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Actress Brittany Murphy Dies at 32

By PopEater Staff Posted Dec 20th 2009 03:19PM

Actress Brittany Murphy was found dead on Sunday, TMZ and other media outlets have confirmed. The 'Clueless' and 'Girl, Interrupted' actress went into full cardiac arrest, and paramedics were unable to revive her. She was pronounced dead upon arrival at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

The 911 call reporting the incident was made from the home of Simon Monjack, whom Murphy married in 2007. RadarOnline is reporting that Monjack himself made the phone call, and that the Los Angeles Coroner's office is launching an investigation into Murphy's death. The police "could not say whether it would point to any criminal conduct," Los Angeles Times sources say.

According to TMZ, Murphy's mom found the actress in the shower and paramedics administered CPR at the home and on the way to the hospital. Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Devon Gale tells the Associated Press that the call was made at 8 a.m. on Sunday, and that one person was transported to a hospital.

Murphy's publicist, Nicole Perna, released a statement on Sunday saying: "In this time of sadness, the family thanks you for your love and support. It is their wish that you respect their privacy."

Murphy made her big splash in Hollywood in 1995's 'Clueless,' in which she played the ditzy character Tai. She went on to co-star in popular films like 'Girl, Interrupted' with Angelina Jolie and '8 Mile,' where she played Eminem's love interest. She was also the voice of Luanne Platter for more than 230 episodes of the popular Fox cartoon sitcom 'King of the Hill.'

Aside from acting, Murphy also dabbled in music occasionally. In 2006, she scored a hit by pairing up with DJ Paul Oakenfold on the song 'Faster Kill Pussycat,' which became a club staple. She also covered two songs -- including Queen's 'Somebody to Love' -- in the animated movie 'Happy Feet.'

Ashton Kutcher, who shared the screen with Murphy in 2003's 'Just Married' and also dated her, spoke out on his Twitter to remember his friend. "See you on the other side kid ... 2day the world lost a little piece of sunshine. My deepest condolences go out 2 Brittany's family, her husband, & her amazing mother Sharon," Kutcher wrote. See More Stars Tweeting About Murphy >>>

Publicist Ashley Berg, a partner at LFB Media Group who saw Murphy just two weeks ago at an event to raise money for disabled children, tells PopEater's Rob Shuter that the actress "was happy and totally upbeat at the event."

According to the Associated Press, detectives and coroner's officials were at Murphy and Monjack's home Sunday afternoon but did not talk to reporters.

Neighbor Clare Staples told the AP said she saw firefighters working to resuscitate the actress Sunday morning. She said Murphy was on a stretcher and "looked as though she was dead at the scene."

Murphy's husband, wearing pajama bottoms and no shoes, appeared "dazed" as firefighters tried to save her, Staples said.

Remembering Brittany

'Girl, Interrupted'

'Clueless' Trailer

Brittany on 'Letterman''

Music: 'Faster Kill Pussycat'

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http://www.popeater.com/mm_track/popeater/movies/?s_channel=us.moviespop&s_account=aolpopeater,aolsvc&omni=1&ke=1

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Recent Losses in Tinseltown

Dec. 16: Jennifer Jones, seen here in 'The Song of Bernadette,' for which she won an Academy Award, passed away at the age of 90.

Deaths in Hollywood

Dec. 16: Jennifer Jones, seen here in 'The Song of Bernadette,' for which she won an Academy Award, passed away at the age of 90.

Richard Todd, Dec. 3: Aside from being an actual war hero (WW2), the British actor went on to appear in some of the best war films of the 20th century, including 'The Longest Day' and 'The Dam Busters.' Todd died of cancer at age 90.

Darlene Hammond, Getty Images

Lou Jacobi, Oct. 25: The comic actor was 95

Ray Fisher, Time Life Pictures / Getty Images

Joseph Wiseman, Oct. 19: The actor who played the sinister scientist and title character of Dr. No in the first James Bond film died in New York of natural causes. He was 91.

Eileen Darby, Time Life Pictures / Getty Images

Vic Mizzy, Oct. 17: The songwriter who composed the catchy themes for the 1960s sit-coms 'The Addams Family' and 'Green Acres,' has died at age 93. His manager Jonathan Wolfson said he didn't know the cause of death. Mizzy is survived by a brother, daughter and two grandchildren.

Mathew Imaging / WireImage

Henry Gibson, Sept. 14: The actor known for roles in 'Blues Brothers,' 'The Burbs' and 'Laugh-In' died at his home in Malibu after battling cancer. He was 73.

