Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Hospital: Actress Brittany Murphy dies at age 32

Actress was a regular visitor to Las Vegas, says VegasDeluxe.com’s Robin Leach

Brittany Murphy

Dan Steinberg/Associated Press file photo

In this Nov. 1, 2007, file photo, actress Brittany Murphy and her husband, writer Simon Monjack, attend the BAFTA/L.A. Cunard Britannia Awards in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a 911 call from Monjack’s home. Fire Department spokesman Devon Gale said the call was made at 8 a.m. today.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Brittany Murphy, the actress who got her start in the sleeper hit "Clueless" and rose to stardom in "8 Mile," died Sunday in Los Angeles. She was 32.

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Spokeswoman Sally Stewart said Murphy died at 10:04 a.m. (1804 GMT) She would not provide a cause of death or any other information.

The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a call at 8 a.m. (1600 GMT) Sunday at the home Murphy shared with her husband, British screenwriter Simon Monjack, in West Hollywood hills. Murphy was transported to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Los Angeles police have opened an investigation into Murphy's death, Officer Norma Eisenman said. Detectives and coroner's officials were at Murphy and Monjack's home Sunday afternoon but did not talk to reporters. Paparazzi were camped outside.

Messages left for Murphy's manager, agent and publicist by The Associated Press weren't immediately returned.

Neighbor Clare Staples said she saw firefighters working to resuscitate the actress Sunday morning. She said Murphy was on a stretcher and "looked as though she was dead at the scene."

Murphy's husband, wearing pajama bottoms and no shoes, appeared "dazed" as firefighters tried to save her, Staples said.

"It's just tragic," she said.

TMZ.com first reported Murphy's death Sunday morning.

Las Vegas entertainment writer Robin Leach also reported her death on Twitter and on his VegasDeluxe.com blog. Leach said she was a regular visitor to Las Vegas.

"People here who knew her shocked," Leach said.

Murphy was close to Wayne Newton and his family, particularly Newton's sister-in-law and publicist Tricia McCrone. Newton and McCrone told the Sun's John Katsilometes that they were stunned to learn of Murphy's death.

"Peepshow" star Aubrey O'Day was one of them, he said. Murphy was Ashton Kutcher's former girlfriend before he began a relationship with Demi Moore, Leach said.

Murphy's father, Angelo Bertolotti, said he learned of her death from his son, the actress's brother, and was stunned.

"She was just an absolute doll since she was born," Bertolotti said from his Florida home. "Her personality was always outward. Everybody loved her — people that made movies with her, people on a cruise — they all loved her. She was just a regular gal."

He said he hadn't heard much about the circumstances of Murphy's death. Bertolotti divorced her mother when Murphy was young and hadn't seen Murphy in the past few years.

"She was just talented," he said. "And I loved her very much."

Bertolotti was in the mob and served prison time on federal drug charges.

Born Nov. 10, 1977, in Atlanta, Murphy grew up in New Jersey and later moved with her mother to Los Angeles to pursue acting.

Her career started in the early 1990s with small roles in television series, commercials and movies. She is best known for parts in "Girl, Interrupted," ''Clueless" and "8 Mile."

Her role as rapper Eminem's girlfriend in the film "8 Mile" led to more recognition, Murphy told The Associated Press in 2003. "That changed a lot," she said. "That was the difference between people knowing my first and last name as opposed to not."

Her on-screen roles declined in recent years, but Murphy's voice gave life to numerous animated characters, including Luanne Platter on more than 200 episodes of Fox's "King of the Hill" and Gloria the penguin in the 2006 feature "Happy Feet."

She is due to appear in Sylvester Stallone's upcoming film, "The Expendables," set for release next year.

Her role in "8 Mile" led to more recognition, Murphy said told AP in 2003. "That changed a lot," she said. "That was the difference between people knowing my first and last name as opposed to not."

Murphy credited her mother, Sharon, with being a key to her success.

"When I asked my mom to move to California, she sold everything and moved out here for me," Murphy said. "I was really grateful to have grown up in an environment that was conducive to creating and didn't stifle any of that. She always believed in me."

She dated Ashton Kutcher, who costarred with Murphy in 2003's romantic comedy "Just Married."

Kutcher sent a message on Twitter Sunday morning about Murphy's death: "2day the world lost a little piece of sunshine," Kutcher wrote. "My deepest condolences go out 2 Brittany's family, her husband, & her amazing mother Sharon."

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AP Entertainment Writer Anthony McCartney and Matt Sedensky in Miami contributed to this report.

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