Brittany Murphy's death ruled accidental by L.A. County coroner's office

The L.A. County coroner's office says actress Brittany Murphy died of pneumonia complicated by an iron deficiency, anemia and multiple drug intoxication.

Coroner officials said Murphy had gone into sudden cardiac arrest because of "drug intake," and the Dec. 20 death was classified as an accident. They said an autopsy report would be available in two weeks.

Murphy, 32, went into cardiac arrest at her home in the Hollywood Hills. L.A. firefighters responded to a medical call at about 8 a.m. at the home she shared with husband Simon Monjack in the 1800 block of Rising Glen Road.

Firefighters tried unsuccessfully to revive Murphy on the way to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead about two hours later.

Born Nov. 10, 1977, in Atlanta, Murphy moved to Burbank with her mother when she was 13. Her film break came in the movie "Clueless" (1995), in which she starred opposite Alicia Silverstone.

Murphy made many other film appearances, including in "Girl Interrupted" (1999), "8 Mile" (2002), "The Dead Girl" (2006), and "Across the Hall" (2009). She also was featured as the voice of Luanne Platter in the Fox TV show "King of the Hill."

-- Richard Winton

Photo: Brittany Murphy in June 2009 on the set of "Abandoned" in Los Angeles. Credit: Hybrid Productions

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Comments

[labased]

The skinny pandemic is debilitating and killing our young.

[Jon K.]

Sad.

[Marissa]

Hope Buckley's Angel led her to a perfect heaven.

[Bill]

Love you, Brit.

Still remember you singing the Mentos commercial in Clueless.

Still makes me laugh.

Miss you.

[Jenna]

So is the obesity pandemic...

[your mom]

labased,

You're saying she died cause she was skinny? I guess fat people don't die from drugs!

[unknown]

Brittany Murphy Died of Anorexia.

She became Anorexic and because of her lack of nutrients in her body, it became weak and thus she caught pneumonia. So Yes Pneumonia killed her, but it was her Anorexia that caused it all....

[Patti M]

Although the coroner did not disclose the types of medications she was taking, the fact that she had pneumonia makes me wonder whether she was taking any of the hundreds of unapproved prescription cough and cold drugs (that have never been reviewed/approved by FDA) to help with her symptoms. She was also taking an OTC product. Toxicity from ingredients in cough/cold medications could cause cardiac arrest, changes in heart rhythm, (and respiratory depression).

[Chuck]

Iron deficiency and pneumonia can combine to make you hypoxic and pass out. The drug thing is anyone's guess until the report is published, but if it was a cough suppressant and pain killer, it could slow her breathing and make the hypoxia worse.

I for one always wondered if she had a weak heart from borderline anorexia. Severe weight loss can damage heart muscle, and all the stress from the pneumonia might push her over the edge.

Too bad. I really did love her work. Quirky, but always had a good soul under it all. Every time I see Luanne on King of the Hill now I just want to cry.

[real_california]

it's sad. but what's also sad is that she lived in a place and worked in a profession that heavily distorts the way people view themselves. even the most confident Hollywood-types are insecure about how they look. the only difference between them and her is that they don't die like this.

[Steve]

"The skinny pandemic is debilitating and killing our young. "

Give me a break. Obesity is the pandemic in this country. It increases your risk for every major disease and every year the obesity rate increases so does the rate of deaths from heart disease and diabetes. That is why I am trying to lose the weight for good.

[Christine Beatty]

A tragic loss of a young life and a great talent.

[cinnamon barks]

Isn't anemia an iron deficiency?

[candela]

I saw on TV that she had schedule an appointment to see a doctor in a few days but she could be alive if a doctor have treated her previously. We need health care reform asap!! how many people have to die on order to be able to have a simple appointment with a doctor right away?? I am from Spain and in my country if you feel sick you schedule an appointment with a doctor with or without insurance and they see you right away without the need to go to the emergency room like in the USA! I have Blue Cross of CA and I still have to pay a ridiculous amount of money if I ended up on the emergency room!! This is outrageous, people are scared to go to hospitals because they cant afford it!! We pay taxes, this is a wealthy country regardless crisis or not!! We should be eligible to have decent hospitals and easy access to doctors and medicines!! Any small country in Europe have better decent hospitals that here!! Brittany Murphy would be alive today if any doctor have had treated her previously!! Seriously! How may people have to die to show what a a horrible "Health care" we have here? Michael Jackson and Brittany are an example of it among with the thousands of people that have to die every day ...
Candela F.

[ElinneM]

The news is devastating, but do not forget that she gave us in each of his films special part of your essence, we demonstrate that it could make us laugh and gave us mourn in each of his movies a great performance, I think we should remember that what we give and not look for more evidence than there is in each of their projects.
It is and will be remembered by those who wanted to continue as the Hollywood star, young man by the uncertain fate of life but I leave this world without having given us his great talent, will always remember and respect both her family and in their Let us carry her memory in our hearts as a shining star on earth I stop to dazzle in heaven !!!!!!!!!!

[ladyofargonne]

iron deficiency + anemia = anorexia. So sad. So young. RIP sweet girl.

[A concerned pharmacist]

I certainly hope the multiple drug intoxication didn't include an FDA unapproved prescription drug(s) used to treat her cough and cold symptoms.

[julie ann]

Sad She was a talented actress amd she shouldnt have died. Had she been able to see a doctor sooner without having to go wait hours in a emergency room maybe she would be alive today. I too get sad now watching King Of The Hill Brittany Murphy left a extremely talented good body of work behind and she should be remembered for that

[Senex]

Money,drugs,Hollywood,fame, multiple cosmetic surgeries, getcha every time.

[Jake West]

Candela,

Please go elsewhere to drum up a debate on health care.
I'm sure that Brittany was not waiting for an appointment she made at a clinic because they refused to see her right away. The people you are talking about have access to the best care money can buy (In the world) & any reform will be meaningless to them.
Unfortunately there were more issues here than physical illness.

Jake

[Chuck]

"iron deficiency + anemia = anorexia" NO. Wrong.

Iron deficiency is exactly what it says. Not enough iron in the red blood cells. Anemia is a similar problem, not enough red blood cells to carry oxygen. Iron deficiency IS NOT anemia. It has a similar effect, but it is a different disorder.

And neither one of them is Anorexia. That is an eating disorder, essentially a psychological problem. A person could be anemic and not have anorexia, or have anorexia and not be anemic. The only thing they have in common is they they both start with "an".

Another report (on CNN) says she was taking drugs for menstrual pain. Menstruation could account for temporary anemia all by itself. That is why Vitamin Supplements for women always have extra iron, to boost back what is lost. Don't they teach anything in High School Health classes anymore? Or do people learn it all from TMZ and People and the "voodoo instant diet" gossip rags?

[Candy]

Anorexics often suffer from anemia and from hypoglycemia, for which she had been recently hospitalized. Pneumonia is almost always secondary to other illness or weakened health. Horrible loss and so sad.

[spagmph]

Pneumonia is still a killer. Get educated about this worldwide killer that still sticks close to home http://itriagehealth.com/health-blog/world-pneumonia-day

[AspenFreePress]

I'm glad she didn't die of food abuse like so many in the U.S. today.
Sterling Greenwood/AspenFreePress

[714ish]

Wake up people! Just another prescription drug cocktail death!! We only hear about Ledger, Murphy et all but it likely happens every day.