The celebrated actress’s tragic passing sparked numerous speculations regarding the circumstances of her death. Her father described it as “suspicious,” even alleging it to be “murder.” Here’s a look into her final years and the heartfelt words she shared with her mother before her demise.
Brittany Murphy, widely recognized for her iconic role in the 1995 coming-of-age film “Clueless,” faced a heartbreaking end when her untimely death sparked her father’s suspicions of foul play.
Brittany Murphy, best known for her standout role in the 1995 film “Clueless,” tragically passed away, with her father insisting there was foul play involved. Yet, the autopsy report told a different story.
Brittany Murphy on the set of “Clueless,” 1995 | Source: Getty Images
Brittany passed away in December 2009 at just 32 years old. She died in her Hollywood Hills mansion, in the one place that had become her sanctuary—her bathroom.
Her untimely death came after years of silently battling physical and emotional struggles. After a car accident shortly after the release of “Clueless” in 1995, the actress endured chronic jaw pain but remained determined as her family’s primary provider.
Brittany Murphy on the set of “Clueless,” 1995 | Source: Getty Images
While she achieved success in movies like “Just Married” and “Little Black Book,” her career began to falter. She lost her role as Luanne on “King of the Hill” and was dropped from major projects like “Happy Feet 2,” “Tinker Bell,” and “The Expendables.”
Despite her declining health, Brittany devoted herself to caring for her mother, Sharon Murphy, a breast cancer survivor battling neuropathy, and her husband, Simon Monjack, who suffered from seizures and heart problems.
Sharon and Brittany Murphy during VH1 Vogue Fashion Awards on October 15, 2002, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images
Weak and struggling with anemia, she still found the strength to care for Simon, a screenwriter, during his episodes, even holding him down to prevent harm.
In a tragic twist, the bathroom that had been Brittany’s sanctuary also became the place of her death—a fate Simon eerily shared just five months later.
Simon Monjack and Brittany Murphy attend the Beauty Cafe Series Oscars Retreat on February 24, 2007 | Source: Getty Images
Brittany’s final days were marked by declining health and an overwhelming reliance on medications to cope with chronic pain and illness. After returning from Puerto Rico, where she caught a virus from Simon and Sharon, her condition worsened.
She took a variety of medications, including Biaxin for the infection, migraine pills, cough medicine, and nasal spray. On the day she died, her regimen included fluoxetine (Prozac), Klonopin, methylprednisolone, a beta blocker from Simon, and Vicoprofen for menstrual pain.
Brittany Murphy attends the Los Angeles premiere of “Common Ground,” 2000 | Source: Getty Images
Despite these treatments, the celebrity’s health continued to spiral. She suffered from severe laryngitis and anemia caused by a second menstrual cycle that month, which reduced her red blood cell count to a critically low level. Unable to recover, her tragic death reflected the toll of years of physical and emotional challenges.
In the early hours of Brittany’s final morning, she awoke after a brief power outage in the Hollywood Hills and stepped onto the small balcony near her bedroom. Feeling unwell, she asked Simon to call for her mother, Sharon, who rushed downstairs holding Clara, a pet named after Brittany’s favorite star, Clara Bow.
Brittany Murphy attends Rock the Vote on January 18, 2008, in Park City, Utah. | Source: Getty Images
What Sharon found was alarming—Brittany was lying on the patio, gasping for air. “Mommy, I can’t catch my breath. Help me. Help me,” Brittany pleaded.
Moments after her desperate plea for help, Brittany returned to her bathroom around 7:30 a.m., followed closely by Sharon. “She said, ‘Mommy, I really don’t feel well,'” Sharon later recalled. By 8 a.m., the Hollywood star collapsed, prompting Sharon to hold her daughter close and cry out for Simon.
Brittany and Sharon Murphy at AFI Film Festival on November 7, 2004 | Source: Getty Images
Simon immediately instructed his mother-in-law to call 911 as he moved Brittany into a cold shower in an attempt to revive her. Following the 911 operator’s instructions, Sharon guided her son-in-law through resuscitation efforts until paramedics arrived.
Brittany’s final moments were filled with heartbreaking words. Simon recounted her parting plea, saying, “She said to her mom: ‘I’m dying. I’m going to die. Mommy, I love you.'”
Brittany and Sharon Murphy at the premiere lounge on November 7, 2004, in Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images
Following her tragic death, Brittany’s autopsy report revealed the official cause as pneumonia, exacerbated by severe iron-deficiency anemia and multiple drug intoxication.
Brittany Murphy at the Jacob Javits Center on June 20, 2006, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images
The report found no evidence of external or internal traumatic injury. It noted her weakened condition due to anemia, compounded by a mix of prescription medications, including fluoxetine, Klonopin, and over-the-counter remedies. These factors combined with her illness made her body unable to fight off the infection, leading to her untimely passing.
Brittany Murphy at the Beauty Cafe Series Oscars Retreat on February 24, 2007 | Source: Getty Images
Despite the findings from Brittany’s autopsy, questions about her death persisted. In 2013, her father, Angelo Bertolotti, commissioned an independent lab report that found heavy metals in her hair samples at levels two to nine times higher than the World Health Organization’s threshold for “high.”
“I have a feeling that there was a definite murder situation here. It’s poison, yes, I know that,” Bertolotti said on “Good Morning America.”
Brittany Murphy pictured at the Beauty Cafe Series Oscars Retreat on February 24, 2007 | Source: Getty Images
The lab report suggested that if accidental exposure to heavy metals was ruled out, the most plausible explanation would be intentional poisoning by a third party with criminal intent.
Bertolotti voiced his conviction about Brittany’s death, noting, “It’s very suspicious. I feel she was poisoned and there’s no question about that. She was murdered.” When asked if he suspected someone, he admitted, “I do, but I’d rather not speak about that.” Despite Angelo Bertolotti’s firm belief that Brittany was poisoned, experts in the field expressed significant doubt.
Brittany Murphy attends Carolina Herrera Los Angeles Store Opening on November 13, 2006, in West Hollywood. | Source: Getty Images
Dr. Bruce Goldberger, director of forensic medicine at the University of Florida and president of the American Board of Forensic Toxicology, criticized the lab report, calling it “ridiculous.” He added that concluding poisoning from a single hair test was “a baseless allegation and outrageous statement to make.”
Brittany Murphy’s life and career were marked by immense talent, personal struggles, and an enduring legacy that continues to captivate public interest.
Brittany Murphy during “Sin City” press conference on March 19, 2005, in Beverly Hills, California. | Source: Getty Images
While the official autopsy pointed to pneumonia and anemia as the causes of her tragic death, lingering questions and alternate theories, including allegations of poisoning, have fueled debate for years.
Her father’s unwavering suspicions and contrasting expert opinions only add to the mystery surrounding her passing. Despite the speculation, Brittany’s untimely death remains a heartbreaking loss for her loved ones and fans, leaving behind a legacy that reminds the world of her vibrant spirit and unforgettable talent.
