Brittany Murphy was an American actress and singer Born on November 10, 1977, and died on December 20, 2009. She Was known for her versatile talent in both comedy and drama.
Atlanta Murphy moved to Los Angeles as a teenager to pursue acting. She gained fame for her role as Tai Frasier in the movie “Clueless” (1995) and went on to appear in independent films like “Freeway” (1996). She also made her Broadway debut in 1997 in Arthur Miller’s “A View from the Bridge”. Throughout the late 1990s, she took on supporting roles in films like “Girl Interrupted” and “Drop Dead Gorgeous” (both 1999).
In the early 2000s, Brittany Murphy received critical acclaim for her performances in movies such as “Don’t Say a Word” (2001), “Riding in Cars with Boys” (2001), and “8 Mile” (2002). She appeared in other notable films like “Cherry Falls” (2000), “Spun” (2002), “Just Married”, and “Uptown Girls” (both 2003) among others. Murphy also voiced the character Luanne Platter on Fox’s “King of the Hill” throughout its run from 1997 to 2010.
Tragically on December 20, 2009, Murphy passed away at the age of 32 under circumstances that are still debated. The official cause of death according to the coroner was pneumonia aggravated by anemia.
| Full Name | Brittany Anne Bertolotti |
| Date of Birth | November 10, 1977 |
| Died | December 20, 2009 |
| Place of Birth | Atlanta, Georgia, USA |
| Occupation | Actress, Singer, Voice Artist |
| Height | 5 ft 2 in (160 cm) |
| Spouse | Simon Monjack (m. 2007–2009) |
| Children | None |
| Net Worth | $10 million |
Brittany Murphy’s Early Life and Education
Brittany Anne Bertolotti was born in Atlanta’s Georgia Baptist Hospital to Sharon Kathleen Murphy and Angelo Joseph Bertolotti who divorced when she was three years old. Raised by her mother in Edison New Jersey Brittany faced financial struggles growing up. Her father Angelo spent twelve years in prison for drug possession and had connections with the Italian mafia. Due to her mother’s financial difficulties, Brittany often had to eat spaghetti every night and sometimes had to ask for clothes from Kmart.
In 1991, the family moved to Los Angeles so Brittany could pursue acting. She credited her mother for supporting her dreams saying “When I asked my mom to move to California she sold everything and moved out here for me. She always believed in me.” Brittany’s mother is of Irish and Slovakian descent while her father is Italian. Raised Baptist she later became a non-denominational Christian. She had two older half-brothers and a younger half-sister.
Career
In 1982, Brittany Murphy started learning dance and theater at Verne Fowler School in New Jersey. From age four she trained in singing dancing and acting until moving to California at thirteen. At ten she impressed in her first play “Really Rosie” and sang in “Les Misérables.” Her energetic acting style was noted early on driven by a desire to entertain.
Her TV debut came in 1991 on “Murphy Brown” and she landed her first Hollywood role at thirteen in “Drexell’s Class.” She continued with roles in shows like “Almost Home” and appeared on shows like “Party of Five” and “Boy Meets World.”
Her big break came in the 1995 film “Clueless” praised for her role as the youngest cast member. She juggled acting with tutoring on set due to missing high school. The film became a surprise hit and is loosely based on Jane Austen’s “Emma.”
She debuted on Broadway in 1997 and continued with roles in films like “Freeway” and “Girl Interrupted” which earned her award nominations. She also voiced characters in “King of the Hill” and enjoyed the flexibility of voice acting.
Throughout the 2000s, she took on diverse roles in films like “8 Mile”, “Uptown Girls”, and “Sin City.” She continued acting in independent films and returned to voice acting in “Happy Feet.”
Tragically she passed away before the release of her final films including “Abandoned” and “Something Wicked” in 2014.
Brittany Murphy’s career extended into music as well. She quickly learned to play instruments like the piano and trumpet from a young age sometimes mastering them after just twenty minutes of practice. Despite having a different singing voice than her speaking voice she kept her singing talents hidden. She secretly recorded vocals for other artists’ albums to gain experience in recording studios without seeking credit.
Her musical journey began early inspired by Madonna’s ambition to change the world. Starting with dance classes and musical theater in New Jersey at age nine she aimed to entertain and eventually emulate Madonna’s impact.
