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IMDbPro

Brittany Murphy(1977-2009)

  • Actress
  • Producer
  • Soundtrack
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,00054
Brittany Murphy at an event for The Dead Girl (2006)
Brittany Murphy's Last Film. As a young couple embarks upon their wedding plans, gruesome secrets from their past collide with sinister forces of the present to ensure these newlyweds do not live.
Play trailer2:33
Something Wicked (2014)
50 Videos
99+ Photos
Brittany Murphy was born Brittany Anne Bertolotti on November 10, 1977 in Atlanta, Georgia, to Sharon Kathleen Murphy and Angelo Joseph Bertolotti. Her father's ancestry is Italian, and her mother is of Irish and Slovak descent. Her father moved the family back to Edison, New Jersey as a native New Yorker and to be closer to other siblings from previous marriages. While dining out one night in the presence of Hollywood royalty, Brittany at the age of 5 approached an adjoining table when Academy Award nominee Burt Reynolds and George Segal were seated. Brittany introduced herself to the Hollywood legends and confidently told them that someday she too would be a star.

She comes from a long line of international musicians and performers with three half-brothers and a sister. Angelo Bertolotti was torn from their tight-knit family as a made-man with the Italian Mafia. The Senior Bertolotti, who coined the nickname of "Britt" for his daughter, was also an entrepreneur and diplomat for organized crime families and one of the first to be subjected to a RICO prosecution. Brittany's interests and well-being were always her father's first goal and objective. To distance his talented daughter from his infamous past, Angelo allowed Sharon to use her maiden name for Brittany's, so that her shining star would not be overshadowed by a father's past, with the couple divorcing thereafter.

Brittany began receiving accolades and applause in regional theater at the early age of 9. At the age of 13, she landed several national commercials. She appeared on television and caught the attention of a personal manager and an agent. Soon, Brittany's mother Sharon turned full-time to being a "Stage Mom" where Angelo provided financial support throughout and their relationship is memorialized with a long and close history in pictures. The hopeful daughter and mother moved to Burbank, CA, where Brittany landed her first television role on Blossom (1990). Hearts and doors opened up for a starring role on Drexell's Class (1991), a short lived TV series.

Brittany's big screen movie debut started with Clueless (1995), where she was co-starring with Alicia Silverstone. Britt soared, demonstrating her musical and artistic talents with dramatic and comedic roles landing a nomination for best leading female performance in the Young Artist Awards for her role in the television film David and Lisa (1998). She garnered tremendous attention for her role in Girl, Interrupted (1999) with Academy Award winner Angelina Jolie. Brittany's band, "Blessed Soul" was growing with her as lead singer and Britt lent her vocal talents to the TV hit, cartoon sensation, King of the Hill (1997) as the voice of Luanne.

She is alleged to have been a witness in the case of the former Department of Homeland Security employee and persecuted whistleblower Julia Davis. According to Davis, Brittany and her fiancée Simon Monjack were then targeted for retaliation that included land and aerial surveillance and a threatened prosecution. Monjack was arrested and detained by the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Brittany and Simon confided in Alex Ben Block of the Hollywood Reporter, telling him in an interview that they were under surveillance by helicopters and their telephones have been wiretapped. This information was published by THR posthumously, in an article entitled "The Last Difficult Days of Brittany Murphy."

On December 20, 2009, Brittany Murphy died an untimely death. The LAPD and Los Angeles County Coroner closed the case within one hour, attributing her death to pneumonia and anemia. Five months after Brittany's unexpected demise, her husband Simon Monjack was found dead in the house he shared with Brittany. The chief/spokesperson at the Los Angeles County Dept of Coroner, Craig Harvey, stated that Simon also died from the same exact causes as his wife, namely pneumonia and anemia. Neither Brittany, nor Simon, were given a thorough and complete forensic autopsy for poisons. Brittany's father, Angelo "AJ" Bertolotti, is pursuing the investigation of the true reasons behind Brittany's and Simon's sudden demise, as he believes that the two were murdered. Abnormally high levels of heavy metals and poisons were discovered in Brittany's hair, tested by two other independent forensic labs with famed Pathologist, attorney Cyril Wecht concluded from the appearances, Brittany could have been murdered and should be exhumed. Her father Angelo is preparing court actions to ensure she obtains justice.
BornNovember 10, 1977
DiedDecember 20, 2009(32)
BornNovember 10, 1977
DiedDecember 20, 2009(32)
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,00054
  • Awards
    • 3 wins & 22 nominations

