Brittany Murphy's Death: Reexamining Her Mysterious Passing at Age 32 — and Her Last Heartbreaking Words

Mar. 15, 2025

Actress Brittany Murphy poses for portraits at Tt Collection Pop-Up Party on December 3, 2009 in Los Angeles, California.Photo:Michael Bezjian/WireImage

Michael Bezjian/WireImage

Over 10 years afterBrittany Murphyplayed Tai in the classic ’90s comedyClueless, the actress was found unresponsive in her Los Angeles home.

Murphy even dabbled in music, featuring on Paul Oakenfold’s No. 1 dance hit “Faster Kill Pussycat” in 2006 and telling PEOPLE two years prior that she was working on an album.

In May 2007, after calling off engagements to talent manager Jeff Kwatinetz and crew member Joe Macaluso, Murphy married Simon Monjack. Less than three years later, Murphy was dead — and five months later, so was her husband.

Her death at age 32 shocked the world, devastated fans and sparked still ongoing theories about what really happened to the starlet.

Here is everything to know about Brittany Murphy’s death and the legacy she left behind.

How did Brittany Murphy die?

Brittany Murphy and Simon Monjack arrives at the fashion tents in Bryant Park during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Fall 2008 on February 4, 2008 in New York City.Gustavo Caballero/Getty

Gustavo Caballero/Getty

In the weeks leading up to Murphy’s death, she was very ill and experiencingflu-like symptoms, a coroner spokesperson told PEOPLE. This sickness, left untreated, eventually developed into pneumonia which then-deputy medical examiner Dr. Lisa Scheinin described as “severe” in the 2021 HBO docuseriesWhat Happened, Brittany Murphy?, adding that Murphy was probably “walking around with this for some time.”

“If she had gotten to a hospital early enough, you can detect pneumonia on the chest X-ray. It’s very easy to do,” the former medical examiner said. “They could have possibly started treatment. But she would’ve had a chance.”

Dr. Scheinin performed Murphy’s autopsy and listed pneumonia as theUptown Girlsstar’s primary cause of death, with iron-deficiency anemia and “multiple drug intoxication” from prescription and over-the-counter medication as contributing factors.

InWhat Happened, Brittany Murphy?, Dr. Scheinin said a blood count revealed that Murphy was “very anemic,” with a 3.0 hemoglobin compared to the normal rate of 12 to 15.5.

“If she had had this test, let’s say, a week or two before dying, and she had a result like this, any decent doctor would have her in the ER, hooked up to a transfusion as quick as they possibly could, because this is a life-threatening situation,” Dr. Scheinin said.

Murphy had no indication of alcohol or illegal drugs in her system but was taking prescription and over-the-counter medications, which now retired Coroner Asst. Chief Ed Winter previously told PEOPLEcould have contributed to her death. Monjack had previously told PEOPLE that Murphy was using “herbal remedies” for her symptoms, which they believed to be from laryngitis at the time.

“The anemia in itself would have been fatal, even without the pneumonia,” Dr. Scheinin said in the docuseries. “The pneumonia was fatal, and then you’re adding this to the equation. This could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.”

When and where did Brittany Murphy die?

Brittany Murphy’s home.Alamy

Murphy died at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in L.A. around 10:00 a.m. on Dec. 20, 2009.

What were Brittany Murphy’s last words?

Brittany Murphy and mom Sharon at the Mann Village Theatre in Westwood, California.Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage

Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage

In an interview withLarry Kingin February 2010, Monjack said that Murphy’s last words to her mother, Sharon, were, “Mom, I’m dying; I love you.”

Sharon toldThe Hollywood Reporterthat before Murphy collapsed in her home, she cried out, “Mommy, I can’t catch my breath. Help me.”

How did Brittany Murphy’s husband Simon Monjack die?

Brittany Murphy and her husband, Simon Monjack attend a City Of Hope Event in Los Angeles.Mark Sullivan/WireImage

Just five months after Murphy’s death, Monjack was found dead in their home at age 40. The coroner’s office reported that he died from the same causes as his late wife: Pneumonia was the primary cause of death, with anemia and multiple drug intoxication as contributing factors.

Then-Asst. Chief Winter said that they found prescription drugs in Monjack’s system, but not at lethal levels.

What has Brittany Murphy’s dad said about her death?

