PHOTO: Brittany Murphy's Haunting Final Role

By Cynthia Wang

Tuesday December 22, 2009

In late summer, Brittany Murphy wrapped work as the lead on Abandoned, a psychological thriller also starring Dean Cain, Mimi Rogers and Peter Bogdanovich. In this photo, one the last film stills taken of Murphy, she is seen as Mary Walsh, a woman who believes her husband has vanished and is fighting not only to find him but to counter threats to her own life and sanity.

"Brittany was a pro," director Michael Feifer tells PEOPLE of the actress, who died Sunday at age 32. "When she needed to turn it on, she just threw a switch and she was on. She didn't have to be all method. There was a moment where she needed to cry, and we were kidding around where she actually said she could cry out of one eye and you just had to pick which eye you wanted. She was that good at her craft. So playing frantic came really easy and playing sweet came really easy."

Feifer met Murphy for the first time on the first day of shooting. "I went into her trailer," Feifer says, "and she just came up to me with those Brittany Murphy eyes and just gave me a big hug and said, 'Thank you so much for having me' before I could say, 'Thank you for being a part of it.' It was the sweetest thing. It hurts me to hear all this salacious stuff because my experience with Brittany was really one of my best experiences with an actress."

Abandoned is believed to be the last film Murphy completed. She later did work on The Caller in Puerto Rico, but parted ways with producers because of what her rep called "creative differences."

Brittany Murphy's Husband: My World Is Destroyed

By Mike Fleeman and Champ Clark

Monday December 21, 2009

Brittany Murphy's sudden death brought sharply different reactions from two men who loved her, as her husband expressed shock and sorrow while her half-brother angrily called her a victim of Hollywood.

Murphy, 32, was pronounced dead Sunday at the hospital. An autopsy has been completed, but a determination of the cause of death will await the results of toxicology tests in a few weeks. Officials say early indications suggest no foul play was involved.

"My world was destroyed yesterday," husband Simon Monjack, who was in the house at the time she was stricken and who watched as paramedics tried in vain to revive her, told Access Hollywood on Monday afternoon.

It was Murphy's mother who found her unresponsive, he says. When Murphy didn't come out of the bathroom after a long time, her mother checked on her – then screamed for Monjack, who dialed 911, he says.

Up until then, it had been a "regular day" for Murphy except that she had been tired lately from work and what had seemed to be a minor case of laryngitis, Monjack says.

Murphy's half-brother Jeff Bertolotti, meanwhile, expressed anger at the death of his sister, whom he hadn't seen since 2001 after "the Hollywood walls went up" and the closest he could get to her was a phone call to a manager that wasn't returned.

"People come into the town with their dreams and get chewed up alive and those who make it get chewed up alive anyway. And that's what happened to Brittany," he tells PEOPLE. "She's a casualty of that town."

Although acknowledging he knows "nothing" about her husband and others around her in recent years, Bertolotti says, "I'm not saying it's their fault, but I do think they should have taken care of her better. I think she should have been cared for.

"Look, if she died at 32, something is not right," he adds. "What happened? I don't get it. At 32 years old something happened. I don't know what. I'm sure there was no foul play. It's just that something is wrong. … It's heartbreaking. I was crazy about that kid."

Brittany Murphy's Father: "She Wasn't Supposed To Die Like This"

Brittany Murphy's Father: "She Wasn't Supposed To Die Like This"

Brittany Murphy's father tells UsMagazine.com he is "still in shock" over his daughter's unexpected death at the age of 32.

"There is nothing I can say," Angelo Bertolotti tells Us. "I can't believe this is happening. She was a young 32. She wasn't supposed to die like this."

Look back at Brittany Murphy's talented life

A cause of death has yet been determined, but coroner's Capt. John Kades tells Us that "foul play is not suspected at this time because there were no outward signs of trauma or other injuries."

TMZ.com reports Murphy began vomiting early Sunday morning and told family members she was feeling very ill. The website also reports that various prescriptions were found in her home in the hills above West Hollywood, where she was "found unresponsive" on Sunday morning. She was pronounced dead at 10:04 a.m. at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

"I don't understand how she died," Bertolotti tells Us. "This doesn't make sense to me."

See one of Brittany Murphy's last public appearances

According to the Associated Press, Bertolotti was in the mob and served prison time on federal drug charges. He divorced her mother when Murphy was young and hadn't seen his daughter in "about three years," he tells Us.

"Ever since she married that Simon [Monjack, in 2007], I lost contact with her," he tells Us. "But I always kept track of her to make sure she was OK in case she needed me. She married him and everything changed. After that, we weren't so close."

