Actress Brittany Murphy died of cardiac arrest at the age of 32 on the morning of December 20, 2009.http://www.tmz.com/2009/12/20/brittany-murphy-dies-cardiac-arrest/ The story was first reported by TMZ.com and later confirmed by other sources, including CNN.http://www.tmz.com/2009/12/20/brittany-murphy-dies-cardiac-arrest/ http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/12/20/brittany.murphy/index.html

According to the report, Murphy's mother reportedly found her unresponsive in the shower and a 911 call was made from the Los Angeles, California, home of Murphy's husband, Simon Monjack, around 8:00 a.m. PST. Emergency responders performed CPR en route to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.http://www.tmz.com/2009/12/20/brittany-murphy-dies-cardiac-arrest/ She had been suffering from shortness of breathe and severe abdominal pains for 7-10 days before her death, but insiders say she attributed this to severe menstrual cramps.http://www.tmz.com/2009/12/22/brittany-murphy-coroner-report-prescription-pills-bottles-nightstand-topamax-simon-monjack-sharon-rescue-effort-drugs-investigation/

TMZ also noted that a full investigation into the death will follow.http://www.tmz.com/2009/12/20/brittany-murphy-dies-cardiac-arrest/ While several tests are pending, some, including celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton, have speculated that her death may have been caused by an overdose.http://perezhilton.com/2009-12-20-rip-325 An investigator later found a myriad of prescription drugs on Murphy's nightstand, including Klonopin which is an anti-psychotic and anticonvulsant drug, Ativan for depression, and Fluoxetine, the pain relievers Vicoprofen and Hydrocodone. She also had Carbamazepine, for diabetes and bipolar disorder, Propranolol, which treats hypertension and is taken to prevent heart attacks and Topamax, a medication to prevent seizures and migraines.http://www.tmz.com/2009/12/22/brittany-murphy-coroner-report-prescription-pills-bottles-nightstand-topamax-simon-monjack-sharon-rescue-effort-drugs-investigation/

Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter told the Associated Press that the death "appears to be natural." An autopsy found no signs of foul play or a clear cause of death.http://www.seattlepi.com/tvguide/413506_tvgif21.html A toxicology report and investigation into her medical history have yet to be completed.http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/star-clueless-mile-actress-brittany-murphy-dies/story?id=9390480

On February 4, 2010, TMZ reported that the L.A. County Coroner had ruled Murphy's death as accidental and that it was caused by, "...community acquired pneumonia, iron deficiency anemia, and multiple drug intoxication."http://www.tmz.com/2010/02/04/brittany-murphys-cause-of-death/

Murphy became a household name in the 1990s after starring alongside Alicia Silverstone and Stacey Dash in the 1995 movie Clueless. She went on to appear in such films as Freeway, Girl, Interrupted, 8 Mile, Uptown Girls and Sin City. Additionally, Murphy voiced a role in the popular animated television show King of the Hill.http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005261/

She also had a moderately successful music career, contributing music to the 2006 animated movie Happy Feet and releasing a single "Faster Kill Pussycat" with Paul Oakenfold that same year.http://www.billboard.com/charts/dance-club-play-songs?chartDate=2006-05-27#/artist/paul-oakenfold/chart-history/36785?f=359&g=Singles