Photos371

Brittany Murphy in Cherry Falls (2000)
Brittany Murphy in Cherry Falls (2000)
Brittany Murphy in Saturday Night Live (1975)
Eminem and Brittany Murphy in 8 Mile (2002)
Brittany Murphy in Sin City (2005)
Eminem and Brittany Murphy in 8 Mile (2002)
Brittany Murphy and Jack Black in Bongwater (1998)
Brittany Murphy in Neverwas (2005)
Brittany Murphy in Spun (2002)
Brittany Murphy and Dakota Fanning in Uptown Girls (2003)
Brittany Murphy and Dakota Fanning in Uptown Girls (2003)
Brittany Murphy and Jesse Spencer in Uptown Girls (2003)

Known for

Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, and Brittany Murphy in Clueless (1995)
Clueless
6.9
  • Tai
  • 1995
Ashton Kutcher and Brittany Murphy in Just Married (2003)
Just Married
5.4
  • Sarah
  • 2003
Winona Ryder in Girl, Interrupted (1999)
Girl, Interrupted
7.3
  • Daisy
  • 1999
8 Mile (2002)
8 Mile
7.2
  • Alex
  • 2002

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actress

  • Shantel VanSanten in Something Wicked (2014)
    Something Wicked
    • Susan
    • Psychiatrist
    • 2014
  • Brittany Murphy in Abandoned (2010)
    Abandoned
    • Mary Walsh
    • Video
    • 2010
  • Kathy Najimy, Breckin Meyer, Brittany Murphy, Ashley Gardner, Beth Grant, Johnny Hardwick, Toby Huss, Jonathan Joss, Mike Judge, Stephen Root, Pamela Adlon, and Lauren Tom in King of the Hill (1997)
    King of the Hill
    • Luanne Platter
    • Joseph Gribble
    • Asian Girl ...
    • TV Series
    • 1997–2010
  • MegaFault (2009)
    MegaFault
    • Dr. Amy Lane
    • TV Movie
    • 2009
  • Brittany Murphy in Deadline (2009)
    Deadline
    • Alice
    • 2009
  • Across the Hall (2009)
    Across the Hall
    • June
    • 2009
  • Brittany Murphy and Jason Lewis in Tribute (2009)
    Tribute
    • Cilla McGowan
    • TV Movie
    • 2009
  • Katey Sagal, David Cross, John DiMaggio, Lauren Tom, and Billy West in Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs (2008)
    Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs
    • Colleen O'Hallahan (voice)
    • Video
    • 2008
  • Brittany Murphy in The Ramen Girl (2008)
    The Ramen Girl
    • Abby
    • 2008
  • Nicole Kidman, Robin Williams, Elijah Wood, Brittany Murphy, Hugh Jackman, and Hugo Weaving in Happy Feet (2006)
    Happy Feet
    • Gloria (voice)
    • 2006
  • Happy Feet (2006)
    Happy Feet
    • Gloria (voice)
    • Video Game
    • 2006
  • Toni Collette in The Dead Girl (2006)
    The Dead Girl
    • Krista
    • 2006
  • Brittany Murphy in Love and Other Disasters (2006)
    Love and Other Disasters
    • Emily Jackson-Jacks
    • 2006
  • The Groomsmen (2006)
    The Groomsmen
    • Sue
    • 2006
  • Paul Oakenfold & Brittany Murphy: Faster Kill Pussycat (2006)
    Paul Oakenfold & Brittany Murphy: Faster Kill Pussycat
    • Brittany Murphy
    • Music Video
    • 2006

Producer

  • Brittany Murphy in The Ramen Girl (2008)
    The Ramen Girl
    • producer
    • 2008