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

Army Archerd, Sept. 8: The iconic entertainment columnist (right) who wrote for Daily Variety for more than 50 years died at the age of 87.

Getty Images

Patrick Swayze, Sept. 14: The 'Dirty Dancing' star passed away at the age of 57. The actor fought nearly a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer.

Susan Sterner, AP

John Hughes, August 6: The filmmaker responsible for iconic '80s movies like 'Pretty in Pink,' 'Sixteen Candles' and 'The Breakfast Club,' suffered a fatal heart attack while visiting New York City.

Paul Natkin, WireImage

Brenda Joyce, July 4: The actress, who played Jane in several 'Tarzan' films with Johnny Weissmuller (pictured in 'Tarzan and the Amazons') and later Lex Barker, died at age 92. Joyce quit showbiz after completing 1949's 'Tarzan's Magic Fountain.' She went on to work for the government.

Everett Collection

Tags: brittany murphy, BrittanyMurphy

Comments

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Sunday 20 December

By Brittany S

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It was more than likely drugs. It was no secret that she used them. It's still sad. She was a great actress. :(

Sunday 20 December

By Tiff

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I was pretty shocked when I saw this too. And of course, my first thoughts were drugs or eating disorder. But when you start searching...there was some weird stuff going on with her and her husband. Very sketchy!

Sunday 20 December

By Mimi

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Such as? Can you elaborate?

Sunday 20 December

By Tiff

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I tried to send the links to the stories on TMZ and thehollywoodgossip webpages, but I don't think this site will let me.
Anyway, it appears Brittany was recently fired from a movie in Puerto Rico for being disruptive to the production. Then flying home in late November, her husband was having problems. Brittany thought it was an ashtma attack, but EMTs came on the plane, thought it was serious and admitted him to the hospital. He was realesed the next day.

Sunday 20 December

By Tiff

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I actually like Brittany, so I started searching just to see if she ever had a heart problem, asthma or a reported eating disorder when I found the other stories.
A 32 yr old woman does not usually die of a heart attack, particularly less than a month after her husband has a similar incident. It just seems odd.

Sunday 20 December

By Britt

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I am in total shock!!!! I just watched "Just Married" yesterday and I love her!! This is bizarre ... RIP Brittany ... you'll be missed. Too young to go ....

Sunday 20 December

By jamie

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i hope you guys are lying if so i hope you get sued by miss murphy

Sunday 20 December

By cannotbelievethis

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Brittany wouldn't sue anyone - she can't do that from the grave. Mr. Monjack on the other head could get your head on a platter... don't be so quick to judge... it could have been an unknown heart defect, an arrythmia... let's let them ME do his/her report...

Monday 21 December

By jennifer

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OMG I CANT BELIVE THIS SHE WAS SUCH A GREAT ACTRESS AND SO PRETTY AND WAY TO YUNG TO DIE BUT YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN ITS YOUR TIME TO GO .GOD BLESS HER SOULD AND LORD BE WITH HER FAMILY

Sunday 20 December

By princesskim4ft

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has no one seen recent pictures of her? IMHO she was way anorexic and that is probably why she died.

Sunday 20 December

By sweet1faeva

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Oh no. I liked her. That is so sad that it was her time to leave this early in life. God Bless her soul.

Sunday 20 December

By GreatPumpkins

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She was a recovering heroin addict and I bet that's what happened to her. Maybe she relapsed. Very sad for her, though. May she RIP.

Monday 21 December

By Steph

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RIP...drugs...we all know about that

Sunday 20 December

By Susan

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I was watching the cartoon movie PENGUINS last night and she did the voice of Gloria opposite Elijah Woods and i thought she was fantastic. Very sad.

Monday 21 December

By acidbrat

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I was watching "Happy Feet" (that's the name of the penguin movie) the other night, too, and discovered that Brittany did her own singing, which made me even more impressed with her talents. She had such a sunny quality in interviews and in her lighter roles that always made me smile.

Sunday 20 December

By what?!

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I think she was supposed to be healthy. How can she died young? She must have abused her body constantly.

Sunday 20 December

By ViNCENZA

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I feel so bad! She was so young and it's just so sadd!!! xx

Sunday 20 December

By Erica

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That's just crazy ... God Bless her and the family. ~ :o(

Sunday 20 December

By rockrider

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Dear Britanny Murphy,
You leave us all behind with heavy hearts.
Fly to the rainbow,loved one.

Sunday 20 December

By laprns

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She seemed to be anorexic over the last year or so. Always thin but lately she was skeletal. Most anorectics die from organ failure....wonder if that is what happened?

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