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Archive for Brittany Murphy

A Final Bow: River Phoenix Is The Latest Star To Release A Posthumous Film

In the words of music legends The Kinks, celluloid heroes never really die. Too many of the best actors and actress have been taken from us far too soon, but thankfully these stars live on in their films. And strangely, some of them continue to produce work even after they’ve gone to the big expensive trailer in the sky. Earlier this week it was announced that River Phoenix’s unfinished last film Dark Blood is finally getting a release eighteen years after his passing. Head to the gallery below for more departed thespians who’ve had films released after their death.

[Photo: Getty Images]

Brittany Murphy’s Mom To Pen A Tell-All Book

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Brittany Murphy would’ve been 33 years old today. Tragically, the star passed away late last year; six months later her husband Simon Monjack died as well.

We’re going to hear a lot about their lives though, because according to TMZ, Brit’s mother Sharon Murphy is writing a tell-all book about her actress-daughter’s life. An official statement reads, “This book will be my way of celebrating and honoring her extraordinary life and career.” Our eyebrows are raised, but Sharon reiterates that the memoir-of-sorts will be an, “accurate account about my daughter, her life, loves, and career.”

We’ll only know what the intent of the book is once it surfaces. We’re hoping it really is a celebration of Brittany’s life and not just some excuse to air dirty laundry or secrets (though we’d probably read it either way).

[Photos: Getty Images]

Secret’s Out! Simon Monjack Had Two Children

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Brittany Murphy‘s husband, Simon Monjack, had a secret that he carried to the grave. A laptop has unearthed evidence that Monjack had two children! Simon’s mother, brother and therapist stayed at Simon’s home last week with Sharon MurphyBrittany Murphy‘s mom – and apparently took the laptop when they left.

While going through the computer’s files, they found emails from two women who wanted money from Monjack for child support. It seems he had a son by one woman and a daughter by another. Files for wire transfers for chunks of money were also found, as large as $ 48,000 in one go. He was also sending cash to lawyers, as well as to somebody in Europe for some sort of settlement deal. It just gets more and more mysterious. (And sad. And creepy.)

Simon’s immediate family strongly felt the coroner should have the computer and handed it over, and the office is currently reviewing the contents. Sharon has angrily filed a theft report with the police.

[Photo: Getty Images]

Simon Monjack Denies That He And Brittany Murphy’s Mom Are Dating

Simon Monjack And Sharon Murphy Portrait Session

It’s sad that this is even an issue, but Brittany Murphy‘s widowed husband Simon Monjack has had to fend off rumors recently that he is now involve romantically with Brittany’s mother Sharon Murphy. Unfortunately, Monjack’s wording and general skeeviness don’t really create a convincing argument that makes us take his denial seriously. Monjack told The Sun that though the two live together, they aren’t involved, saying “We don’t have sex, number one. Number two, she is a woman that has toxic neuropathy, which means she can barely walk. I live downstairs, she lives upstairs.” Also making things confusing (for us, anyway) is the fact that both plan to move to New York this year.

Another thing that makes this issue even weirder is the portrait session the two sat for in January (during which the photo above was taken). The two pose together in intentionally sad poses and appear extremely familiar with each other. Is this just the best mother-in-law relationship ever, or did these two actually, creepily, come together in grief? And if so, how long until it becomes a Lifetime movie? [Photos: Getty Images]

Piper Perabo’s Brittany Murphy Impersonation: Too Soon

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As we mentioned earlier, a bunch of celebs and has-beens got together last night at the USA Network’s Character Approved Awards (again, we say: WTF?). The scariest-looking of these stars was Piper Perabo, who has transformed herself into the ghost of Brittany Murphy. Surely you see it too: the tight, chemical-filled skin, the freshly pinched cheeks, the balloon lips, the glassy gaze in her out-of-it eyes. The resemblance is uncanny, and it’s a creepy tribute to the deceased star. It’s as if Piper wants to remind us that, like Brittany, her career has also died.

Warning: the photos below may make you gag or leave you with a general sense of being creeped out.

[Photo: Splash News Online]

Cause Of Brittany Murphy’s Death Revealed: Drugs, Pneumonia

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The L.A. County coroner ruled today that Brittany Murphy‘s death was accidental, according to TMZ. The cause is listed as “community acquired pneumonia, iron deficiency anemia, and multiple drug intoxication”—a lethal mix of untreated illnesses, tragically coupled with over-the-counter self-medication.

Despite the role chemicals played in Murphy’s passing, the news doesn’t directly contradict widower Simon Monjack and mother Sharon Murphy‘s denials that Brittany was addicted to drugs or alcohol. “Everyone used to say she was wasted, she was this, she was that,” the elder Murphy told People. It was hard for anyone to imagine that somebody was so high on life.” Monjack, who has faced intense scrutiny following his wife’s death, recently claimed that the majority of prescription drugs found in their home belonged to him. Murphy was 32.

