Simon Monjack Died

Simon Monjack Died — The British husband of tragic actress Brittany Murphy has died at the Hollywood Hills home the couple once shared. Despite attempts to resuscitate him by the emergency services, screenwriter Simon Monjack, 39, was pronounced dead last night. It comes just five months after Clueless star Brittany, 32, died in his arms after collapsing in the shower. Simon Monjack’s death is being investigated by the Los Angeles police department, but say the signs suggest it was natural causes.

Sergeant Louie Lozano told the LA Times police responded to a 911 call from the home on Sunday evening seeking ‘unspecified medical aid. Before Simon Monjack died, he was known to have previously suffered a heart attack. He had also been widely reported to have large debts, although he claimed these had been resolved.

Brittany died at their home of cardiac arrest on December 20, as her mother phoned for help. Simon Monjack later recalled how he tried to administer CPR in vain, then kissed his wife goodbye after she passed away.

A large amount of prescription drugs were found in the home, although Simon Monjack claimed many of these were simply out of date medications. After Brittany’s death Monjack caused controversy when he tried to persuade investigators not to have a post-mortem carried out on her body.

He said he couldn’t bear the idea of having his wife’s body cut open, and called the coroner relentlessly – but to no avail. His actions led to widespread internet rumours he was involved in her death, which he angrily denied. In February an inquest found Brittany died from pneumonia complicated by an iron deficiency, anaemia and multiple drug intoxication. Coroners officials said she had gone into sudden cardiac arrest because of drug intake.

Her death was classified as an accident. Monjack kept Brittany’s clothes and belongings as they were, unable to bear the thought of getting rid of any of them. He also took care of Brittany’s puppy Calara, despite admitting he was not a dog lover. Monjack told reporters the couple had been planning for the future.

‘We were going to have children and move to new York next year,’ he said. ‘The night before she died we were deciding baby names and said if it was a boy it was going to be Oliver and if it was a girl, Sophie.’ Brittany, who ­appeared in films which grossed ­$100million (£62million) before she and Monjack met, shot to fame in the 1995 ­blockbuster Clueless, starring alongside Alicia ­Silverstone.

She was also cast in Eminem’s 8 Mile in 2002 before landing a role in Just Married the following year. At the time, she was seeing co-star Ashton Kutcher, who is now married to Demi Moore. Monjack, who was born in North London, met Brittany through a mutual friend. They married soon afterwards in a ­Jewish ­ceremony in LA in May 2007.