Brittany Murphy Husband Dead: Source Says Actress' Mother Found Simon Monjack's Body

By: Jessica Derschowitz
Topics: News

Simon Monjack and Brittany Murphy in New York on Feb. 5, 2008.

(Credit: AP Photo/Jennifer Graylock)

NEW YORK (CBS) Sharon Murphy, the mother of late actress Brittany Murphy, was reportedly the one who found her daughter's husband, Simon Monjack, dead on Sunday night.

The screenwriter died five months after his wife was found dead from what authorities say was pneumonia and drug intoxication.

Pictures: Brittany Murphy

A friend of Sharon's told People magazine Monday that she was the one who found Monjack's body in the same Hollywood Hills home where Brittany Murphy died in December. Monjack and Sharon continued to live in the home after Murphy's death.

Sharon, the friend said, is "not well at all" in the wake of the discovery.

"Brittany's mom made the 911 call. He was unresponsive when responders arrived and was pronounced dead at the house," Los Angeles Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter told the magazine. "It's being reported [by the responding fire department] as a possible heart attack. We're not sure if it is natural causes or a possible accident maybe because of the prescription medication found there."

Monjack has had a history with health issues. In January, Monjack's mother, Linda Monjack, told People that her son was "unwell" and that he had suffered "a slight heart attack" a week before his wife's death. CBS' "The Early Show" also reported Monday that he recently had complained of seizures.

No cause of death has been released.

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by Bellboy716 August 15, 2010 4:24 PM EDT: This isn't the first celebrity to die from prescription drugs and have it covered up! Look at Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson!! Those two are the Kings of music and were both abused by Drs who were paid well to keep them going and make them feel good!! It's a shame, but it's a growing fact that this is a monster that society is going to be victimized by for a long time!
Most of the pharmaceutical drugs that are supposed to help us have so many bad side effects, it's not worth taking! I don't want diaherria everyday and headaches mixed with thoughts of suicide, just to lower my cholesterol a few points.
The worst part is what's very inexpensive to make, Americans get charged the most for, just to be a marketing guinea pig!! All this because marijuana is a gateway drug to that will destroy your life!
You know what maybe I better think this thing through a little more, first I better get a good stiff drink, that usually takes care of everything!!; Reply to this comment


by mthom086 May 26, 2010 5:31 PM EDT: Alan are you serious? these aren't natural deaths. Brittany Murphy's autopsy report said she died of pnuemonia and the side effects of prescription drug abuse. I just read it.

Young hollywood and Americans in general are prescription drug addicts. 79% of mental and pain drugs taken in the WORLD are taken by the u.s.

Just like his wife, this guy took gobs of prescription drugs. Many times these are much more dangerous than illegal drugs.

America needs to wake up; from Heath Ledger, to Anna Nicole; who died hours after seeing her psychiatrist; these people are dropping like flies.

Brittany Murphy will not be the last "natural cause" death. More will come because almost all of young hollywood takes pills.; Reply to this comment

by AlanW21126p May 26, 2010 5:01 PM EDT

I know a little something about stats and life expectancy.

For a couple to each die 3 months apart, at ages only 32 and 39, of natural causes, is astounding.

Odds are well over 3000:1 of this occuring.

So, while it's not impossible, this is very, very rare.

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by vkbarefoot May 28, 2010 1:07 PM EDT: If the odds are 1 in 3000 then that would mean that 1 in every 3000 couples died in this manner. Where did you get this statistic?

by bundye May 26, 2010 10:06 AM EDT

Something fishy about Murphy's mother and Monjack. A bit fishy five months after wife's death, he is dead also.

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by andie52 May 26, 2010 12:44 PM EDT: I think the mother and the husband lived offof Brittany, she was deathly ill and neither if then sought medical help for her when they should have because they didn't want the dirty little drug secrets to come out.
had no symapathy for him and have none for her so called mother.


by LucindaCo May 26, 2010 8:47 AM EDT: The man could have died of a broken heart. Love has been known to do that. RIP! I pray for his Mother-In-Laws comfort.; Reply to this comment


by sharoncalla May 26, 2010 2:16 AM EDT: This sounds very mysterious, my first thought was "is there a gas leak" in this house? I mean really? Two deaths in such a short time, and I am worried Sharon may be next. I hope she moves from this house, at least until it has been inspected. Poor Sharon, I know she feels so lost and hurt, and I pray she gets lots of support. This is just too freakie!!!; Reply to this comment


by firefish45 May 25, 2010 11:36 PM EDT: I hate to say it, but there's most probably more than meets the eye here.; Reply to this comment

by ralphing May 25, 2010 4:39 PM EDT

Then there was one.

Hmmmmm . . .

Three people living in a home, then two of them die under mysterious circumstances, withing months of each other. Was the Mother, the beneficiary of both their wills and property?

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by thumpr1019 May 25, 2010 5:39 PM EDT: What is so mysterious? The coroner ruled on Brittany Murphy's cause of death; there is no mystery there. An no one knows how this guy died yet; just a little bit paranoid, are we?


by Crush1800 May 26, 2010 11:18 AM EDT: Me thinks he was diddling mom, got caught, wifey confronts mom, mom takes out wifey, now hubby cheated on mommy, now mommy takes out hubby....Pretty neat and tidy. Oh, did I mention NATURAL CAUSES....


by ladyang May 25, 2010 3:49 PM EDT: Holy Moly, That poor woman. I hope she isn't still livinh in that house!; Reply to this comment