L. F.
Heather Dufy opens up about the loss and legacy of his dear friend Anne Heche.
On Tuesday evening, at a book signing event in Los Angeles for Anne’s new posthumously published memoir, call me Annehis former podcast co-host sat down with HEYit is Will Marfuggi to talk about the late star.
As readers of Perezcious know, the Six days, seven nights alum tragically passed away on August 11, days after a burning car accident left her hospitalized. She was only 53 years old.
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Before her death, the actress had been work diligently on her recently released book, which is why her best friend helped finish the memoir after she passed away. We can’t imagine how emotional that must have been! Now, as she helps promote the project, Heather thinks back to the very last conversation she shared with Anne. And, boy, is it heartbreaking! She said HEY:
“We had just shot a podcast and I was late for dinner. [with friends]… We were just chatting after the podcast and I looked at my phone and realized it was late. And I looked at her and I said, ‘Girl, you gotta get out of here, I gotta go.’ She left my porch and I said, “I love you,” and she said, “I love you,” and that was the last time I saw her.
Wow.
You really never know when it will be the last time with someone. It shows how important it is to tell people you love how special they are to you every chance you get. Speaking of those Anne loved, she also left behind two beloved sons, Homer Laffoon20, and Atlas Heche Tupper, 13 (who was also at the book signing). Heather likes to think her friend’s legacy will live on in the boys, saying:
“The most beautiful part is you know she lives in those beautiful boys. She wanted her boys to be exactly who they are. Live honestly.
She continued:
“And kindness was the most important thing to Anne. If I could say the one thing that trumped everything for Anne was kindness.
Hope the siblings will keep that in mind in the middle of their quarrel…
As for other aspects of Anne’s legacy, the better together the podcaster insisted that Anne relationship with Ellen Degeneres in the 1990s — and her decision to be open about dating men and women — was groundbreaking. She thinks :
“She did it in such a bold and big way and took a big hit for it. She didn’t do a studio photo for 10 years. She was blacklisted, she was ridiculed. At the time, either you were gay or you were straight, there was nothing in between. She had a hard time marrying a man after that. She really, really moved the needle on love without sex.
She continued:
“Now we watch the red carpets [all the time] where same-sex couples are there. It’s not a thing, it’s a dot on the radar. And that doesn’t come without someone like Anne doing this heavy lifting early on and taking a stand and really having a big impact on her life.
She really sacrificed so much to live authentically!
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Despite the pain she went through after going public with her romance, Duffy claimed that Heche “never looked back on it,” noting:
“If she could go back and do it the exact same way, she would have. She was someone who lived by such truth and honesty that she had no choice in the matter. She would never choose honesty.
Speaking of Anne’s checkered career, the PR specialist hopes she will be remembered for her acting endeavors as well, saying:
“She was one of the best actresses of her time. I mean, she’s got quite a job to back that up. She should be remembered for that.
That is true. Anne was in some iconic movies, like Propagate, Donnie Brasco, Volcanoand more recently, Girl in room 13. Her career may have been affected by her coming out, but that doesn’t mean she didn’t leave a major mark on the industry. Overall, Heather had this to say about Anne’s impact on the world:
“She should be remembered for her kindness, she should be remembered for the courageous stand she took that changed the world, she should be remembered for preaching, living and encouraging people to be themselves and live out loud and embrace who they are and feel safe in that.
Such kind words!! We are thinking of Anne’s loved ones. While it’s exciting to see her book finally reach readers, it must also be a very bittersweet day knowing that Anne isn’t around to see her hard work pay off. do you want to read call me Anne? Let us know (below)!
[Image via Better Together/YouTube & Anne Heche/Instagram]