Britanny Murphy, an actress who provided voices for the animated series King of the Hill (Luanne Platter) and the Oscar-winning feature film Happy Feet (Gloria), died Sunday at the age of 32.
According to news reports, the actress collapsed Sunday morning at her home in the Hollywood Hills. She was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Hospital and pronounced dead around 10 a.m.
The cause of death is apparently natural causes, though an autopsy is planned. Los Angeles police have opened an investigation into the cause of death.
In addition to her work in animation, Murphy appeared in dozens of productions including Sin City, 8 Mile and Clueless. The actress began her career on TV’s Murphy Brown series. Her other animated projects included the Disney TV series Pepper Ann and Futurama: The Beast with a Million Backs. She was also cast as the lead role in the hugely successful 2008 Disney direct-to-DVD feature Tinker Bell, but she lost the part to Mae Whitman for undisclosed reasons.
A statement issued Monday by Murphy’s husband, screenwriter Simon Monjack, and mother Sharon on behalf of her family stated: “The sudden loss of our beloved Brittany is a terrible tragedy. She was our daughter, our wife, our love, and a shining star. We ask you to respect our privacy at this difficult time.”
Funeral services are pending.
