Image of Brittany Murphy

Brittany Murphy

Brittany Murphy (November 10, 1977 - December 20, 2009) was an American actress and singer. Born in New Jersey, Murphy moved to Los Angeles at the age of 14 with her mother Sharon, in the hopes of landing acting roles. She quickly landed spots in commercials and guest starring roles on television, and appeared as a series regular on two short-lived family sitcoms, Drexell's Class and Almost Home. But it wasn't until 1995 that Murphy became something of a household name, winning the role of the "tragically unhip" new girl Tai in the era-defining teen classic Clueless. Following the film's breakout success, Murphy embarked on a string of scene-stealing character roles, as quirky head-cases in films like Drop Dead Gorgeous and Riding in Cars with Boys, or as mentally disturbed young women in films including Freeway and the Oscar-winning drama Girl, Interrupted. She also nabbed a lucrative starring role in the long-running animated comedy King of the Hill, which ran from 1997 to 2010. In 2001, Murphy broke out as a leading lady with a memorable role in the Michael Douglas thriller Don't Say a Word, before bagging the female lead in the critically-acclaimed box office smash 8 Mile. Soon after, Murphy grew in-demand as a comedy star, appearing alongside Ashton Kutcher in Just Married, and headlining comedies Uptown Girls and Little Black Book. She also stole scenes in Robert Rodriguez's comic book adaptation Sin City, and supplied the voice for singing penguin Gloria in Happy Feet. She also set in motion a singing career of her own, finally capitalising on the vocal chops that had in 2000 landed her the highly-coveted role of Janis Joplin in an ultimately aborted biopic of the tragic singer. Faster Kill Pussycat, her collaboration with DJ Paul Oakenfold, became an international hit on the dance charts. In late 2005, Murphy was dropped by her management at ICM, on the heels of tabloid rumors about her shifting weight and accusations of drug use. Murphy's publicists had, earlier in the year, released a statement to the media denying all claims. But the behind-the-scenes chaos soured Murphy's reputation within the industry, and she would go on to struggle professionally. Later films included the low-budget thrillers Deadline and Something Wicked, and SyFy TV movie Megafault, produced by schlock maestros The Asylum. Hopes of a mainstream comeback were also dashed when she was replaced in Happy Feet Two by the singer Pink, while a supporting role in The Expendables was written out at script stage. It was during this time that Murphy married film producer Simon Monjack, despite warnings from industry figures about his background. In 2009, Murphy was fired from the set of the supernatural thriller The Caller. Less than a month later, the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a "medical request" at the home Murphy shared with Monjack and her mother. Murphy had reportedly collapsed, and despite attempts to resuscitate her at the scene, she was pronounced dead upon arrival at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Murphy was found to have died from pneumonia, anaemia and multiple prescription drug intoxication. Despite the findings, Murphy's father, Angelo Bertolotti, continues to fight for a new investigation into her passing.


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Born:
Nov 10, 1977 In Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Movie/TV Credits:
75
First Appeared:
In the series Saturday Night Live 1975-10-11
Latest Project:
Series What Happened, Brittany Murphy? 2021-10-14
Known For
Poster of Abandoned
Poster of The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Poster of Just Married
Poster of Falling Sky
Filmography
Series What Happened, Brittany Murphy? Self (archive footage) 2021-10-14
Movie Something Wicked Susan 2014-04-04
Movie Abandoned Mary 2010-08-24
Movie Nora Roberts' Tribute Cilla McGowan 2009-04-11
Movie Across the Hall June 2009-08-27
Movie Deadline Alice Evans 2009-10-05
Movie MegaFault Dr. Amy Lane 2009-10-10
Movie The Ramen Girl Abby 2008-02-08
Movie Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs Colleen O'Hallahan (voice) 2008-06-30
Movie The Groomsmen Sue 2006-06-09
Movie Love and Other Disasters Emily Jackson 2006-09-09
Movie Happy Feet Gloria (voice) 2006-11-16
Movie The Dead Girl Krista 2006-11-07
Movie Sin City Shellie 2005-04-01
Movie Neverwas Maggie Blake 2005-09-09
Movie I’m Still Here: Real Diaries of Young People Who Lived During the Holocaust Anonymous girl / Elsa Binder (voice) 2005-05-05
Movie Because of the Wonderful Things It Does: The Legacy of Oz Narrator 2005-10-25
Series The Reichen Show Unknown 2005-11-11
Movie Little Black Book Stacy 2004-08-06
Movie Spun Nikki 2003-02-07
Series Jimmy Kimmel Live! Unknown 2003-01-26
Movie Just Married Sarah McNerney 2003-01-08
Series Punk'd Herself 2003-03-17
Movie Good Boy! Nelly (voice) 2003-10-10
Series Celebrities Uncensored Unknown 2003-06-04
Series The Ellen DeGeneres Show Unknown 2003-09-08
Movie Uptown Girls Molly Gunn 2003-08-15
Series Icons Unknown 2002-05-01
Movie 8 Mile Alex 2002-11-08
Movie Summer Catch Dede Mulligan 2001-08-22
Movie Don't Say a Word Elisabeth Burrows 2001-09-28
Movie Riding in Cars with Boys Fay Forrester 2001-10-19
Movie Sidewalks of New York Ashley 2001-11-23
Movie Trixie Ruby Pearli 2000-06-28
Movie Common Ground Dorothy Nelson 2000-01-29
Movie Angels! Nurse Bellows 2000-07-08
Movie Cherry Falls Jody Marken 2000-08-25
Movie The Devil's Arithmetic Rivkah 1999-03-28
Movie Drop Dead Gorgeous Lisa Swenson 1999-07-23
Movie Girl, Interrupted Daisy 1999-12-21
Movie Falling Sky Emily Nicholson 1999-11-01
Movie The Prophecy II Izzy 1998-01-20
Movie Bongwater Mary 1998-04-18
Movie Phoenix Veronica 1998-09-04
Movie David and Lisa Lisa 1998-11-01
Movie Zack and Reba Reba Simpson 1998-11-01
Series King of the Hill Luanne Platter (voice) 1997-01-12
Movie Drive Deliverance Bodine 1997-08-06
Series The View Unknown 1997-08-11
Series Pepper Ann Tank the 8th grader 1997-09-13
Movie Double Jeopardy Julia Neuland 1996-01-30
Series Nash Bridges Carrie 1996-03-29
Series E! True Hollywood Story Unknown 1996-08-21
Series Clueless Unknown 1996-09-20
Movie Freeway Rhonda 1996-08-23
Movie Clueless Tai 1995-07-19
Series The Marshal Lizzie Roth 1995-01-31
Series Murder One Unknown 1995-09-20
Series Sister, Sister Sarah 1994-04-01
Series Party of Five Abby 1994-09-12
Movie Family Prayers Elise 1993-03-19
Series seaQuest DSV Christine VanCamp 1993-09-12
Series Almost Home Molly Morgan 1993-02-06
Series Boy Meets World Trini 1993-09-24
Series Frasier Olsen 1993-09-16
Series Late Night with Conan O'Brien Unknown 1993-09-13
Series The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Unknown 1992-05-25
Series Drexell's Class Brenda Drexell 1991-09-19
Series The Torkelsons Molly Morgan 1991-09-21
Series Blossom Wendy 1990-07-05
Series Parker Lewis Can't Lose Angie 1990-09-02
Series LIVE with Kelly and Mark Unknown 1988-09-05
Series Murphy Brown Frank's Sister 1988-11-14
Series Kids Incorporated Celeste 1984-09-07
Series Saturday Night Live Unknown 1975-10-11