While plans for a studio album never materialized she joined a band named Blessed Soul in the early 1990s with actor Eric Balfour. In 2006 she collaborated with Paul Oakenfold on the song “Faster Kill Pussycat” which topped Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Play chart and reached number seven in the UK.
She returned to music for the film Happy Feet where she sang covers of Queen’s “Somebody to Love” and Earth Wind & Fire’s “Boogie Wonderland.” Her character Gloria the penguin was particularly meaningful to her because she both spoke and sang for the role showcasing her versatile talents.
Net Worth
Brittany Murphy had an estimated net worth of $10 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The main source of Brittany Murphy’s net worth primarily came from her career as an actress and singer. She gained fame in the 1990s with roles in popular movies like “Clueless,” “Girl, Interrupted,” and “8 Mile.” Her acting gigs in both films and TV shows brought her significant earnings.
Additionally, she did voice work for animated projects and appeared in commercials, which also contributed to her wealth. Despite her untimely death in 2009, her work in entertainment remains the main source of her net worth.
Personal life
In late 2002, Brittany Murphy started dating Ashton Kutcher after they worked together on the movie Just Married. Their director Shawn Levy described them as inseparable from the start always laughing and joking together. Although they wore rings their engagement was never officially confirmed.
During the early 2000s, she was close friends with Winona Ryder who she considered a mentor. Brittany admired how actors looked so put together but joked about her own early fashion choices. There were rumors about Brittany and Winona being more than friends after they kissed in a car but Brittany dismissed these as media sensationalism.
While filming “8 Mile” in 2002, Brittany Murphy met Eminem leading to speculation about a romance. Brittany confirmed they dated briefly but clarified later that they were just friends. She admired Eminem’s talent and humor even joking about being featured in his songs.
Brittany Murphy later married Simon Monjack in 2007 after meeting him on a film set. However, their relationship was troubled by accusations from friends that Simon isolated her from family and took advantage of her trust.
Brittany faced public scrutiny over her weight loss in the early 2000s denying rumors of drug use and explaining she had never tried cocaine. She struggled with body image issues exacerbated by Hollywood’s pressures.
Despite appearing with cigarettes, Brittany Murphy was against smoking and campaigned against it even filming an anti-smoking video for schools. She also battled type 1 diabetes throughout her life.
Friends like Melanie Lynskey remembered Brittany’s struggles with body image emphasizing how the industry’s expectations affected her. Directors and colleagues noticed her physical decline expressing concern for her health.
Brittany Murphy’s life was marked by highs and lows from her Hollywood romances to her health battles and the pressures of fame. Her story highlights the challenges faced by young actresses in the spotlight.
Death
On December 20, 2009, at 8:00 a.m. the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a medical emergency at the Los Angeles home where Brittany Murphy and Simon Monjack lived together. They found Murphy collapsed in a bathroom. Firefighters tried to revive her but were unsuccessful. She was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and passed away at 10:04 a.m. due to cardiac arrest.
An autopsy performed the next day revealed that Murphy’s death was accidental. The primary cause was pneumonia with additional factors including severe iron-deficiency anemia and the presence of various medications in her system. These medications such as hydrocodone and acetaminophen were likely used to treat a cold or respiratory infection. The report noted that these medications although legal might have had adverse effects given her weakened condition.
Brittany Murphy was laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills on December 24, 2009.
In January 2010, Simon Monjack and Sharon Murphy Brittany’s husband and mother stated that drugs did not contribute to her death. They attributed it to a heart condition called mitral valve prolapse.
On May 23, 2010, Simon Monjack was found dead in the same residence. His death was attributed to acute pneumonia and severe anemia. Reports suggesting toxic mold as a cause were dismissed by the coroner.
In December 2011, Sharon Murphy claimed toxic mold was responsible for her daughter and son-in-law’s deaths and filed a lawsuit against the builders of their home.
In January 2012, Brittany Murphy’s father requested samples of her hair for independent testing alleging poisoning by heavy metals as a possible cause of death. This claim was disputed by Sharon Murphy.
The Brittany Murphy Foundation was established in January 2010 by Sharon Murphy and Simon Monjack to support children’s arts education the USO and cancer research. It was officially relaunched in November 2013 but appears to have ceased operations by September 2018.
