Brittany Murphy, the actress perhaps best known for her work as the lovable Tai in Clueless, died on December 20, 2009 at the young age of 32. At the time, her death was breathlessly reported; despite the fact that her career had taken a bit of a hit in her final years and persistent rumors of her having possible substance abuse issues, Murphy was young and vibrant enough that no one was prepared for her to die. So when news broke earlier today that she actually might have been poisoned, it was just the latest bizarre twist in a saga that’s clearly not ready to be put to bed just yet.
The circumstances surrounding Murphy’s death took many weird turns: her husband died mysteriously just a short time later and in the years since, both of Murphy’s parents have filed lawsuits related to her passing. Herewith, a timeline of an unusual tragedy.
April 2007: Murphy marries British writer/director Simon Monjack
Murphy and Monjack marry in a small ceremony at her home after less than a year of dating, though they had known each other for more than a decade. There are reports that the pair planned to work together on an adaptation of D.M. Thomas’ The White Hotel, but as Vanity Fair later reported, the project seemed doomed from the start and never materialized. Director George Hickenlooper, who allegedly worked with Monjack on his movie Factory Girl, writes an extensive comment on the website Hollywood Elsewhere claiming that Monjack had nothing to do with Factory Girl and was a con man. Hickenlooper also writes that he had “warned” Murphy about Monjack:
The last thing I told Brittany is “Do you know who this guy is? I mean do you really know him. Do you know what you’re doing by marrying him?” At this point Brittany became angry and told me she knew Monjack better than anyone and then hung up on me. A few months later I tried to call her to see if she was alright and Monjack would not let me speak to her. I so so feared something bad would happen. I thought he might take her for all her money. Little did I know she would end up dead. Now I am not saying Monjack has anything to do with this. I wouldn’t know. And I’m sure the guy is in deep mourning. But one can sure speculate that his clear lack of character and background couldn’t have led to the most healthy environment. I really feel bad for Brittany. She was a sweet sweet angel and didn’t deserve anything bad to happen to her ever. May she rest in peace. I will miss her. We will all miss her. She was the most talented and underrated actresses working in film.
December 20, 2009: Murphy is found dead
The LAFD is summoned to Murphy and Monjack’s home in West Hollywood (which she had purchased from Britney Spears in 2003) at 8:00 on a Sunday morning. Murphy is taken to the hospital after she reportedly collapsed in the shower and was found by her mother Sharon, but doctors are unable to revive her; she is pronounced dead two hours later from cardiac arrest. The Los Angeles coroner says they believe the cause of death “appears to be natural” but is uncertain of what, exactly, ended Murphy’s life.
December 2009: Monjack denies Murphy was anorexic or addicted to drugs
During “a sometimes tear-filled interview” Monjack tells People magazine that Murphy was suffering from “laryngitis and flu-like symptoms,” for which she was taking antibiotics, when she died. “She was on herbal remedies that wouldn’t speed up her heart,” Monjack said. “There was nothing here that could endanger her; there was prescription medication in the house for her female time and some cough syrup. That was it.” He notably mentions how he “couldn’t bear” the idea of cutting Murphy open for an autopsy.
February 2010: Murphy’s death partially attributed to cold medicines
A report from the coroner indicates that Murphy’s death was still not the result of foul play, but an accident spurred by medications she was taking to combat pneumonia and an iron deficiency. “Multiple medications were present in the blood, with elevated levels of hydrocodone, acetaminophen, and chlorpheniramine. L-methamphetamine was also present,” the report said, noting that the drugs involved are used in Vicodin and other over-the-counter medications. Murphy also apparently suffered from heavy periods that would account for her iron deficiency and lead to a “weakened state of health” that “would increase her vulnerability to infection.” The coroner says her death could have been prevented if she had gone to the doctor.
The same month, a foundation started in Murphy’s name by Monjack and her mother is deemed a fraud
TMZ reports that The Brittany Murphy Foundation, started by Monjack and Sharon to celebrate children’s arts education, “is not registered as a charity with the IRS or the state of California, as required by law. The California Secretary of State’s office told TMZ there are no records for The Brittany Murphy Foundation. The state Attorney General’s office also has no record of the organization as a nonprofit group — and the IRS says the foundation has not filed for a non-profit license.” After TMZ’s story broke, the foundation’s website was shut down; shortly after that, they announced they’d had started the organization as a private one “with plans to apply for non-profit status,” but that they’d be returning donations “until we have our non-profit status approved before proceeding to insure that we can truly honor Brittany’s charitable desires.”
March 2010: Murphy’s mother puts Brittany’s house on the market for $7.25 million
April 2010: Murphy’s mother takes the house off the market
Monjack tells TMZ that the house is no longer for sale because Sharon felt uncomfortable showing it with Murphy’s belongings still inside.
May 23, 2010: Monjack is found dead
Like Murphy, Monjack is found suddenly dead at the home he shared with Murphy. The LAFD was on the scene after responding to a call at 9:24 pm on Sunday night for an “unspecified medical aid request;” CNN later reports that Monjack was planning on having triple-bypass surgery after the summer, and had delayed the surgery until after a planned fundraiser for the Brittany Murphy Foundation. He is buried next to Murphy at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills, near the the home they shared together.