Brittany Murphy attends the “Sony Cierge Spring Preview” at Palihouse on March 12, 2008 in Hollywood, California.Chris Weeks/WireImage

Chris Weeks/WireImage

After learning that Monjack and Murphy died from the same causes, Murphy’s father,Angelo Bertolotti, publicly alleged that Sharon murdered both Murphy and Monjack via poisoning.

“My theory is that the mother did the job on both of them,” Bertolotti told PEOPLE in 2013, adding that Sharon’s motive may have been financial, as Murphy left her estate entirely to her mother. However, Sharon denied the claim soon after and experts have agreed that Bertolotti’s accusations are likely unfounded and false.

Further, the former medical examiner noted that the chemicals likely came from innocuous sources, like hair dyes and hairspray.

What theories have Brittany Murphy’s family and fans shared about her death?

Actress Brittany Murphy visits the Hard Rock Hotel’s Rehab at the House of Hype on January 20, 2008 in Park City, Utah.Riccardo Savi/WireImage

Riccardo Savi/WireImage

Although Winter understands confusion over Murphy’s death, he said inWhat Happened, Brittany Murphy?that"the cause of death is not a mystery."

He continued, “The mystery is, why didn’t somebody catch it? Had they taken her to the doctor a few days before, she’d still be alive. There are some people that, they’re not satisfied. They think maybe there’s more [to the story]. You just have to go on the facts.”

Those close to Murphy at the time said she was battling “inner demons” in the years leading up to her death, including struggles with her self-image and allegations of drug use and eating disorders (both of which Murphy vehemently denied when she was alive).

Others speculated that Murphy and Monjack may have suffered from mold poisoning. Monjack’s mother and former publicist, Ron Neal, both said inWhat Happened, Brittany Murphy?that they saw mold inMurphy and Monjack’s home. However, Dr. Scheinin said that Murphy’s autopsy didn’t show any evidence of mold in her lungs or other organs.

What was the public reaction to Brittany Murphy’s death?

Dakota Fanning and Brittany Murphy attend the Southampton Premiere of ‘Uptown Girls’ at the United Artists Theater August 9, 2003 in Southampton, New York.Matthew Peyton/Getty

Matthew Peyton/Getty

Hollywood figures and fans were heartbroken after Murphy’s untimely death.

Kutcher, who dated Murphy while shooting and promotingJust Married, posted on X (formerly Twitter), “[Today] the world lost a little piece of sunshine. My deepest condolences go out [to] Brittany’s family, her husband, & her amazing mother Sharon. See you on the other side kid.”

Kathy Najimy, Murphy’s costar inKing of the Hill, shared about her grief inWhat Happened, Brittany Murphy?.

“All of us agree that one of the most painful things about this, other than losing a life way too soon and for such egregiously wrong reasons, is that Brittany wassowonderful,” she said. “There was nobody else like her. She wasn’t a Hollywood girl. A movie of her life is like, [she] walks into a room and almost every single person is thrilled that you’re there, and when she leaves the room and goes home, she’s thesamefreakin' person.”

Murphy’s8 MilecostarTaryn Manningtold PEOPLE in 2021 that the late actress was “free spirited, whimsical and full of laughter.”

CluelessstarAlicia Silverstonesaid shortly after Murphy’s death, “I’m so saddened to hear this news. I loved working with Brittany. She was so talented, so warm and so sweet. I always felt connected to her as we shared a very special experience in our lives together. I feel love in my heart for her and hope she is at peace.”

Even years after her death, in June 2024, Murphy’s costar inUptown Girls,Dakota Fanning, toldBrit + Cothatshe still loved and missed her.

What legacy did Brittany Murphy leave behind?

Brittany Murphy as Tai in ‘Clueless’ (1995).Everett

Murphy has been largely remembered for being a strong and “genuine” actress.

Amy Heckerling, who wrote and directedClueless, shared her first impression of Murphy inWhat Happened, Brittany Murphy?.

“We saw a lot of people for the part of Tai, and I felt like everybody was kind of acting it as opposed to justfeelingit. And when Brittany came in, she was just genuine,” Heckerling said. “She just felt like a sweet girl who kind of didn’t fit in with the others and was trying and being nice and was lost in this world, and that’s exactly what I was looking for.”

And this is precisely how Murphy wanted to be remembered.

She toldDrew Barrymorein a 2003Interviewmagazinestory that she wanted her legacy to be, “Exactly myself. And hopefully through my self-discovery others can gain self-discovery. I just hope to be an illumination of light and love and strength for people who need it—whenever they need it.”

source: people.com