Brittany Murphy’s tragic death in 2009 devastated Hollywood and her fans. The beloved actress, who starred in numerous films, including Clueless and 8 Mile, died at 32. Her death set off a widespread guessing game, one driven by conflicting reports, medical records, and a roiling swirl of conspiracy theories.
The Tragic Day: Brittany Murphy’s Final Hours
Brittany Murphy was discovered unresponsive in her Los Angeles home on December 20, 2009, by her mother, Sharon. After calling out for her mother’s help and struggling to breathe, Murphy was taken to a nearby hospital and died shortly after.
In an interview, Sharon said Murphy fell in her home and cried, “Mommy, I can’t catch my breath. Help me.”
How did Brittany Murphy die?
Dr. Schein conducted Murphy’s autopsy and listed pneumonia as the ’Uptown Girls’ star’s primary cause of death, listing iron-deficiency anemia and “multiple drug intoxication” due to prescription and over-the-counter medication among mitigating factors.
Brittany was sick and had flu-like symptoms. Left untreated, this illness ultimately progressed to pneumonia, which then-deputy medical examiner Dr. Lisa Scheinin called “severe” in the 2021 HBO docuseries What Happened, Brittany Murphy? Murphy likely had been “running around with this for a while.”
A blood count showed that Murphy was “very anemic,” with a hemoglobin level of 3.0, compared with the normal range of 12 to 15.5, Dr. Scheinin said.
Brittany Murphy’s husband, Simon Monjack, Death
Only five months after Murphy died, at 32, Monjack, 40 at the time, was found dead in their home. He died of the same causes as his late wife, the coroner’s office said: pneumonia was listed as the primary cause of death, with anemia and multiple drug intoxication as contributing factors.
Then-Asst. Detectives discovered prescription drugs in Monjack’s system, but not at lethal levels, Chief Winter said.
Conspiracy Theories Surrounding Her Death
However, conspiracy theories circulated, casting skepticism on the official conclusions. Some wondered if toxic mold in her house could have been a factor. Brittany’s mother, Sharon Murphy, initially backed that claim before recanting. Others cried foul play, stoked further by the sudden death of her husband, Simon Monjack, just five months later in the same way. These coincidences have caused many to wonder whether something more sinister was afoot.
After learning that Monjack and Murphy had died of the same causes, Murphy’s Father, Angelo Bertolotti, publicly accused Sharon of murdering both Murphy and Monjack using poison.
Doctor’s Notes
Speaking in Brittany Murphy: An ID Mystery, forensic pathologist Dr. Cyril Wecht, hired by Brittany’s father, Angelo Bertolotti – who died in 2019 – to probe into the mystery behind his daughter’s death, said he is still ‘perplexed’ by the case.
“How is it that [Brittany] had such advanced pneumonia and an incredible iron-deficient state?” he asked. “Where the heck was her mother, her husband? Why hadn’t she been given the proper medical care? I was just confused by all of that. She was in a financial position to see a doctor. And then she had prescriptions for heavy opiates.”
Public Scrutiny and Media Frenzy
Murphy’s death became a media spectacle, with tabloids and news outlets picking apart every detail of her life. Some targeted her struggles with the pressures of Hollywood, and others focused on her tumultuous relationship with Simon Monjack. The relentless coverage overshadowed her legacy as a talented actress, raising questions about media ethics.
Remembering Brittany Murphy
Cynthia Hill, director of What Happened, Brittany Murphy?, said, “Everybody was so consistent when they would describe her. She was so generous and caring, always thinking about everyone else, and I think the mystery surrounding her death sometimes obscured that fact. Everyone loved her.”
In a 2003 Interview magazine story, she told Drew Barrymore that what she wished for her legacy was, “Exactly myself. Hopefully, others will find out about themselves through my self-discovery. I just want to be a beacon of light, love, and strength for people who need it whenever they need it.”
