James Tupper comes to Anne Heche's defense after Emily Bergl's 'crazy' star post
CALIFORNIA: James Tupper, Anne Heche's former partner, has followed former 'Men in Trees' co-star Emily Bergl's touching tribute to the late actress, thanking Bergl for defending the late actress. Heche was pronounced dead at 53 on Friday, August 12, a week after a car crash in Mar Vista, California, in which she suffered severe injuries including burns and head trauma. Bergl took to Instagram on Saturday, August 13, with a lengthy post in support of the late actress and her mental health struggles.
Bergl, 47, who costarred with Heche and Tupper on the ABC show 'Men In Trees' from 2006 to 2008, explained how Heche was frequently misunderstood. Bergl wrote in her post that she was frequently asked, ''You worked with crazy Anne Heche?'' and ''So how crazy was she?'' and that Heche ''elicited more curiosity than any other famous person [she'd] ever worked with.'' Bergl said that Heche ''was not only a genius, but one of the most astoundingly focused and prepared actors [she'd] ever worked with".
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"I don’t think I ever saw her miss her mark. I imagine she may have called for her line once or twice but I can’t recall her ever needing it. I asked her what her secret was, and she told me her first job was playing twins on Another World, so she had to memorize up to seventy pages of dialogue a day," Bergl wrote.
"The only joke I did make about Anne was that it’s likely she didn’t have a psychotic break, but really was an alien, because her strength seemed superhuman. She would work for twelve hours, invite everyone to the bar, drink a couple of doubles, and be back at work at four AM. As I would roll in feeling barely human, she would walk into the makeup trailer, always on time, her smiling face luminous without a lick of makeup."
She wrote that Heche's work "would be flawless" scene after scene, and yet still felt spontaneous. "I don’t think she was capable of phoning it in. And then she would do it all again the next day," she added. "It’s no wonder Anne titled her brilliant memoir Call Me Crazy, she beat everyone to the punch. She was talking about mental health before it was acceptable to talk about those struggles."
Bergl described Heche's tough childhood, including claims of abuse by her father, the sudden death of her brother, and her mother's exile. "But despite a sometimes harrowing life, she was so much fun to be around. She was insouciant, joyous, insightful," Bergl wrote. "We so rarely investigate the abuse, the gaslighting, the misogyny, the homophobia that drives people to finally take up the 'crazy' mantle that’s been placed upon them".
"I would tell you to read Call Me Crazy, but it’s now $200 on Amazon. I paid it because I want to read it again. She was a true genius, and I miss her." Tupper, 57, left a comment in response to the post that read, ''Oh god thank you for writing this. Is all completely accurate and true. love you e.'' Heche and Tupper began dating in 2007 until 2018. They never married, but share a son Atlas, 13.
On Sunday, August 14, a representative for Heche told Fox News that "Anne Heche has been peacefully taken off life support". Heche's son, Homer gave a statement to Fox News after his mother's death. "My brother Atlas and I lost our Mom. After six days of almost unbelievable emotional swings, I am left with a deep, wordless sadness. Hopefully my mom is free from pain and beginning to explore what I like to imagine as her eternal freedom", he said.
"Over those six days, thousands of friends, family, and fans made their hearts known to me. I am grateful for their love, as I am for the support of my Dad, Coley, and my stepmom Alexi who continue to be my rock during this time. Rest In Peace Mom, I love you, Homer."