'Resilient and Courageous Soul': Celebrities remember Anne Heche after death

Celebrities of the Hollywood community were commemorating Anne Heche, who died at the age of 53 in a catastrophic car accident in Los Angeles.

Following the tragedy, celebrities from all across Hollywood, many of whom had worked with Heche on projects over the years, paid heartfelt homage to her in statements to People magazine and on social media.

Robert DeNiro said of the news: "I'm very sad to hear of the tragic passing of Anne Heche. She was a wonderful actress and I enjoyed working with her tremendously in Wag the Dog. Sad! Sad! Sad!"

Heche's retired Dancing with the Stars partner, Keo Motsepe, wrote a valedictory message with Heche on Instagram. Alongside a broken heart emoji, he wrote: "I love you @anneheche."

He also shared a carousel of videos on his Instagram story from their olden time on the ABC dance competition show. "Love you lady," he captioned along one photo of them together in matching attires.

Catfish host Kamie Crawford commented with grief for Heche. "This is so sad."

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Garcelle Beauvais also reacted to the Instagram post, writing, "So sad."

She replied to her own comment on the Instagram post, DWTS judge Carrie Ann Inaba wrote:

"Heart breaking....she was so special. Such a pure & vulnerable free spirit. I'll always remember her with joy, dancing on #dwts in the [rainbow] costume sharing her story so honestly. That's why she was such a good actress. She couldn't help but be honest and open. may she rest and play in peace and joy."

Inaba, 54, also shared a more prolonged post on her own Instagram page.

She shared a photo of Heche with her hand against a window, Inaba wrote:

"This was a post by @AnneHeche a while back. I remember seeing it and being so happy for her. She looks at peace with herself and the world around her. She seems hopeful and free."

"I've been thinking of her since her accident last week and like many of you, my heart is heavy" she continued. "Anne was one of the stars on @dancingwiththestars that truly touched my heart. Her personal story was one that reached into my heart and squeezed it. I could feel the pain she felt, and I could also feel her resilient and courageous soul. And it was touching."

"I had no idea all that she had gone through in this lifetime and I felt a connection to her and the struggles she faced in life. Despite her trials and tribulations, she had a bright light when she came out on that stage to dance," she went on.

"Every time she performed, there was a sense of complete joy and a celebration of life. It was pure. And it was special."

Inaba said she tried to connect with Heche "a few times" to emerge on her podcast but it never transpired and went on to describe how "heartbroken" she was for Heche and "those who love her."

"It is a tragedy in the fullest sense of the word. Not only for her but for the people who were also hurt and lost things in this incident. Lives are changed forever. In an instant…" she continued.

"I swallow the tears that keep wanting to flow when I think of her in that burning car, wondering what happened right before the accident. It seems from the outside like there was some sort of emotional distress. Pain. Panic. Fear. Frustration. Disorientation. Sadness. I don't know… none of us do."

"I just hope she can feel the outpouring of love. And I wish the best outcome for her," she added. "Anne, I just wanted to say I'm grateful to have had the chance to SEE you. You had a great impact on many of us not only with your talent, but also with your free spirit.Thank you for the unique being you are. I'm praying for you. And so are many others. I hope you can feel it," her post concluded.

Tyler Henry, best known for his show Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry, paid respect in a tweet as well.

"Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Anne Heche," he wrote.

"Her actions as a result of her addiction don't make her any less deserving of compassion. She went through extraordinary struggles and shared that vulnerability. Check on your loved ones who struggle with addiction."

On Twitter, filmmaker James Gunn noted of Heche: "Honest to God, I think maybe the best acting performance I've ever seen in my life was Anne Heche in PROOF on Broadway. #RIP."

Emily Bergl, who worked with Heche on Men in Trees for two years, posted a lengthy homage to him on Facebook.

"She elicited more curiosity than any other famous person I've ever worked with," Bergl shared, noting that Heche's work was "impressive, arresting, and dazzling."

"Anne was not only a genius, but one of the most astoundingly focused and prepared actors I've ever worked with. I don't think I ever saw her miss stepping on her mark once," Bergl wrote, in part. "Despite a sometimes harrowing life, she was so much fun to be around. She was insouciant, joyous, insightful. It's a cliche but she really did light up a room."

"She was a true genius, and I miss her," Bergl added.

Ellen DeGeneres, another of Heche's ex-wives, expressed her sympathies on social media an hour before her death.

"This is a sad day," DeGeneres tweeted. "I'm sending Anne's children, family and friends all of my love." The pair was together for three years from 1997 to 2000.