See how Brittany Murphy's appearance changed

He tells Us he will "miss her smile and her work ethic. She was such a hard worker. I was so proud of her. This was a girl who had been working since she was 7.

"Everyone she worked with loved her. That's who she was. She was loveable," Bertolotti tells Us. "There is nothing more I can say. I'm trying to make sense of this, and I can't."

Family: Brittany Murphy Was Ill Days Before Death

LOS ANGELES - Brittany Murphy's family told Los Angeles officials the actress was ill with flu-like symptoms in the days before her death at age 32.

The 32-year-old star of films such as "Clueless" and "8 Mile" died Sunday morning after collapsing at her Hollywood Hills home.

Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter says they will conduct an autopsy Monday to try to determine what killed the actress. Winter says the reported illness could be a contributing factor to her death, but that it will be weeks before a final determination is made.

Winter says Murphy's death appears to be from natural causes.

Winter says prescription medications were taken from Murphy's home and officials will contact her personal physician to get a better sense of her medical history.

Funeral arrangements for Murphy have not been announced.

Kim Kardashian, Lindsay Lohan, Others Mourn Brittany Murphy

Following Sunday's shocking death of actress Brittany Murphy at age 32, her friends and admirers in Hollywood are sharing their grief and memories on Twitter and elsewhere.

Lindsay Lohan: "My deepest condolences go out to all of Brittany Murphy's loved ones& may she rest in peace....She was a great talent w/a beautiful soul xo"

Kim Kardashian: "I am in shock that [Brittany] Murphy has died! Clueless is my all time favorite movie. My prayers go out to her family & husband"

Khloe Kardashian: "OMG!!!! This is horrible news when anyone passes. I'm so sorry for her family. Send prayers out please!"

Jessica Simpson: "Brittany Murphy was an incredible ray of Light to so many people. Her smile was contagious. My prayers are with her family and loved ones."

See a slideshow of other stars gone too soon.

Russel Simmons: "I met Brittany murphy before her star rose its tough to find peace in fame. I wish her peace and happiness in her next lifetime"

Alyssa Milano: "[Brittany] and I did a USO Tour together in 2003. [Love] She was a sweet soul, with a lot of talent and heart."

Hilary Duff: "RIP Brittany Murphy forever in our hearts"

Jeff Bowler, who produced the just-released film Across the Hall co-starring Murphy, tells UsMagazine.com: "It's truly a tragedy what happened. She was a great person with a huge heart."

Ashton Kutcher Remembers Ex-Girlfriend Brittany Murphy

Ashton Kutcher Remembers Ex-Girlfriend Brittany Murphy

Ashton Kutcher is mourning the death of Brittany Murphy, who reportedly died Sunday morning of cardiac arrest.

He tweeted Sunday afternoon, "2day the world lost a little piece of sunshine. My deepest condolences go out 2 Brittany’s family, her husband, & her amazing mother Sharon."

The actor adds, "see you on the other side kid."

Kutcher, 31, and Murphy, 32, costarred in the 2003 comedy Just Married, and were romantically involved offscreen.

Brittany Murphy Dies; Family Releases Statement

Actress Brittany Murphy, 32, died Sunday morning at 10:04 a.m., a spokeswoman for L.A.'s Cedars-Sinai Medical Center told the Associated Press.

Although the hospital rep wouldn't confirm Murphy's cause of death to the AP, TMZ reports that the actress suffered full cardiac arrest. An emergency call was made from the L.A. home of Murphy's husband, screenwriter Simon Monjack, at 8am.

A source tells TMZ that Murphy's mother discovered her unconscious in the shower. When paramedics arrived, they determined that the actress was in full cardiac arrest, and they began to administer CPR. They continued their CPR attempts during the ambulance trip to the hospital, but Murphy was unresponsive. The star was pronounced dead on arrival after arriving at Cedars-Sinai.

An autopsy may be performed Monday, Radaronline.com reports. An investigator from L.A. County Coroner's office is scheduled to interview attending physicians as well as Monjack and Murphy's mother, Sharon.

A rep for the LAPD confirms to UsMagazine.com, "There is a death investigation involving the actress Brittany Murphy," with a full statement expected later on.

Murphy's family has released the following statement to UsMagazine.com: "In this time of sadness, the family thanks you for your love and support. It is their wish that you respect their privacy."

Murphy appeared in such films as Clueless, 8 Mile, Don't Say a Word and Sin City, and voiced the character of Luanne on TV's King of the Hill.

