Brittany Murphy

Brittany Anne Murphy-Monjack, known professionally as Brittany Murphy, was an American actress and singer, known for her proficiencies in both comedy and drama. Born in Atlanta, Murphy moved to Los Angeles as a teenager to pursue a career in acting. Her breakthrough came when she co-starred in hit movies like Clueless, and independent films such as Freeway, followed by her 1997 Broadway debut in Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge. Murphy's fame grew with her roles in numerous high-profile projects during the early 2000s, such as Don't Say a Word, Riding in Cars with Boys, and 8 Mile. On December 20, 2009, Murphy passed away at the age of 32 under disputed circumstances. Murphy was raised by her mother in New Jersey and had two older half-brothers and a younger half-sister.

Beyond acting, Murphy's career also included work as a singer. In her lifetime, she learned to play the piano and trumpet. She was part of a band called Blessed Soul with actor Eric Balfour in the early 1990s, and later released a popular single, 'Faster Kill Pussycat' with Paul Oakenfold in the 2006. She also voiced characters in multiple productions, the most prominent of which was her role as Luanne Platter on Fox's King of the Hill. Murphy's husband, Simon Monjack, and her mother, Sharon Murphy, founded the Brittany Murphy Foundation in her memory, supporting children's arts education, the USO, and cancer research.