Anne Heche has been declared legally dead following a car crash that left her comatose. She was 53.
The actress best known for her roles in the soap opera Another World and films such as Donnie Brasco, Psycho and Six Days, Seven Nights has been taken off life support according to multiple outlets.
PEOPLE reports that while Heche is legally dead according to California law, her heart is still beating and she has not been taken off life support in order to allow OneLegacy Foundation enough time to find recipients who will be a match.
“Today we lost a bright light, a kind and most joyful soul, a loving mother, and a loyal friend,” a rep for the star told the outlet. “Anne will be deeply missed but she lives on through her beautiful sons, her iconic body of work, and her passionate advocacy. Her bravery for always standing in her truth, spreading her message of love and acceptance, will continue to have a lasting impact.”
Heche was hospitalized last Friday after driving her car into a home in Los Angeles’ Mar Vista neighborhood.
On Aug. 11, Heche’s family shared in a statement that she suffered a severe anoxic brain injury and was not expected to survive.
“It has long been her choice to donate her organs and she’s being kept on life support to determine if any are viable,” the statement read in part. “Anne had a huge heart and touched everyone she met with her generous spirit. More than her extraordinary talent, she saw spreading kindness and joy as her life’s work — especially moving the needle for acceptance of who you love. She will be remembered for her courageous honesty and dearly missed for her light.”
Heche received a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series in 1991 for her work on Another World. She also did a series of TV movies before making her big screen debut 1996 in the cult independent film Walking and Talking. In 1997 she played the wife of Johnny Depp’s character in Donnie Brasco. In 1998 she starred with Harrison Ford in Six Days, Seven Nights and with Vince Vaughan in a remake of Psycho.
Remembering Anne Heche's Life in Photos https://t.co/SlATQ4lW4w
— People (@people) August 12, 2022