The L.A. County coroner’s office says actress Brittany Murphy died of pneumonia complicated by an iron deficiency, anemia and multiple drug intoxication.

Coroner officials said Murphy had gone into sudden cardiac arrest because of “drug intake,” and the Dec. 20 death was classified as an accident. They said an autopsy report would be available in two weeks.

Murphy, 32, went into cardiac arrest at her home in the Hollywood Hills. L.A. firefighters responded to a medical call at about 8 a.m. at the home she shared with husband Simon Monjack in the 1800 block of Rising Glen Road.

Firefighters tried unsuccessfully to revive Murphy on the way to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead about two hours later.

Born Nov. 10, 1977, in Atlanta, Murphy moved to Burbank with her mother when she was 13. Her film break came in the movie “Clueless” (1995), in which she starred opposite Alicia Silverstone.

Murphy made many other film appearances, including in “Girl Interrupted” (1999), “8 Mile” (2002), “The Dead Girl” (2006), and “Across the Hall” (2009). She also was featured as the voice of Luanne Platter in the Fox TV show “King of the Hill.”

From the Los Angeles Times

CNN’s Larry King has lined up interviews with the husband and mother of the late actress Brittany Murphy.

British screenwriter Simon Monjack, the actress’ husband, and Sharon Murphy, the actress’ mom, will have an hour interview on “Larry King Live” at 9 p.m. Wednesday, January 20th.

CNN is billing the chat as Monjack and Murphy’s first in-depth TV interview since the actress died Dec. 20. Brittany Murphy, who was 32, had collapsed at her Hollywood Hills home. The coroner’s office is waiting on a toxicology report before ruling on what killed her.

Brittany Murphy’s friends and family gathered at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Hollywood Hills cemetery on Christmas Eve as the actress was laid to rest.

“Today a wife, a daughter, a niece, a cousin, a family member and dear friend to thousands was laid to rest,” the family said in a statement released to Access Hollywood following the service. “Brittany was an incredibly loving and passionate person and an artist to her core — she loved acting, singing, dancing, and performing. There are no words that can truly express the devastation felt by Brittany’s husband, mother, and everyone who attended the intimate service.”

Both a rabbi and a pastor were present at the co-denominational funeral service, which was attended by 20-25 mourners at Forest Lawn’s Church of The Hills, Radar Online reported.

Among those who gathered at the service were Brittany’s widower, Simon Monjack, and actor and a former bandmate of Brittany’s – Eric Balfour. Eric’s brother Simon also served as a pallbearer, the Web site reported.

According to the family’s statement to Access, a passage from one of Brittany’s favorite books was read at the funeral.

“Several of Brittany’s closest friends and her cousin also recalled their favorite memories, concluding with an excerpt from ‘The Little Prince,’ one of her favorite books,” the family shared in their statement.

Simon Monjack also spoke at the service.

“At the funeral, Simon described his loving relationship with Brittany and how she was his best friend and soul mate. He went on to say that mystery is the nature of love, and you never know when or where it will strike or how quickly it will be taken from you. He also said that he knows the closeness and beauty of their love will live on forever,” the family’s statement continued.

The burial service for Brittany, who tragically passed away at the age of 32 after collapsing at her Los Angeles home on Sunday, was held at twilight “with a reading of the Kaddish and the singing of ‘Amazing Grace,” according to the family’s statement.

“A bright light that lit the world is forever dimmed, but will live on in the hearts of those that Brittany touched,” the statement read.

According to the family, Christmas was Brittany’s favorite holiday. The family has asked that those wishing to honor the late actress “light a candle and remember the beautiful angel that entertained, enlightened, and made the world a better place.”

In related news, Dean Cain, Murphy’s co-star from “Abandoned,” one of the actress’ final films, released a statement on her sad passing to Access Hollywood.

“Tragic. She was so talented and so young, and had so much more to offer this world. Heartbreaking. My thoughts are with her loved ones this holiday season,” he said in his statement.

From Access Hollywood

The body of actress Brittany Murphy has been released to a storied Hollywood memorial park where a private service is reportedly scheduled for Christmas Eve.

A coroner source told the Daily News that Murphy’s body was released to Forest Lawn after Monday’s autopsy – the same memorial park where Bette Davis, Lucille Ball and John Ritter are buried.

Tomorrow’s daytime memorial service will be “strictly private,” RadarOnline.com reported.

(more…)

After releasing a brief statement earlier this afternoon, the family of Brittany Murphy has issued a further statement to OK! expressing their grief at the shocking passing of the actress at the too-young age of 32 at her home in L.A. this morning.

“The sudden loss of our beloved Brittany is a terrible tragedy,” reads the statement from the family to OK!. “She was our daughter, our wife, our love and a shining star. We ask you to respect our privacy at this time.”

A rep for the family adds that funeral arrangements for Brittany’s body are still pending.

Earlier today, the family released the following statement through the actress’ rep: “In this time of sadness, the family thanks you for your love and support. It is their wish that you respect their privacy.”

From OK!