- Brittany Promoting a Film - Rob & Jules
It has been reported that actress Brittany Murphy, aged 32, died in the early hours of the morning of 20th December, 2009, allegedly from a heart attack.
The Los Angeles City Fire Department received a call around 8am from the home of Brittany's husband, Simon Monjack. The caller reported that Murphy was suffering from a heart attack.
Murphy’s mother reportedly found her unconscious in the shower. The actress was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, in full cardiac arrest, and pronounced dead on arrival.
No further information is available or can be confirmed at this point, and the story is reported as being in development.
Reports of Strange Behaviour
Murphy was recently working on a film in Puerto Rico, and was allegedly fired from the film for her difficult behaviour. Her publicist released a statement denying that Murphy was fired from the film, but did admit that due to artistic differences, Murphy would not be participating in the as yet unnamed film.
Brittany and Monjack are often in the news and tabloids for reportedly strange behaviour, including fights, illegal pill addictions, and attempts to sabotage film projects. Murphy has consistently denied all reports of such behaviour.
Earlier this month Monjack was hospitalized after arriving at LAX from a trip to Puerto Rico. Monjack was reportedly not breathing when paramedics reached him at the airport. He was revived and released from hospital the next day.
Ms Murphy was also reportedly dropped by her agent and manager, Jeff Berg and Joanne Colonna respectively. Colonna’s office has confirmed the report that Murphy is no longer her client.
Successful Film Career
An unknown actress in a small television serial, “Drexel’s Class”, Brittany landed a role in 1995’s Clueless, opposite Alicia Silverstone. The role of bumbling, awkward tomboy turned glamour girl catapulted her to instant fame, resulting in a long and successful film career.
Most notable were her roles in Eminem’s autobiographical rap film, “8 Mile”, and as a psychologically disturbed psychotic patient opposite Angelina Jolie in 2001’s “Girl, Interrupted”. Both won her critical acclaim and high popular opinion.
Murphy was born in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, on Nov 10, 1977, to parents Sharon Murphy and Angelo Bertolotti. They divorced when she was two, and she was mainly raised by her mother. Bertolotti is a convicted mobster, who has spent three separate sentences in federal prison for racketeering, fraud and counterfeiting charges.
The actress has been romantically linked to fellow actor Ashton Kutcher (now married to Demi Moore) and several non-actors. She and Monjack were married in 2007 in a private Jewish ceremony.
Police have reportedly opened an investigation into the circumstances of her death. Cardiac arrest is rare at such a young age without a history of heart problems. Suicide has not been ruled out.
Sources: Los Angeles Times, TMZ.com
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