Anne Heche’s Son Says Estate Is Struggling to Pay Late Actress’ Debts

Actress Anne Heche at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival at Cinepolis Chelsea in New York City on April 21, 2017. Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival

Anne Heche’s son, Homer Heche Laffoon, revealed in a recent court filing that his late mother’s estate is facing financial challenges.

After the actress’ death in 2022 following a car crash, her estate has accumulated debts that it cannot pay.

Ms. Heche’s estate remains unsettled, according to a court filing obtained by ET. The document reveals that Mr. Laffoon was appointment as administrator and includes a status update from him, saying the estate is “not yet in a condition to be closed.”

Ms. Heche, who died on Aug. 11, 2022, at the age of 53, succumbed to severe injuries nine days after a car accident in Los Angeles. Ms. Heche crashed into a home in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Mar Vista, which then caught on fire.

According to reports from the Los Angeles Police Department, narcotics were discovered in Ms. Heche’s system. However, the investigation confirmed that she was not under the influence of illicit substances during the accident, as determined by the autopsy and toxicology report from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s office, USA Today reported. The presence of drugs in her system was attributed to prior usage or medical treatment during hospitalization, 

Following Ms. Heche’s death, the now 22-year-old Mr. Laffoon petitioned for control over her estate. Ms. Heche did not leave behind a legal will.

Mr. Laffoon, in his capacity as the estate’s administrator, highlighted various challenges in managing his mother’s affairs posthumously, according to USA Today. These challenges encompassed diverse revenue streams, inadequate financial documentation, procedures related to royalty payments, and the potential litigation stemming from the circumstances surrounding Ms. Heche’s death.

Ms. Heche’s financial situation is exacerbated by her modest bank account, ongoing projects at the time of her passing, and the multitude of claims filed against her estate, some of which amount to $2 million or more, rendering the estate insolvent.

Among the litigious claims is one from the proprietors of the Los Angeles residence Ms. Heche collided with, seeking $2 million in damages. The claimants allege negligence and trespassing on Ms. Heche’s part and request a jury trial, USA Today reported.

Mr. Homer Laffoon could not be reached for comment.

A Troubled History

Ms. Heche was raised within the confines of a strict Baptist Christian upbringing, she told Larry King in a candid 2001 interview.

She revealed the tumultuous dynamics within her family, describing her father, Donald, as being “in complete denial” regarding his “promiscuous” lifestyle. He died of AIDS when Ms. Heche was just 13 years old, she said.

Throughout the years, Ms. Heche disclosed in interviews the harrowing experiences of sexual abuse inflicted upon her by her father, which began during her infancy. She recounted constructing a “fantasy world” as a coping mechanism.

In a candid revelation to Barbara Walters in 2001, Ms. Heche disclosed adopting an alter ego named Celestia, fervently believing herself to be of extraterrestrial origin. Reflecting on these experiences, she admitted she struggled with her mental health, acknowledging a period of profound psychological turmoil.

Her first memoir, “Call Me Crazy,” was released in 2001.

Amid personal turmoil, Ms. Heche found companionship in cameraman Coleman “Coley” Laffoon, tying the knot in September 2001 and subsequently welcoming a son, Homer, but the couple later divorced.

Ms. Heche later began a relationship with her “Men in Trees” co-star James Tupper, and the couple had a son, Atlas, before splitting up in 2018.