Greetings everyone. Welcome back to “The Outsiders Guide to the Inside of Hollywood”. My entertainment blog is not only just about the events I that I covered as a photographer, its about how artist had an affect on my life. Sadly today’s blog is about losing another celebrity too soon.

On August 5, 2022, Anne Heche was involved in a sequence of three motor vehicle collisions in the neighborhood of Mar Vista in Los Angeles. The accident left Anne with a severe anoxic brain injury. Just before the first accident Anne’s car was caught on a video speeding through the suburban neighborhood. Thankfully she didn’t kill or seriously hurt someone. The LAPD said that a preliminary blood analysis confirmed the presence of both cocaine and narcotics, including Fentanyl, her system. Anne was paced on life support so that she could be an organ donator as she wished. Anne was taken off life support (Anne was brain dead on the 12th) on August 14, it was announced that organ recipients had been found and that her body would undergo the organ donation procedure that day.

Anne first got her big acting break on the CBS Soap Opera “Another World”. My first time seeing Anne was on a 1991 episode of “Murphy Brown”. In 2001 Anne guest stared in 7 episodes of “Ally McBeal”. Some my favorite films of her were “Donnie Brasco”, “I Know What You Did Last Summer”, “Wag the Dog”, “and Six Days, Seven Nights”.

Anne was always about taking chances in her career and in life. In 1998, she decided to take on the role of one of the greatest female horror characters of all time actresses by playing Marion Crane in Gus Van Sant’s “Psycho” remake. The film was not revived well by critics or the public.

Anne began dating Ellen DeGeneres in 1997, when both were at career high points. They took a lot of heat for their relationship. The relationship lasted till 2000. The couple came out as dating when Anne invited DeGeneres, as her date to the 1997 premiere of “Volcano.” Anne claimed she was cancelled in Hollywood because of her relationship with Ellen.

I only had the chance to photograph Anne twice in 2011. On Valentines day actor Alec Baldwin, was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I attended the ceremony and noticed Anne in the crowd in the crowed watching the ceremony. I tried to get some candid shots but failed due to the amount of fans at the ceremony. After the ceremony was over there was a lunch at Beso Restaurant, in Hollywood. I decided to try and get some photos of the celebrities entering the Restaurant. After watching a number of guests attending the lunch I noticed that Anne was walking towards the Restaurant. I was across the street trying to get a clear shot. I called her name and she turned around. At that point I slipped on a wet pavement and fell. Anne started to run towards me and asked as I hit the pavement. Luckily I held onto my camera like a football player. I got up and told her I was OK. I then asked her if I could get a photo of her. She laughed and said “of course you can.”

Later that year in June I had Red Carpet credentials for the Jim Carey film “Mr. Popper’s Penguins”. Anne attended the premiere with her boyfriend James Tupper and son Homer Lafoon . She looked so happy. I was hoping that she finally defeated her demons. Homer released a statement earlier in the day, stating he was “left with a deep, wordless sadness” following her death.

Sadly Anne could not control her drinking and drug use. The actress had a Podcast called “Better Together w/ Anne Heche and Heather Duffy” on Apple Podcasts. “We celebrate friendship, and we believe that we can create more joy in the world by sharing our stories, stumbles, and triumphs.” Just a week before her accident she was clearly drunk during the Podcast. I wish she could have gotten the help she needed. If you need help don’t be afraid to ask someone for help and remember you are not alone.

All photos © Jonathan Scott Shensa Photography