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'Today, the world lost a little piece of sunshine': Tributes for Brittany Murphy as coroner rules out drugs death

By Georgina Littlejohn for MailOnline and Scott Warren
Updated: 12:57 EST, 21 December 2009

Large stash of prescription 'drugs found in house'
Autopsy starts 'against will of British screenwriter husband'

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Brittany Murphy, pictured at a film premiere in Los Angeles just three weeks ago, has died from a suspected heart attack at the age of 32

American actress Brittany Murphy's shock death at the age of 32 was not caused by drugs, the LA coroner said yesterday.

Miss Murphy, who had a wild reputation and was allegedly hooked on tranquilisers, died of a heart attack yesterday.

She was found unconscious at 8am in the shower by her mother at the home she shares with her husband, the British screenwriter Simon Monjack.

When medics arrived she was in full cardiac arrest and they continued giving her CPR until she got to Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre, near Beverly Hills.

But she was unresponsive and pronounced dead on arrival at 10.03am.

Demi Moore's husband Ashton Kutcher, who split from Miss Murphy in 2003 after seven months together, said: ‘My deepest condolences go out to Brittany’s family, her husband, and her amazing mother Sharon.’

He added three minutes later: ‘2day the world lost a little piece of sunhsine. See you on the other side kid.’

Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton paid tribute to the star but said he had seen her death coming.

He wrote: 'Absolutely devastating. Especially because this comes as no surprise! We, and those who knew Brittany personally, saw this coming.'

The Clueless, 8 Mile and Sin City star was fired from an upcoming film for being difficult on set.

Friends were also quoted as saying: 'Brittany's been living life on the edge. She definitely had a drug problem and we have begged her to seek help.'

An unconfirmed report suggested she had become addicted to prescription drugs since taking painkillers after cosmetic surgery.

And tonight TMZ, the website which broke the news of Michael Jackson's death, was reporting that a large amount of prescription drugs were found by police in the house.

However, Ed Winter, Assistant Chief Coroner for Los Angeles County, tried to kill off speculation by saying there was no evidence that foul play or drugs played a part in her death.

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Grieving: Brittany's devastated husband Simon Monjack arrived home on Sunday upon hearing the news of her death

Probe: LA chief coroner Ed Winter, who also investigated Michael Jackson's death

'It appears to be natural,' he told a crowd of reporters yesterday afternoon.

Winter, who also conducted the investigation into Michael Jackson's death, addressed a crowd of reporters outside Miss Murphy's Hollywood Hills home and said an post mortem would be carried out within the next two days.

'We are involved in an investigation in Brittany Murphy's death,' he said.

The autopsy was being carried out this afternoon - a move which Mr Monjack, 39, was said to be against.

Winter said said the actress 'had a little bit of medical history' but would not explain what he meant.

Many celebrities posted tributes on the Twitter soon after the news broke.

Rock star Fred Durst wrote: ‘RIP Brittany Murphy. What a sweet human being. My prayers are with her friends and family.’

And actress Jessica Simpson, wrote: ‘Brittany Murphy was an incredible ray of Light to so many people. Her smile was contagious.’

Murphy's Clueless co-star, Alicia Silverstone, said: 'I always felt connected to her as we shared a very special experience in our lives together.

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Brittany Murphy's neighbour, Clare Staples, tells how paramedics performed CPR on the actress in the street before taking her to hospital

'I feel love in my heart for her - and hope she is at peace. This is truly sad.'

Paris Hilton tweeted: 'So sad to hear about Brittany Murphy, such a tragedy. She was such a beautiful, funny and sweet girl. My heart goes out to her family.'

And Lindsay Lohan wrote: 'My deepest condolences go out to all of Brittany Murphy's loved ones and may she rest in peace.

'She was a great talent with a beautiful soul.'

An aerial view of Murphy's home in the hills of West Hollywood

Her last film was Sin City in 2005 before she put out a record, Faster Kill Pussycat, that reached number seven in the British charts three years ago.

But she had been making headlines for the wrong reasons in recent months.

She was reportedly fired from her comeback film being shot in Puerto Rico for being difficult on the set.

Twilight and New Moon star Rachel Lefevre was brought in to replace her.

There were also reports that Miss Murphy’s husband, whom she married in a private Jewish ceremony in 2007, got into a fight with some locals in Los Angeles.

Murphy with her husband Simon Monjack and their pet dog as they got ready to fly out of Los Angeles

In 2005 Miss Murphy was forced to deny allegations she had a cocaine habit, saying: ‘Just for the record I have never tried it in my entire life, I’ve never even seen it, and I don’t leave the house too much, except to go to work.

‘My worst vice is caffeine. The rumour is really pretty darn far-fetched.’

Her mother also reportedly told paramedics her daughter suffered from diabetes.

Her spokeswoman, Nicole Perna, said in a statement last night: 'In this time of sadness, the family thanks you for your love and support. It is their wish that you respect their privacy.'

Stars took to Twitter to tweet their condolences yesterday

Grief-stricken Lindsay Lohan expresses her feelings on Murphy's death

Murphy's father, Angelo Bertolotti, said: 'She was just an absolute doll since she was born. Her personality was always outward. Everybody loved her - people that made movies with her, people on a cruise - they all loved her. She was just a regular gal.'

Bertolotti was in the mob and served time in prison for drug offences. He hadn’t seen his daughter in years. Murphy was raised by her mother first in Edison, New Jersey, and later in Los Angeles.

She appeared in regional productions at the age of nine and landed her first job in Hollywood when she was just 14, playing a starring role as Brenda Drexell in Drexell’s Class.

Aged 18, she took the role of spoiled brat Alicia Silverstone's friend, Tai, in the delightfully anti-LA Clueless, in 1995, which catapulted her to stardom

The success of Eminem's 8 Mile, in which she played the vampish blonde Alex who has a brief but passionate relationship with the rapper, who plays himself, cemented her reputation.

In 2003 she starred in the romcom Just Married, which also starred Kutcher and two years later appeared in her sexiest role to date, in Sin City.

Big break: Brittany Murphy, centre, with Alicia Silverstone and Stacey Dash in Clueless from 1995

Murphy will also be remembered by fans of King Of The Hill, in which she took the voice of Luanne Platter, for 231 episodes.

Only a couple of weeks ago, Brittany spoke about her hopes for the coming year, which included plans to start a family.

Speaking to Access Hollywood at the Tt Collection Pop-Up Party in Los Angeles on December 3, she said: 'As far as having a New Year’s resolution, I’d love to have a child next year.

'But that’s kind of a large one! I’ve been very blessed to have a really great loving husband. I spend more time with my family than anyone else in the world.'

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On and off-screen love: Brittany with her Just Married co-star Ashton Kutcher

She had five films in production at the time of her death, including Something Wicked, Shrinking Charlotte and Sylvester Stallone's upcoming film, The Expendables, due for release next year.

In June 2006, she sang on Paul Oakenfold's hit single 'Faster Kill Pussycat' which got ot number seven on the UK singles charts.

She dabbled in music again that same year when she covered Queen's Somebody To Love and Earth, Wind & Fire's Boogie Wonderland for the animated film Happy Feet, in which she played the voice of Gloria the penguin.