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 Loraine

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Police report , mother did not find the daughter .Husband did . mother found .son inlaw pay attention

By Raquelita

Oh wow no doubt about it the mother should be prime suspect too fishy

By beachbum9797

I don't believe in all the conspiracy theories. This man was obese and a heart attack is one of many things that can happen when you don't take care of yourself.

By Shannon

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Everyone calm down..... He had heart problems.
There was no foul play, he simply had a heart attack.

By areanna26

I agree. And I'm sure the stress and grief of losing Brittany addded to it.

By PAULSTARNYC

SOMETHING IS VERY, VERY WRONG HERE. ANY WAY WHO CARES ABOUT THIS CREEP. HAS SLEEZE BAG WRITTEN ALL OVER HIM, HE TOOK ADAVNTAGE OF BRITTANY AND GETS WHAT HE DESERVES.

By Paula

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Well I know Nancy Grace will be on top of this story. And I am thinking just what she is more than likely thinking...First the daughter dies, than Brittany's grandmother dies, now her husband...HUM....who is left standing all alone and with ALL THE MONEY. MOMMIE DEAREST!!!

By cindy

This happens all the time more than you know....people die of a broken heart they give up... and do not take care of themselves and no longer want to live. Brittany was known to take medication and a lethal one with cold medications... Simon gave up on life..I do not beleive any foul play or that the mother is responsible..we should be praying for her!

By Joebudgie

Jeffrey Tobias, you killed them both. Show the proof you didn't it you deny it. Enough Said right. Jerk Alert ! ! ! !

By mzharleywood

Mother being blackmailed/threatened by son-in-law, silences him..
He didnt even have a job, other than Brittany and whatever he could scrounge out of Mama...
Now she gets it ALL...

By Naota

Liberals are mentally ill.

This is nothing new..

When the bizarre, sick philosophy of liberalism disappears - so will these needless deaths.

By christine

maybe he just died of a broken heart... the thought of living without the person he loved was just to much to bare....

By bryan72562

Stupid is as stupid does.

By rene

I wonder if the house has toxic levels of radon or carbon monoxide. It does seems bizarre, but many times when people are in love they die of the broken hearts. Expecially in the elderly. They do not eat, drink or even care anymore. I did hear on one site that the mom was found in a bedroom unconscious and is in crital condition. They did not say anything else and I am unsure if that report is true or not.

By helen

By Tex
Just offer your condolences and then slither back under that rock..................................................................................................................................................................................................................I can't stop laughing.

By wreckonice

slither is what got me! Now, let's C...He died of house? No, wait, he died of carbon monoxide inside of house? Well, let's figure out who turned the gas on? Where's the mamma, not the mamma!

By Kevin

Good Lord,Some of u people need to get a job writing on a good cop show!!!!!Your theory's r great for tv but sounds like u watch maybe a bit to much of it.Good luck to all u NANCY DREW AND HARDY BOYS wannabe's!

By LVgal

I may be mistaken but didn't I read Brittany's father had ties to the Mafia? Big mistake to not allow him to attend his daughter's funeral.

Tuesday 25 May

By Robin

He died from a broken heart and anybody that lost their soulmate/best friend would understand this. He probably just couldnt live without her anymore and hopefully they have found each other again and will spend eternity loving each other. This was a unique relationship its like the beauty and the beast but somehow they loved each other which you could see when they were together so people give the mom did it a rest.

By ofalaska

What a bunch of paranoid people with too much time on their hands! I grew up in Hollywood, and this is just another case of narcissistic lifestyles catching up with those living them. People with too much money and no real reason to live don't hang onto life that well that often, and sometimes the human spirit has had enough of the empty game. Sound strange? I had friends die who were on TV, in the movies and in rock bands from my teenage years. Stupid. Next you'll be crying about a conspiracy when Lindsay Lohan is found dead in her jail bunk, probably next week.

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