More details about Anne Heche‘s life have been unveiled four years after her death.
The iconic actress took her final breath on August 11, 2022, after getting critically injured in a high-speed car crash. She died six days after the incident occurred.
Now, ahead of her fourth death anniversary, come wild details about Anne Heche’s effort to protect her relationship with Ellen DeGeneres.
Anne Heche Reportedly Went To Wild Lengths To Shut Down Infidelity Rumors
Former “Entertainment Tonight” producer Fran Weinstein detailed her unforgettable encounter with Heche in her new memoir, “Tortured Soles: High Heels, Low Expectations and The Hollywood Gossip Mill.” The book, set to be released on April 28, captured their heated fight.
Weinstein had the opportunity to interview Heche in 1998 during a press run for her film “Psycho.” The actress had just begun her relationship with DeGeneres and seemed head over heels for the talk show host, so much so that she went to great lengths to protect their romance.
Weinstein told Page Six that Heche “lost her mind — eyes opened like a sink hole” after she brought up a rumor about the actress and actor Vince Vaughn. The question allegedly left her visibly uncomfortable, and she warned Weinstein not to mention the speculated fling after the interview.
The Late Actress Reportedly Stole The Reporter’s Tape To Avoid Relationship Drama
Although Weinstein promised Heche that she wouldn’t publish anything about the rumored fling with Vaughn, the late entertainer did not believe her words. Heche allegedly sent several publicists and managers back to Weinstein’s suite to demand the interview’s tape.
Weinstein believed Heche acted out of fear of DeGeneres learning about her speculated ties to Vaughn. When Weinstein refused to hand over the tape, Heche reportedly tried to convince Weinstein in person, yelling, “You have no respect for me. You have no respect for my girlfriend!”
The screaming match continued inside Weinstein’s suite at St. Regis, where Heche allegedly chain-smoked while the reporter showered her in lavender. Eventually, Weinstein got tired of dragging the matter with Heche and crashed on her bed, only to later discover that the tape had disappeared along with the actress.
The Tape Remains Missing To Date
Weinstein recalled storming over to Heche’s room to demand the tape, but the Daytime Emmy honoree denied taking it. Weinstein noted that she had threatened to call the cops, but her executive producer had shut down the attempt to avoid press attention.
Despite the lack of police involvement, the incident between Weinstein and Heche made the gossip pages. At the time, a rep denied Heche had stolen the tape, arguing that she “finished the interview, never left with the tape, and doesn’t have it now.”
Weinstein told the outlet that the tape remains missing to date, with urban legend believing that Heche had “instructed someone to throw it into a New York City sewer.” Nonetheless, Weinstein still remembered Heche fondly, describing her “as a fine actress,” whose death broke her heart.
The ‘Another World’ Star Labeled Elle DeGeneres A ‘Red Flag’
Heche might have once tried to stop DeGeneres from getting the wrong idea about her relationship with Vaughn, but she eventually changed her mind about the talk show host. The Blast covered the story in August 2022, reporting that a past episode of Heche’s podcast had resurfaced.
The 2021 episode of the “Better Together” podcast captured Heche detailing the moment actress Portia de Rossi had declared her intentions to pursue DeGeneres. She claimed the latter asked for advice during her 2001 wedding to Coleman Laffoon.
Heche revealed that she immediately warned de Rossi not to date DeGeneres, claiming she wouldn’t be “the poster child” in the relationship. “I’m telling you now, like, red flag, red flag, red flag!” Heche recalled telling de Rossi, who went on to marry DeGeneres in 2008.
Anne Heche’s Death Left Her Son Battling Creditors Due To Massive Debts
As stated, Heche took her final breath on August 11, 2022, following a high-speed car crash. The Blast shared that the accident sparked multiple third-party claims, leading to a financial strain on her estate following Heche’s passing.
The late actress’s son, Laffoon, spent years reviewing the lawsuits and negotiating settlements before finally securing “a tentative agreement” in 2025. At the time, his attorney noted the agreement would need the court’s approval once finalized.
Laffoon’s attorney noted that they were “cautiously optimistic” that all the claims leveled against Heche’s estate could be settled without going to court. The update came months after Laffoon claimed incomplete and missing records made it difficult to trace all of Heche’s assets.
Rest in peace, Anne Heche!