Anne Heche’s loved ones are keeping her memory alive.
After the Emmy Award winnerdied at age 53on Friday, her ex-husbandColeman “Coley” Laffoonshared a teary, heartfelt tribute to the late actress. He also gave an update on how their 20-year-old sonHomer Laffoonis coping with the loss.
Laffoon, 48, whowas married to Hechefrom 2001 to 2009, also expressed his gratitude to fans for “your check-in, showing us your heart, offering prayers and everything, it’s so beautiful.”
“Thank you. It’s hard for me, it’s hard for my family, it’s really hard for Homer, but we got each other and we have a lot of support. And we’re gonna be okay,” he continued.
The Compass real estate advisor added of Heche: “I like to think she’s free, free from pain and enjoying or experiencing whatever is next in her journey. She came in hot and she had a lot to say. She was brave and fearless, loved really hard and was never afraid to let us know what she thinks and what she believed in.”
For more on Anne Heche, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day.
Jim Spellman/WireImage
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Heche also shared 13-year-old sonAtlaswith ex-partnerJames Tupper, who previouslypaid tribute to the actressshortly before her death. “Love you forever,” Tupper, 57, wrote in the caption with a broken heart emoji, sharing an image of her from their 2006 ABC showMen in Trees.
A rep for Heche confirmed the actress' deathto PEOPLEin a statement Friday on behalf of her friends and family: “Today we lost a bright light, a kind and most joyful soul, a loving mother, and a loyal friend.”
Anne Heche.Michael Bezjian/Getty for Mammoth Media Institute
“Anne will be deeply missed but she lives on through her beautiful sons, her iconic body of work, and her passionate advocacy,” the statement continued. “Her bravery for always standing in her truth, spreading her message of love and acceptance, will continue to have a lasting impact.”
Although Heche was legally dead according to California law at the time of the announcement, it had “long been her choice to donate her organs,” so Heche’s heart was still beating and she was still on life support in order to allow OneLegacy Foundation enough time to find recipients who will be a match.
Her rep previouslytold PEOPLEthat Heche suffered “a severe anoxic brain injury” and was “in a coma, in critical condition” on Thursday, adding: “She is not expected to survive.”
RELATED VIDEO: Remembering Anne Heche
The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the call at around 10:56 a.m. It took 59 firefighters around 65 minutes to extinguish the flame and extract Heche from the driver’s seat, according to a newsrelease.
Heche had several other projects in the works, with her upcoming Lifetime movieGirl in Room 13premiering Sept. 17. She was also set to star oppositeDermot Mulroneyin the upcoming horror-thrillerFull Rideand had a recurring role inAll Riseon OWN.
source: people.com
