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Actress Brittany Murphy Dies Aged 32

Brittany Murphy dies 'from a heart attack' aged 32

By Georgina Littlejohn

 

US actress Brittany Murphy died yesterday from a reported heart attack at the age of 32.

Multiple sources told celebrity news website TMZ.com that she went into full cardiac arrest and despite multiple attempts, could not be revived.

Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Devon Gale said emergency services were called to the house she shares with her British screenwriter husband Simon Monjack in Los Angeles at 8am local time.

 

According to reports, her mother Sharon Murphy discovered her daughter unconscious in the shower.

 

Paramedics determined that Brittany was in full cardiac arrest and immediately administered CPR.

 

They continued mouth-to-mouth as they sped to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, several miles away from her home, but Brittany was pronounced dead on arrival at 10.04am on Sunday.

Monjack, 39, was not thought to have been at home at the time.

Officer Norma Eisenman from the Los Angeles police said they have opened an investigation into her death and have dispatched investigators to Murphy's home in the hills of West Hollywood.

 

It was suggested today that an autopsy to determine exactly how she died could be conducted as early as tomorrow.

An investigator from the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office was reportedly scheduled to arrive at the hospital today to interview attending physicians.

 

A coroner’s spokesperson said Brittany’s mother and husband will also be interviewed.

 

Her rep, Nicole Perna, said in a statement last night: 'In this time of sadness, the family thanks you for your love and support. It is their wish that you respect their privacy.'

Her Clueless co-star Alicia Silverstone led the tributes: 'I always felt connected to her as we shared a very special experience in our lives together.

'I feel love in my heart for her - and hope she is at peace. This is truly sad. I loved working with Brittany. She was so talented, so warm, and so sweet.'

Celebrities immediately began paying tribute to her as soon as the news broke including actress Lindsay Lohan who wrote on her Twitter page: 'My deepest condolences go out to all of Brittany Murphy's loved ones& may she rest in peace. She was a great talent with a beautiful soul. xo'

 

Actress Jessica Simpson wrote: 'Brittany Murphy was an incredible ray of Light to so many people. Her smile was contagious. My prayers are with her family and loved ones.'

Singer Hilary Duff added: 'RIP Brittany Murphy forever in our hearts.'

And screenwriter and director Kevin Smith, made reference to one of her lines from Clueless.

He said: 'Never met her, but sad to hear about Brittany Murphy. G'night, Ms. Murphy; hope you're rollin' with the homies someplace nice.'

 

Speculation immediately began surrounding the cause of Brittany's sudden death from cardiac arrest, the same cause of Michael Jackson's death in June.

Police are still investigating the singer's apparent dependency on prescription drugs.

Ironically, TMZ, who were the first the break the news of Brittany's death, were also the first to break the report about Jackson's demise on June 25 this year.

Even celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton hinted on his website there might have been some other cause behind Brittany's sudden death today.

He wrote: 'Absolutely devastating. Especially because this comes as no surprise! We, and those who knew Brittany personally, saw this coming. That does not make this any less horrible.

 

Yesterday, Murphy's friends said they feared that she died in a similar way to Jackson and Hollywood insiders said she had a long running problem with prescription drugs.

One source said: 'We have been very worried that something like this was about to happen. Brittany has been living life on the edge.

 

'She definitely had a drug problem and we have all begged her to seek help. Sadly our words fell on deaf ears.'

 

Another added that Murphy, who just over a month ago celebrated her 32nd birthday, had struggled to beat a prescription drug problem since becoming hooked on painkillers after undergoing a series of plastic surgery procedures.

It was also claimed that the drugs she was using included Vicodin - a painkiller Michael Jackson was also known to abuse.

'Our thoughts are with her family and friends during this extremely difficult time.'

 

There have been fears in the past that Brittany suffered from eating disorders which many said was tied to a cocaine addiction, but she vehemently denied this.

 

She said: 'I have never tried it in my entire life, I've never even seen it, and I don't leave the house too much, except to go to work.

 

'My worst vice is caffeine. [The rumour is] really pretty darn far-fetched - it couldn't be further from the truth. I have known people over the course of my life that have bad problems with drugs, and it's something really serious.'

Brittany, an only child, was born in November 1977 in Atlanta, Georgia, but was raised in New Jersey.

She shot to fame after her breakthrough appearance as Tai in the film Clueless in 1995.

The actress went on to star Girl, Interrupted with Winona Ryder and Angelina Jolie in 2000 and alongside rapper Eminem in his semi-autobiographical film 8 Mile in 2003.

 

Brittany played a mentally-disturbed young woman named Elisabeth alongside Michael Douglas in psychological thriller Don't Say A Word in 2001.

 

She also appeared with Kirsten Dunst in the black comedy Drop Dead Gorgeous in 1999 and Just Married in 2003 with Ashton Kutcher, who she dated for a year after they met on the set.

 

Yesterday, Kutcher paid tribute to Brittany on his Twitter page and wrote: '2day the world lost a little piece of sunshine. My deepest condolences go out 2 Brittany’s family, her husband, & her amazing mother Sharon. See you on the other side kid.'

 

Murphy married screenwriter Monjack in a private Jewish ceremony in May 2007.

 

Sadly, only a couple of weeks ago, Brittany spoke about her hopes for the coming year which included plans to start a family.

Speaking to Access Hollywood at the Tt Collection Pop-Up Party in Los Angeles on December 3, she said: 'As far as having a New Year’s resolution, I’d love to have a child next year.

'But that’s kind of a large one! I’ve been very blessed to have a really great loving husband. I spend more time with my family than anyone else in the world.'

 

Before she married Monjack, she had been previously engaged twice.

The first time to talent manager Jeff Kwatinetz, who she began dating in 2003, before he proposed in 2004, but they split the following year.

She then started dating production assistant Joe Macaluso after they met while she was working on the film Little Black Book. They got engaged in December 2005 but she ended the relationship in August 2006.

 

It was reported earlier this month that she was fired from a new movie role in The Caller for allegedly being difficult on the set and was reportedly replaced by Rachelle Lefevre, of Twilight fame, but this was denied by Brittany.

 

She had five films in production at the time of her death, including Something Wicked, Shrinking Charlotte and Sylvester Stallone's upcoming film, The Expendables, due for release next year.

 

Her last big movie was Sin City in 2005.

In June 2006, she sang on Paul Oakenfold's hit single 'Faster Kill Pussycat' which got ot number seven on the UK singles charts.

She dabbled in music again that same year when she covered Queen's Somebody To Love and Earth, Wind & Fire's Boogie Wonderland for the animated film Happy Feet, for which she also provided the voice for the character Gloria the penguin

 

 

 

Tragic really... Prescription drugs claims another victim.... :(