Simon Monjack, Brittany Murphy's Widower, Found Dead in Los Angeles

By PopEater Staff Posted May 24th 2010 08:00AM

Simon Monjack, the husband of late actress Brittany Murphy, was found dead Sunday night in his Hollywood Hills home, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. He was 39. The screenwriter was reportedly found by his mother-in-law, Sharon, in the master bedroom of the house he once shared with Murphy.

"The preliminary cause of death is natural causes," Sgt. Louie Lozano told the Associated Press. Another police spokesman, Sgt. Alex Ortiz, said, "We concluded there were no signs of foul play or any criminal activity involved."

Ortiz said that the coroner's office was taking over the investigation because criminal activity had been ruled out.

According to his spokesman, Monjack was due for a heart bypass. "Simon needed a [heart] bypass. I was told he needed a bypass, and I said to him, 'Simon, you have so much going on, let's keep you healthy.' I said, 'You want to be healthy. Don't you?' He said yes, but he said, 'The bypass can wait,' " his rep told PEOPLE.

Officials told reporters that a 911 call for a medical emergency was placed at 9:46 PM Sunday night. When emergency responders arrived at the home, Monjack was pronounced dead. It's unclear if medics tried to revive him.

Watch the 'Today' Show Interview w/ Monjack:

No illegal drugs were found in the house, according to Los Angeles County Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter.

Sharon Murphy, Brittany's mother, also lives at the home.

Brittany Murphy was found dead Dec. 20 in her bathroom by Monjack. The final coroner's report, released Feb. 23, states that she had "elevated levels" of Vicodin and drugs from over-the-counter cold medicine in her system, but no illegal substances. The office concluded Murphy's death was accidental, but likely preventable. She was 32.

In an interview following the results, Monjack said, "I took very good care of my wife ... She was on an antibiotic and she was taking cough medicine and doing all the right things."

At her funeral in December, a visibly emotional Monjack talked about their relationship and called her his best friend and soul mate. He had said that they had been planning a family and contemplating a move to New York.

Monjack and Sharon Murphy recently took the 8,000 sq. ft home off the market, reportedly because they did not feel comfortable showing the home to potential buyers. It went up for sale in March for $7.25 million.

Monjack -- who penned and produced 2006's 'Factory Girl' -- wed Murphy in 2007 in a small, private ceremony at their house. The marriage seemed to come out of nowhere, as the couple never announced their engagement and hardly ever made public appearances together.

Their nuptials came amid a swirl of controversy. According to an Us Weekly report -- which has since been taken off of their website -- Monjack, who is British, was on the verge of being deported because he overstayed his visa. He split from his ex-wife just months before marrying Murphy.

Tags: brittany murphy, simon monjack

Comments

(203)

Monday 24 May

By Angell

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Not for Nothing all ya people are a little silly because he is just as famous as she was and there was no need to kill Brit the mother and him had thier own money and it is appaling that yall would say something so crude to begin with. the last thing you would want if you died would be for people to start saying that you was killed by someone in your family and its not true ya feel me?

Any How Dont Let Life Get You Down
NO One Gets Out Alive

By Dolly

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Yes, doesn't everyone die at 39 of natural causes? Something fishy going on here.

By blu

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actually dolly some do and mikey i agree that some people don't get it, pity they don't

By Terri

PLENTY of obese and depressed people die of natural causes. I'm a nurse in a large hospital. We routinely see people die of natural causes in their 20's, 30's, 40's etc. The overall health of society is sad and sickening. It's not a stretch to call it natural causes as he's already admitted to "heart problems" and depression. Probably a heart attack with subsequent ventricular arrhythmia.

By Sharon

I just read that Brittany's grandmother died last month of natural causes. What in the world is going on with that family?? Now, Brittany's mom has to deal with Simon's death and I'm sure she's still grieving over her mother. Poor thing, I know she feels so all alone right now.

By Genna

Are you crazy? It's people like you who pre-judge everything that are the ones who are truly disturbed. Facts and evidence have yet to be revealed, and people are already pointing a finger at the mother. Please, people, grow up. You have NO idea what happened and what didn't happen.

By Celia

Everybody seems to die of natural causes in Los Angeles. Apparently, a retard is in charge of the coroners office.

By wreckonice

That is the best damn post of the day! I will second your emotion!
There is a reason like an envelope full of money....a trip around the world...who knows how much payola makes the coroner not C what should B seen(?)...just sayin'....

By hanfrina

... SOOO-HollyWEIRD!?! LOL!!!

By SUE

Maybe over medicated to get thru the grief and weakened his heart?

By Crystal

Wow this is really strange, doesnt really make any sense something happened Im interested on finding out what the real story is behind all of this.

By LIZ

JUDE I AGREE WITH YOU. BRITTANY'S DEATH ACCIDENTAL..SIMON... BROKEN HEART. SO SAD! WE SHOULD NOT MAKE THINGS WORSE. WHOA RE WE TO SAY?

By jonny

guarantee it was heart related.

By ThisIsNuts!

I'm not sure 'natural causes' is something that springs to mind when a 39 year old man dies for no apparent reason.

By davidcdiehl

I SAW THIS MOVIE, THE COOK DID IT.

By patty

How sad it is that you can take 2 people's deaths and make a joke that is so immature and tasteless. Would you say that if it was your sister or mom or dad that was found dead? YOU ought to be ashamed of yourself.

By Irma

Now, doesn't that sound bizarre?! The only other person in the house was Brittany's mom (during both times)? Having a legal mind, I believe the police department shouldn't be so quick to rule out other causes of death! If they were a poor couple, you bet they would be doing an extensive investigation.

By Linda

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OH AREN'T YOU THE HORSES ARSE TO SAY WHAT YOU JUST DID YOU IDIOT! GET REAL YOU LOSER. WHAT YOU SAID HAS NO VALIDITY. THERE IS NO PROOF AT ALL TO YOUR BS STATEMENT. NOW, YOU NEED TO JUST GO AWAY AND LEAVE THE POSTING TO PEOPLE WITH A BRAIN WHICH YOU SEEM TO LACK WITH YOUR RIDICULOUS POSTING AND RAMBLINGS ACCUSING BRITNEYS MOM OF BEING A MURDERER! THAT IS SLANDER PRETTY MUCH COZ YOU HAVE NO RIGHT SAYING THESE THINGS WITHOUT PROOF. SO GOOD TRY AT TRYING TO MAKE HER MOTHER LOOK BAD BUT IF SHE WAS A SUSPECT SHE WOULD BE IN JAIL! AND SHE IS NOT. SHE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY OF THIS. YOU ON THE OTHER HAND ARE AN IDIOT TO SAY WHAT YOU DID. SHAME ON YOU. LOSER. AND TO ANY OF YOU WHO "THINK" THAT BRITNEYS MOM OR HUSBAND HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH HER MURDER..STOP THINKING COZ YOU ALL OBVIOUSLY HAVE NO BRAIN. TO ACCUSE SOMEONE OF SOMETHING JUST COZ YOU "THINK" SOMETHING WHICH IS FALSE IS NOT RIGHT. NOT AT ALL.

By brooks

DRUGS?

By Biff

He was probably doing the same bad drugs that he fed to Brittany.

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