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Anne Heche
Photo: Taylor Jewell/AP
The US actress Anne Heche ("Ally McBeal", "Six Days, Seven Nights") died a week after a car accident.
A spokesman confirmed the 53-year-old's death on Friday in a statement released to US media.
According to this, brain death has occurred, according to the laws in California, a person is considered dead. However, she is still connected to machines so that organ donation can be carried out.
The day before, the family had announced through the spokesman that the 53-year-old had no chance of survival.
Heche suffered a severe brain injury and is in a coma.
According to the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), the accident happened on August 5 in the Mar Vista district.
Heche's car crashed into a house at high speed and only came to a stop after almost ten meters.
A fire also broke out.
According to the media, the police said on Thursday that they were investigating driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
A mother of two, Heche is known for roles in films such as Donnie Brasco, Six Days Seven Nights, Wag the Dog and Volcano.
She was awarded an Emmy - the US television award.
TV viewers know her from series like »Ally McBeal« and »Nip/Tuck«.
Her marriage to cinematographer Coley Laffoon ended in divorce in 2009.
Prior to her marriage, Heche dated talk show host Ellen DeGeneres at times.
sol/dpa