson and Marley Love in the soap opera “Another World” and won a Daytime Emmy Award in 1991, the Times reported.
Here are some photos of actress Anne Heche through the years.
2001: Actress Anne Heche poses with her husband, director Coley Laffoon, on their wedding day September 1, 2001, In Los Angeles.
2002: Edie Falco and Anne Heche arrive at the 56th annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on June 2, 2002.
2003: Actress Anne Heche attends the "Life’s Not Still: Adolescence & Adolescents" Benefit & Exhibit sponsored by the Huck Fund at the Gallery of Functional Art on June 7, 2003, in Santa Monica, California.
2004: Actress Anne Heche attends the 56th annual Primetime Emmy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium on September 19, 2004, in Los Angeles.
2005: Actress Anne Heche arrives at the 2005 Creative Arts Emmy Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on September 11, 2005, in Los Angeles.
2006: Actress Anne Heche arrives at the Disney – ABC Television Group All Star Party at the Wisteria Courtyard at Kidspace Children’s Museum on July 19, 2006, in Pasadena, California.
2007: Actress Anne Heche attends the 61st annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 10, 2007, in New York City.
2008: Actors Anne Heche (left) and James Tupper attend the 15th annual Race to Erase MS event at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel on May 2, 2008, in Los Angeles.
2009: Actors James Tupper and Anne Heche with son arrive for the Cirque Du Solei Opening Night Gala For Kooza at the Santa Monica Pier on October 16, 2009, in Santa Monica, California.
2010: Actors Anne Heche and actor Thomas Jane arrive at HBO’s "Hung" Season 2 premiere at Paramount Theater on the Paramount Studios lot on June 23, 2010, in Hollywood, California.
2011: Actress Anne Heche (right) and James Tupper arrive at the 2011 Film Independent Spirit Awards at Santa Monica Beach on February 26, 2011, in Santa Monica, California.
2012: Actors Anne Heche (left) and James Tupper arrive at the 20th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation’s Oscar Viewing Party held at West Hollywood Park on February 26, 2012, in West Hollywood, California.
2013: Actress Anne Heche arrives at the Hollywood Reporter’s Emmy Party at Soho House on September 19, 2013, in West Hollywood, California.
2014: Actress Anne Heche attends the 2014 BAFTA Los Angeles TV Tea presented by BBC America and Jaguar at SLS Hotel on August 23, 2014, in Beverly Hills, California.
2015: Actress Anne Heche attends the 2015 Film Independent Spirit Awards at Santa Monica Beach on February 21, 2015, in Santa Monica, California.
2016: Actors James Tupper (left) and Anne Heche attend HBO’s Official 2016 Emmy After Party at the Plaza at the Pacific Design Center on September 18, 2016, in Los Angeles.
2017: Sean Hayes and Anne Heche attend the Entertainment Weekly and People Upfronts party presented by Netflix and Terra Chips at Second Floor on May 15, 2017, in New York City.
2018: Anne Heche attends the 25th Annual Race to Erase MS Gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on April 20, 2018, in Beverly Hills, California.
2019: Actress Anne Heche attends the red carpet for the "Twentieth Century" Benefit Concert Reading at Studio 54 on April 29, 2019, in New York City.
2020: Anne Heche attends the 28th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party sponsored by IMDb, Neuro Drinks and Walmart on February 9, 2020, in West Hollywood, California.
2021: Anne Heche attends the 2021 Breeders’ Cup VIP Event at Del Mar Race Track on November 6, 2021, in Del Mar, California.
2022: Anne Heche and Ami Goodheart attend the 24th Costume Designers Guild Awards at the Eli and Edythe Broad Stage on March 9, 2022, in Santa Monica, California.