Alicia Silverstone: I Hope Brittany Murphy Is At Peace

Sunday December 20, 2009

Clueless brought them together and made them both stars, as audiences were charmed by Alicia Silverstone's pretty popular girl Cher bringing transfer student Tai, played by Brittany Murphy, under her wing.

"I always felt connected to her as we shared a very special experience in our lives together," Silverstone told PEOPLE on Sunday after Murphy's shocking death at age 32. "I feel love in my heart for her – and hope she is at peace. This is truly sad."

After their breakout 1995 hit, the actresses "didn't stay in close touch over the years," Silverstone says – a TV spinoff of Clueless starred other actresses – but their bond endured.

"I'm so saddened to hear this news," Silverstone says. "I loved working with Brittany. She was so talented, so warm, and so sweet."

Jessica Simpson: Brittany Murphy Was A 'Ray Of Light'

By Stephen M. Silverman

Sunday December 20, 2009

As word spread about Brittany Murphy's death on Sunday, reactions ranging from shock to sadness also began circulating.

Among those that were Tweeted:

From Jessica Simpson: "Brittany Murphy was an incredible ray of Light to so many people. Her smile was contagious. My prayers are with her family and loved ones."

From Ashton Kutcher: "2day the world lost a little piece of sunshine. My deepest condolences go out 2 Brittany’s family, her husband, & her amazing mother Sharon."

From Lindsay Lohan: "My deepest condonlences go out to all of Brittany Murphy's loved ones& may she rest in peace....She was a great talent w/a beautiful soul xo"

From Holly Robinson Peete: "Brittany was so sweet when I met her. Flew to Vegas together once – I remember her mom being lovely.My condolences to all of her loved ones"

From TV journalist Ann Curry: "NBCnews just confirmed actress Brittany Murphy died at 10:04am PT today. O man."

From Fred Durst: "RIP Brittany Murphy. What a sweet human being. My prayers are with her friends and family."

From Alyssa Milano: “Brittney Murphy and I did a USO Tour together in 2003. She was a sweet soul, with a lot of talent and heart."

From Soleil Moon Frye: "am beyond words by the loss of Brittany Murphy. I was so blessed to know your grace. My heart goes out to your mama+ loved ones."

Brittany Murphy Died At Age 32

By Stephen M. Silverman

Sunday December 20, 2009

Brittany Murphy died of cardiac arrest early Sunday morning, after her mother had found her unconscious in the shower, according to a report by TMZ. The actress was 32.

It is reported that a call went out to 911 from Murphy's Los Angeles home at 8 a.m. Attempts to revive her were not successful. A spokesperson for Cedars Sinai Medical Center confirmed to PEOPLE that Murphy died at the facility Sunday at 10:04 a.m.

The actress's rep, Nicole Perna, said in a statement Sunday afternoon, "In this time of sadness, the family thanks you for your love and support. It is their wish that you respect their privacy."

In addition to The White Hotel and Clueless, the Atlanta-born Murphy costarred in 8 Mile with Eminem, and Girl, Interrupted, with Angelina Jolie. Her first Hollywood job, at age 14, was as the star of the series Drexel's Class.

In May of 2007, she married her White Hotel director, Simon Monjack.

Before meeting the British writer-director, Murphy had been engaged twice. She split with best-boy grip Joe Macaluso in August 2006, and ended her engagement to Jeff Kwatinetz, CEO of the Hollywood talent agency The Firm, in 2004.

She previously dated Ashton Kutcher, her costar in 2003's Just Married.

On Sunday Kutcher Tweeted, "see you on the other side kid ... 2day the world lost a little piece of sunshine. My deepest condolences go out 2 Brittany’s family, her husband, & her amazing mother Sharon."

RELATED: Jessica Simpson: Brittany Murphy Was 'A Ray of Light'

Music Career, Too

In addition to acting, Murphy also teamed with DJ Paul Oakenfold to release a single "Faster Kill Pussycat," which became a club hit and reached No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart.

Last month, she was reportedly fired from a movie she was working on in Puerto Rico, prompting her rep to tell news outlets, "She was not nor has she ever been fired from any job big or small ... [due] to creative differences Ms. Murphy and the production mutually parted ways."

Earlier this year, when stories circulated that the couple's marriage was in trouble, Murphy's husband told PEOPLE, "All these ridiculous people came out and said all this nonsense when we got married, [but] thank god we had the substance and the history within that to [say], 'Yeah, whatever!' "

He added, "We still don't understand what happened. It's made us laugh, it's made us cry, but it's made us stronger."