Celebrity Deaths

CAUSE OF DEATH: CARDIAC ARREST

Brittany Murphy (November 10, 1977 – December 20, 2009) was an American actress and recording artist. She starred in films such as Just Married, Clueless, Girl, Interrupted, 8 Mile, Sin City, The Dead Girl, Uptown Girls, Riding in Cars with Boys and Spun.

Early life

Murphy was born in Atlanta, Georgia. Her parents divorced when she was two and she was raised by her mother, Sharon Murphy, in Edison, New Jersey, and later Los Angeles. Her father, Angelo Bertolotti, is a convicted mobster. Murphy's mother is of Irish and Eastern European descent; her father is Italian American. She was raised a Baptist and attended a Lutheran school, but was a non-denominational practicing Christian. Murphy's mother was diagnosed with breast cancer when Murphy was 15, and survived after having a double mastectomy.

Acting

Murphy landed her first job in Hollywood when she was 14, starring as Brenda Drexell in the series Drexell's Class. She then went on to play Molly Morgan in the short-lived The Torkelsons spinoff Almost Home. Murphy also guest-starred on several television series including Parker Lewis Can't Lose, Blossom, and Frasier. She also had recurring roles on Sister, Sister, Party of Five, and Boy Meets World. In 1997, she began voicing the character of Luanne Platter (as well as the younger version of Joseph Gribble) on the long-running animated series King of the Hill.

Murphy starred in many successful films, including Clueless (1995), Girl, Interrupted (1999), Don't Say a Word (2001), the TV adaption of the novel The Devil's Arithmetic (2001), 8 Mile (2002) and Uptown Girls (2003) as well as many lesser-known films, such as Spun (2003). In 2004, she starred in the romantic comedy Little Black Book, and the critically acclaimed Sin City (2005). She starred in two Edward Burns' films: Sidewalks of New York (2002) and The Groomsmen (2006). In 2009, she was cast in the Lifetime TV movie, Tribute, as the main character, Cilla.

Music

On June 6, 2006, Murphy and Paul Oakenfold released the single "Faster Kill Pussycat", from the album A Lively Mind. The song has become a club hit, and hit number one on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart. It also hit number seven in the UK singles chart in June 2006.

She dabbled in music again with the release of the film Happy Feet, in which she covered Queen's "Somebody to Love" and Earth, Wind & Fire's "Boogie Wonderland".

Personal life

In late 2002, Murphy began dating Ashton Kutcher, her co-star in Just Married. Once engaged to talent manager Jeff Kwatinetz, Murphy became engaged to Joe Macaluso in December 2005, a production assistant she met while working on the film Little Black Book. In August 2006, they ended their engagement. In May 2007, Murphy married British screenwriter Simon Monjack in a private Jewish ceremony. In 2005, Murphy signed as the spokesmodel for Jordache jeans. In 2006, Murphy was voted 36th in FHM's 100 Sexiest Women List, and in May of the same year, Maxim named Murphy #49 on its annual Hot 100 List.

Death

On December 20, 2009, celebrity news website TMZ.com reported that Murphy had died in the shower of her Los Angeles home, where she was in full cardiac arrest when a medical team reached her. She was rushed to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. Mainstream media sources later confirmed the reports of her death via the Los Angeles County Coroner's office and a spokesperson at the hospital.

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes

1993 Family Prayers Elsie Alternative title: A Family Divided
1995 Clueless Tai
1996 Freeway Rhonda
1997 Bongwater Mary
Drive Deliverance Bodine
1998 Falling Sky Emily Nicholson
The Prophecy II Izzy Direct-to-video release
Zack and Reba Reba Simpson
1999 Drop Dead Gorgeous Lisa Swenson
Girl, Interrupted Daisy Randone
2000 Trixie Ruby Pearli
Angels! Nurse Bellows
Cherry Falls Jody Marken
The Audition Daniella Short subject
Sidewalks of New York Ashley
2001 Summer Catch Dede Mulligan
Don't Say a Word Elisabeth Burrows
Riding in Cars with Boys Fay Forrester
2002 Spun Nikki
Something in Between Sky
8 Mile Alex Latourno
2003 Just Married Sarah
Uptown Girls Molly Gunn
Good Boy! Nelly Voice
2004 Little Black Book Stacy Holt
2005 Sin City Shellie
Neverwas Maggie Blake
2006 The Groomsmen Sue
Love and Other Disasters Emily "Jacks" Jackson
Happy Feet Gloria Voice
The Dead Girl Krista Kutcher
2008 The Ramen Girl Abby
Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs Colleen (Voice) Direct-to-DVD release
2009 Deadline Alice
Across the Hall June
Abandoned Mary

Television

Year Title Role Notes

1991 Murphy Brown Frank's Sister 1 episode
1991-1992 Drexell's Class Brenda Drexell 18 episodes
1992 Kids Incorporated Celeste 1 episode
Parker Lewis Can't Lose Angie 1 episode
1993 Almost Home Molly Morgan 13 episodes
Blossom Wendy 1 episode
1994 Frasier Olsen 1 episode
Party of Five Abby 2 episodes
1994-1995 Sister, Sister Sarah 6 episodes
1995 Boy Meets World Trini 2 episodes
The Marshal Lizzie Roth 1 episode
seaQuest DSV Christine VanCamp 1 episode
Murder One Diane "Dee-Dee" Carson 1 episode
1996 Double Jeopardy Julia Television movie
Nash Bridges Carrie 1 episode
Clueless Jasmine 1 episode
1997-2009 King of the Hill Luanne Platter (Voice)
Various characters (Voice) 226 episodes
1998 David and Lisa Lisa Television movie
1999 The Devil's Arithmetic Rivkah Television movie
1999-2000 Pepper Ann Tank the 8th grader (Voice) 3 episodes
2000 Common Ground Dorothy Nelson Television movie
2009 Tribute Cilla McGowan Television movie
Megafault Dr. Amy Lane Television movie