Soundtrack

  • Madeleine Stowe and Emily VanCamp in Revenge (2011)
    Revenge
    • performer: "Faster Kill Pussycat" (uncredited)
    • TV Series
    • 2012
  • Tuloy na tuloy na tuloy pa rin ang Pasko
    • performer: "Boogie Wonderland"
    • TV Movie
    • 2006
  • Nicole Kidman, Robin Williams, Elijah Wood, Brittany Murphy, Hugh Jackman, and Hugo Weaving in Happy Feet (2006)
    Happy Feet
    • performer: "Boogie Wonderland", "Somebody To Love"
    • 2006
  • HBO First Look (1992)
    HBO First Look
    • performer: "My Funny Valentine"
    • TV Series
    • 2006
  • Amanda Peet, Matthew Perry, Steven Weber, Sarah Paulson, Timothy Busfield, D.L. Hughley, Bradley Whitford, and Nate Corddry in Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006)
    Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
    • performer: "Faster Kill Pussycat"
    • TV Series
    • 2006
  • Jennifer Garner in Alias (2001)
    Alias
    • performer: "Faster Kill Pussycat"
    • TV Series
    • 2006
  • Mischa Barton, Adam Brody, Ben McKenzie, and Rachel Bilson in The O.C. (2003)
    The O.C.
    • performer: "Faster Kill Pussycat"
    • TV Series
    • 2006
  • Brittany Murphy and Ron Livingston in Little Black Book (2004)
    Little Black Book
    • performer: "Nobody Does it Better"
    • 2004
  • Saturday Night Live (1975)
    Saturday Night Live
    • performer: "8 Mile" (uncredited)
    • TV Series
    • 2002
  • Falling Sky (1998)
    Falling Sky
    • performer: "Trouble In Mind"
    • 1998
  • Kathy Najimy, Breckin Meyer, Brittany Murphy, Ashley Gardner, Beth Grant, Johnny Hardwick, Toby Huss, Jonathan Joss, Mike Judge, Stephen Root, Pamela Adlon, and Lauren Tom in King of the Hill (1997)
    King of the Hill
    • performer: "Manger Babies Theme"
    • TV Series
    • 1998
  • Double Jeopardy (1996)
    Double Jeopardy
    • performer: "There Must Be an Angel (Playing In My Heart)", "Silent Night" (uncredited)
    • TV Movie
    • 1996
  • Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, and Brittany Murphy in Clueless (1995)
    Clueless
    • performer: "Mentos Theme Song"
    • 1995

Videos51

Abandoned: "Don't Trust Anyone"
Clip 1:07
Abandoned: "Don't Trust Anyone"
Abandoned: "Can You Please Help Me Find Him?"
Clip 1:34
Abandoned: "Can You Please Help Me Find Him?"
Happy Feet
Clip 0:54
Happy Feet
Happy Feet
Clip 0:51
Happy Feet
Happy Feet
Clip 1:11
Happy Feet
Happy Feet
Interview 0:32
Happy Feet
Happy Feet
Interview 0:34
Happy Feet
Happy Feet
Interview 0:28
Happy Feet
Happy Feet
Interview 0:34
Happy Feet
Happy Feet
Interview 0:18
Happy Feet
Official Trailer
Trailer 1:37
Official Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:33
Official Trailer

Personal details

Edit
  • Alternative names
    • Brittany Bertolotti
  • Height
    • 5′ 3″ (1.60 m)
  • Born
    • November 10, 1977
    • Atlanta, Georgia, USA
  • Died
    • December 20, 2009
    • Los Angeles, California, USA(pneumonia and anemia)
  • Spouse
    • Simon MonjackApril 12, 2007 - December 20, 2009 (her death)
  • Children
    • No Children
  • Parents
      Sharon Kathleen Murphy
  • Relatives
      Sibling(Sibling)
  • Other works
    Music video Whetus "A little Respect"
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Biographical Movie
    • 2 Portrayals
    • 3 Interviews
    • 25 Articles
    • 8 Pictorials
    • 21 Magazine Cover Photos

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    She kept a notebook by her bed and would write poems in the middle of the night.
  • Quotes
    I don't read the script a zillion times, I don't like to analyze things and my mind can go there very easily.
  • Trademark
      Infectious laugh
  • Nickname
    • Britt
  • Salaries
      Little Black Book
      (2004)
      $4,000,000

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