Anne Heche, 'Wag the Dog' and 'Donnie Brasco' star, has died at 53

"Anne Heche has been peacefully taken off life support," a representative for her family told CNN earlier Sunday night, and later confirmed the actress' passing.

Heche's car crashed into a Los Angeles home and erupted into flames on August 5. After the accident, Heche experienced a "severe anoxic brain injury," depriving her brain of oxygen, among other critical injuries following the crash, her family and friends said in a statement to CNN.

Heche was an award-winning actress who appeared in films like the 1998 "Psycho" remake and the rom-com "Six Days Seven Nights" alongside Harrison Ford. She also directed a segment of a 2000 HBO film "If These Walls Could Talk 2" and in her 2001 memoir, she revealed her lifelong struggles with mental illnesses after being abused by her father.

In 1987, Heche made her TV debut on the soap opera "Another World," a role for which she won a Daytime Emmy. After leaving the show, she began her film career, appearing in acclaimed films including "Donnie Brasco" and "Wag the Dog."

When Heche and Ellen DeGeneres began dating in 1997 -- around the same time DeGeneres came out in real life and on her titular sitcom -- they quickly became one of the most famous same-sex couples in the world. The two separated in 2000.

Last year, Heche told Page Six her relationship with DeGeneres resulted in her losing roles, calling herself "patient zero of cancel culture."

Still, she said, she considered herself "part of the change" that helped normalize same-sex relationships in mainstream culture.

"I'm a part of it," she told Page Six. "It is a badge of honor."

In her 2001 memoir, "Call Me Crazy," she said her father sexually abused her as a child, and she experienced mental illnesses for much of the first 30 years of her life. She told CNN's Larry King in an interview that year her personality fragmented between herself and a personality she invented as a child to adapt to the abuse.

"I had to live through a lot of life to get to the place where I am now," she told King. "I had to see truths and work through shame, and I'm very grateful for every step that I took. I don't think that I could have handled it sooner."

In 2004, Heche appeared on Broadway in "Twentieth Century," for which she was nominated for a Tony. In more recent years, Heche returned to television, appearing on series like "The Brave," "Quantico" and "Chicago P.D." In 2020, she competed on the 29th season of "Dancing with the Stars."

Heche's Hollywood peers responded to news of her crash with support. Her ex-partner and "Men in Trees" co-star James Tupper, with whom she shares one of her two sons, wrote on Instagram: "Thoughts and prayers for this lovely woman, actresss and mother tonight Anne Heche. We love you."

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Actress Anne Heche declared 'legally dead' after crash

Heche, best known for 1990s movies "Donnie Brasco" and "Six Days, Seven Nights", crashed her car into a two-storey house in the Mar Vista neighbourhood of Los Angeles.

Heche, 53, had been comatose in hospital with a severe brain injury since the fiery collision on August 5. (AP)

Hollywood actor Anne Heche has been declared legally dead, one week after she crashed her car into a Los Angeles building.

Having lost all brain function, she is "legally dead according to California law," though her heart is still beating as her family keeps her body on life support while exploring organ donations, spokesperson Holly Baird said on Friday.

Heche, 53, had been comatose in hospital with a severe brain injury since the fiery collision on August 5.

"Today we lost a bright light, a kind and most joyful soul, a loving mother, and a loyal friend," the family said in a joint statement.

"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, best known for 1990s movies "Donnie Brasco" and "Six Days, Seven Nights", crashed her car into a two-storey house in the Mar Vista neighbourhood of Los Angeles.

The violent collision resulted in "structural compromise and... heavy fire" at the scene, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The ensuing blaze took 59 firefighters more than an hour to contain and fully extinguish, the department said.

Local media reported on Thursday that preliminary tests of Heche's blood had come back positive for narcotics, though more were needed to ensure the drugs had not been administered in the course of her treatment.

Celebrity gossip outlet TMZ, citing unnamed police sources, said Heche had tested positive for cocaine and fentanyl, with the latter sometimes used for pain relief in clinical settings.

"My brother Atlas and I lost our Mom," Heche's son Homer Laffoon said in a separate statement.

"Hopefully my mom is free from pain and beginning to explore what I like to imagine as her eternal freedom," he wrote.

Heche rose to fame with her role on the soap opera "Another World," for which she won a Daytime Emmy in 1991.

She was nominated for a Tony award for her appearance in "Twentieth Century" on Broadway in 2004.

Source: AFP

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Anne Heche 'not expected to survive' crash injuries, rep says

"Unfortunately, due to her accident, Anne Heche suffered a severe anoxic brain injury and remains in a coma, in critical condition. She is not expected to survive," the statement 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."

Anoxic brain injury occurs when the brain is deprived of oxygen.

A woman inside the home at the time of the crash suffered minor injuries, but did seek medical attention, according to Lee.

Heche has remained in critical condition. This week, a spokesperson for Heche told CNN the actress suffered "significant pulmonary injury requiring mechanical ventilation" and "burns that require surgical intervention."

"We want to thank everyone for their kind wishes and prayers for Anne's recovery and thank the dedicated staff and wonderful nurses that cared for Anne at the Grossman Burn Center at West Hills hospital," the statement continued.

In their message, her family and friends also paid tribute to Heche's "huge heart" and "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," the statement read. "She will be remembered for her courageous honesty and dearly missed for her light."

Heche rose to fame on the soap opera "Another World," where she played the dual role of twins Vicky Hudson and Marley Love from 1987 to 1991. She earned a Daytime Emmy Award for her performance on the show.

Heche followed that success with numerous films, including "Donnie Brasco," "Wag the Dog" and "Six Days Seven Nights" opposite Harrison Ford.

In more recent years, Heche has appeared in television shows like "The Brave," "Quantico," and "Chicago P.D."

Following the crash, there was an outpouring of support for the actress from the Hollywood community. Her ex and former "Men in Trees" co-star James Tupper, with whom she shares one of her two sons, wrote on Instagram: "Thoughts and prayers for this lovely woman, actress and mother tonight Anne Heche. We love you."

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Anne Heche in critical condition following fiery car crash

The driver was traveling at a high rate of speed when she ran off the road and collided with a residence, Los Angeles Police Public Information Officer Jeff Lee tells CNN. The impact left the car engulfed in flames and the driver suffered burn injuries. She was taken to a local hospital by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics in critical condition. It took firefighters more than an hour to "access, confine and fully extinguish the stubborn flames within the heavily damaged structure," the LAFD said.

There were no other injuries reported.

CNN has contacted representatives of Heche for comment.

Heche first rose to fame on the soap opera "Another World," where she played the dual role of twins Vicky Hudson and Marley Love from 1987 to 1991 and earned a Daytime Emmy Award for her performance. She followed that with roles in films like "Donnie Brasco," "Six Days Seven Nights," and "Wag the Dog."

Her romantic relationship with Ellen DeGeneres in the late '90s resulted in intense media attention at the time, much to Heche's professional frustration. In a 2021 interview with Page Six, Heche said she felt "blacklisted" after going public with their relationship.

"I didn't do a studio picture for 10 years," said Heche, who dated DeGeneres from 1997 to 2000.

Heche has appeared in numerous television series more recently, including "The Brave," "Quantico," and "Chicago P.D." She has several acting projects currently in post-production, according to her IMDB profile.

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