Anne Heche: Actress, legally dead, removed from life support for organ transplants
ByBob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
ByBob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Actress Anne Heche, declared legally dead Friday after a fiery crash earlier this month, has been removed from life support after organ transplant recipients were found, a representative for Heche’s family said Sunday night.
“Anne Heche has been peacefully taken off life support,” read a statement from the spokesperson, Holly Baird, according to Reuters and CNN.
Heche, 53, died from injuries she sustained when her vehicle crashed into a Los Angeles home on Aug. 5, according to the Los Angeles Times. A person declared brain dead is considered legally dead under California law.
Earlier Sunday, a spokesperson confirmed to CNN and NBC News that Heche would be removed from life support and that surgeons were ready to perform the transplants.
Anne Heche will be taken off of life support Sunday afternoon, a spokesperson for the actor says. https://t.co/nAv5BB8ogT
TMZ also reported about the life support update and the impending organ removals.
“My brother Atlas and I lost our Mom. After six days of almost unbelievable emotional swings, I am left with a deep, wordless sadness,” Heche’s son, Homer, wrote in a statement obtained by the Times on Friday. “Hopefully my mom is free from pain and beginning to explore what I like to imagine as her eternal freedom.
On Saturday, the Los Angeles Police Department announced that it ended its investigation into the fiery car accident that took Heche’s life.
On Thursday night, Baird said the Emmy-Award-winning actress had suffered an “anoxic” brain injury after the crash. Heche was in critical condition and had slipped into a coma, Baird said.
Heche’s vehicle crashed into the home owned by Jennifer Durand and occupied by tenant Lynne Mishele, People reported.
During the 1990s, Heche played opposite actors including Johnny Depp (“Donnie Brasco”) and Harrison Ford (“Six Days, Seven Nights”).
From 2001 to 2009, she was married to camera operator Coleman Laffoon, with whom she had a son. She had another son during a relationship with actor James Tupper, her co-star on the TV series “Men In Trees.”
She recently had recurring roles on the network TV series “Chicago P.D.” and “All Rise,” and in 2020 was a contestant on “Dancing With the Stars.”
Heche is also known for her roles as Vicky Hudson and Marley Love in the soap opera “Another World” and won a Daytime Emmy Award in 1991, the Times reported.
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Photos: Anne Heche through the years Here are some photos of actress Anne Heche through the years. (Michael Buckner/Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2001: Actress Anne Heche poses with her husband, director Coley Laffoon, on their wedding day September 1, 2001, In Los Angeles. (Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2002: Edie Falco and Anne Heche arrive at the 56th annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on June 2, 2002. (Scott Gries/ImageDirect via Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2003: Actress Anne Heche attends the "Life's Not Still: Adolescence & Adolescents" Benefit & Exhibit sponsored by the Huck Fund at the Gallery of Functional Art on June 7, 2003, in Santa Monica, California. (Robert Mora/Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2004: Actress Anne Heche attends the 56th annual Primetime Emmy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium on September 19, 2004, in Los Angeles. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2005: Actress Anne Heche arrives at the 2005 Creative Arts Emmy Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on September 11, 2005, in Los Angeles. (Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2006: Actress Anne Heche arrives at the Disney - ABC Television Group All Star Party at the Wisteria Courtyard at Kidspace Children's Museum on July 19, 2006, in Pasadena, California. (Mark Mainz/Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2007: Actress Anne Heche attends the 61st annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 10, 2007, in New York City. (Peter Kramer/Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2008: Actors Anne Heche (left) and James Tupper attend the 15th annual Race to Erase MS event at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel on May 2, 2008, in Los Angeles. (David Livingston/Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2009: Actors James Tupper and Anne Heche with son arrive for the Cirque Du Solei Opening Night Gala For Kooza at the Santa Monica Pier on October 16, 2009, in Santa Monica, California. (Kristian Dowling/Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2010: Actors Anne Heche and actor Thomas Jane arrive at HBO's "Hung" Season 2 premiere at Paramount Theater on the Paramount Studios lot on June 23, 2010, in Hollywood, California. (Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2011: Actress Anne Heche (right) and James Tupper arrive at the 2011 Film Independent Spirit Awards at Santa Monica Beach on February 26, 2011, in Santa Monica, California. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2012: Actors Anne Heche (left) and James Tupper arrive at the 20th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation's Oscar Viewing Party held at West Hollywood Park on February 26, 2012, in West Hollywood, California. (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2013: Actress Anne Heche arrives at the Hollywood Reporter's Emmy Party at Soho House on September 19, 2013, in West Hollywood, California. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2014: Actress Anne Heche attends the 2014 BAFTA Los Angeles TV Tea presented by BBC America and Jaguar at SLS Hotel on August 23, 2014, in Beverly Hills, California. (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2015: Actress Anne Heche attends the 2015 Film Independent Spirit Awards at Santa Monica Beach on February 21, 2015, in Santa Monica, California. (Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2016: Actors James Tupper (left) and Anne Heche attend HBO's Official 2016 Emmy After Party at the Plaza at the Pacific Design Center on September 18, 2016, in Los Angeles. (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2017: Sean Hayes and Anne Heche attend the Entertainment Weekly and People Upfronts party presented by Netflix and Terra Chips at Second Floor on May 15, 2017, in New York City. (Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Entertainment Weekly and People)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2018: Anne Heche attends the 25th Annual Race to Erase MS Gala at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on April 20, 2018, in Beverly Hills, California. (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2019: Actress Anne Heche attends the red carpet for the "Twentieth Century" Benefit Concert Reading at Studio 54 on April 29, 2019, in New York City. (Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2020: Anne Heche attends the 28th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party sponsored by IMDb, Neuro Drinks and Walmart on February 9, 2020, in West Hollywood, California. (Jemal Countess/Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2021: Anne Heche attends the 2021 Breeders' Cup VIP Event at Del Mar Race Track on November 6, 2021, in Del Mar, California. (Leon Bennett/Getty Images)
Photos: Anne Heche through the years 2022: Anne Heche and Ami Goodheart attend the 24th Costume Designers Guild Awards at the Eli and Edythe Broad Stage on March 9, 2022, in Santa Monica, California. (Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for CDGA)