[Photo: Getty Images]

Brittany Murphy’s Husband Denies Murder Rumors, Plans Expensive Charity Event

Simon Monjack & Brittany Murphy

For someone who denies being a “con artist,” Simon Monjack sure finds innovative ways to get his hands on people’s money. Brittany Murphy‘s widower, who plans to sue Warner Bros. for “killing” his wife by dropping her from the cast of Happy Feet 2, has announced a charity event in her honor, with tickets reportedly running $1,000 a person, and $10,000 per corporation. The money will go towards the Brittany Murphy Foundation—which Monjack happens to run—and some are smelling a rat. “He’s gotten away with so much,” a source told Us Magazine. “He thinks he can get away with this.” Said another, “everyone thinks it’s very tacky that he is making it so much about money.”

Though Monjack has yet to respond to the insinuation, he’s busy denying far more serious charges. “It’s just so absurd. Why would I kill my wife? [The rumors are] kind of just weird, very, very weird,” he told the UK’s Daily Mirror, responding to rumors of criminal negligence on his part—or worse—after he tried to keep Murphy from undergoing an autopsy. Referring to the large amount of prescription drugs found in their home, he admitted she took some painkillers and anti-depressants but “Most of the drugs are mine. I suffer from seizures. I had a heart attack ­coming back from Puerto Rico last year.” The cause of Murphy’s death is pending the coroner’s results, expected within the next month.

[Photo: Getty Images]

Brittany Murphy’s Husband Sues Warner Bros.

15664801In one of the shakiest lawsuits we’ve seen in a while, Brittany Murphy‘s husband Simon Monjack plans to sue Warner Brothers for wrongful death, claiming that Murphy suffered from heart failure as a direct result of being fired from the film Happy Feet 2. Monjack told The Daily Beast “They killed her,” referring to the film studio who terminated Murphy’s contact on the film two weeks before her death in December. He explained that the stress of being let go from that movie as well as being replaced by Rachel Lefevre on the film The Caller took a toll on her health and directly resulted in the heart attack that claimed her life. He also acknowledged that he’s no stranger to lawsuits, reasoning that “I litigate when somebody does something wrong to me. That’s one of the reasons I make enemies.”

The death of a 32-year-old is certainly uncommon, and forgive us for contradicting a grieving widower, but Murphy’s history of extreme weight loss, drinking and drug use might have had more to do with her death than anything else and a lawsuit just seems like a greedy, bad idea. We’re pretty sure Judge Judy would ream Monjack out for wasting her time with this case. [Photo: Getty Images]

Is Brittany Murphy’s Mom Fighting With Simon Monjack?

Brittany Murphy, Sharon Murphy & Simon Monjack

Conflicting reports have come out on the relationship between Brittany Murphy‘s mother Sharon and the late actress’ widower, screenwriter Simon Monjack. According to the Enquirer, the pair both live in Murphy’s enormous LA home, but “a war has exploded over the estate.” “There’s a lot of tension between them,” says their source. “Poor Sharon can barely function, let alone think about selling the house or getting Brittany’s finances in order…But Simon is already pushing to sell Brittany’s possessions, including jewelry, clothes and the house. Sharon is appalled by his insensitivity.”

Giving a distinctly different impression to People is Monjack’s mother, Linda. “He’s very strong, and he’s got Sharon. They’re very close, and they’re keeping each other going.” “Sharon,” who along with Monjack tried to revive Murphy after her heart attack last month, “witnessed [their] love,” said Linda. “She was so happy her daughter had found someone.” With allegations of Monjack being a “con artist” continuing to swarm, someone less biased than his mother may be needed to skirt any rumors. [via Celebitchy]

[Photo: Getty Images]

Brittany Murphy’s Bedroom Packed With Prescription Drugs

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According to police documents, Brittany Murphy‘s mother and husband, Simon Monjack, desperately tried to revive the star by putting her in the shower after she collapsed at her home on Sunday and went into cardiac arrest. In addition, the actress “had been complaining of shortness of breath and severe abdominal pain”for over a week leading up to her passing. When the paramedics finally got to her home, reports TMZ, she was “without signs of life.” Ugh. You can’t read this stuff without getting a serious case of the sads.

TMZ also says that stacks of prescription pill bottles were found on Brittany’s bedside table, in her name, as well as her mother’s and hubby’s names. Here’s the list so far (we got high just reading it): “Topamax (anti-seizure meds also to prevent migraines), Methylprednisolone (anti-inflammatory), Fluoxetine (depression med), Klonopin (anxiety med), Carbamazepine (treats Diabetic symptoms and is also a bipolar med), Ativan (anxiety med), Vicoprofen (pain reliever), Propranolol (hypertension, used to prevent heart attacks), Biaxin (antibiotic), Hydrocodone (pain med) and miscellaneous vitamins.”

[TMZ. Photo: GettyImages]