Actor Anne Heche has been taken off life support a week after her horrific car accident

53-year-old actor Anne Heche has been taken off life support, as doctors harvested her organs for donation.

Heche was declared ‘brain dead’ on Friday afternoon, satisfying the definition of death in the state of Claifornia

Speaking to TMZ last week, her family said, “we have lost a bright light [and] a kind and most joyful soul.”

Heche suffered from “a severe anoxic brain injury” after she was critically injured in a car crash in Los Angeles, California.

She was kept on life support to preserve her organs for the donation process.

In the statement, the family said it had “long been Anne’s choice” to donate her organs.

It continued, adding “we want to thank everyone for their kind wishes and prayers for Anne’s recovery.”

“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.”

Representative foR ANnE’S FAMILY, SPEAKING TO TMZ

An award-winning actor, Heche appeared in films including the 1998 “Psycho” remake and the rom-com “Six Days Seven Nights”.

She dated Ellen DeGeneres in 1997, which was around the same time DeGeneres came out in real life.

In a statement, the family say Heche had a huge heart and “touched everyone she met with her generous spirit”.

“More than her extraordinary talent, [Heche] saw spreading kindness and joy as her life’s work — especially moving the needle for acceptance of who you love,” the statement added.