One week after a car crash left her seriously injured, 53-year-old actress Anne Heche has been declared brain dead, making her legally dead under California law. It had previously been stated by her family that Heche was in critical condition after falling into a coma due to her injuries. On Friday, just hours after Heche’s rep noted that she was not expected to survive, TMZ reported that Heche is brain dead after suffering a severe anoxic brain jury, or in other words, oxygen deprivation to the brain. She also suffered severe burns and lung damage in the accident.

At this time, Heche’s heart remains beating with life support machines preserving her organs for possible donations to those in need, but there’s no brain function whatsoever. She will be taken off of life support if and when these organs are removed. Heche’s rep said in a recent statement that it was very important for Heche to have her organs donated after her passing, whenever that might be.

“She is not expected to survive,” the statement had read. “It has long been her choice to donate her organs and she is being kept on life support to determine if any are viable.”

Heche’s injuries came from a horrific crash crash that happened seven days prior to her passing. She had reportedly been seen driving erratically in the moments leading up to the incident with her vehicle crashing into a Los Angeles home. While the homeowner was able to escape with her pets, the fire destroyed her house, leading to sympathizers raising more than $100,000 with a GoFundMe for help. Meanwhile, Heche’s family had been calling for prayers with hopes of her recovery before learning that she has been declared brain dead.

Anne Heche Was a Veteran Performer and Emmy Winner

     NBC

An award-winning performer, Anne Heche broke onto the scene with a memorable role playing twins on the classic soap Another World, a role that earned her a Daytime Emmy Award. She was later nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for her role in Gracie’s Choice. Heche has appeared in a variety of television shows over the years including starring roles in shows like Men in Trees, Hung, Save Me, Aftermath, The Brave, and Chicago P.D. She also performed on Dancing with the Stars in 2020 and is set to appear in the upcoming series The Idol.

In film, Heche has also had roles in many movies dating back about three decades. That includes memorable roles in titles like Donnie Brasco, Volcano, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Six Days, Seven Nights, Return to Paradise, Psycho, Spread, Cedar Rapids, Rampart, Catfight, My Friend Dahmer, and 13 Minutes. Posthumously, she will appear in the upcoming disaster movie Supercell and will also be featured in the Lifetime movie Girl in Room 13 which premieres on the network in September.

“This project is important to Heche and along with each and every one of us,” Lifetime’s executive VP, Amy Winter, said of the decision to release the film following Heche’s accident. “We all started to make a film that would bring attention to the appalling issue of human sex trafficking. We hope that this film moves you and that you are just as inspired as Anne was to help us with our mission to stop violence against women.”

Director Elisabeth Rohm added, “We’re all so dedicated to the cause, stopping violence against women and I again thank Lifetime’s so much for creating this platform. All of us, especially Larissa who played this victim, are committed to that cause. We talked about it — every single one of us — that this was our mission. And although [Anne] is deeply missed, right now, I will say the film is finished and she did a phenomenal performance.”

Behind the scenes, Heche also famously dated Ellen DeGeneres for about three years, starting in the late 1990s and culminating in 2000. After that relationship ended, Heche went on to marry Coleman Laffoon, with whom she had one child before their divorce. Heche later married James Tupper and had a second child, though the pair split in 2018. Tupper had been among those calling for prayers after the recent accident.

“Thoughts and prayers for this lovely woman, actress and mother tonight Anne Heche. We love you,” Tupper wrote on Instagram, posting an image of Heche and their son.

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At this time, our condolences go out to Heche’s family and friends at this painful time. Rest in peace, Anne Heche, as your memory lives on forever.

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