brittany murphy - territorystories.nt.gov.au · 20 — northern territory news, tuesday, december...

20 — Northern Territory News, Tuesday, December 22, 2009 www.ntnews.com.au

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Actress collapsed at her Hollywood Hills homeByCHRISTOPHERWEBER

in Los Angeles

‘She was just an absolute doll since she was born. Her

personality was always outward. Everybody loved her

’

BrittanyMurphydies atage 32

BRITTANYMurphy, the US actresswho got her start in the sleeper hitClueless and rose to stardom in 8Mile before hermovie roles declinedin recent years, has died in LosAngeles of what appeared to benatural causes, a Los AngelesCounty coroner’s official said.

Shewas 32.Murphy (pictured)was

pronounced dead at 10.04am localtime (5.04amAEDT) at Cedars-SinaiMedical Center, hospitalspokeswomanSally Stewart said.

Murphywas transported to thehospital after the Los Angeles FireDepartment responded to a call at8am from the home she sharedwith her husband, Britishscreenwriter SimonMonjack, intheHollywoodHills.

Assistant Chief Coroner EdWintersaidMurphy apparently collapsed inthe bathroom, and authorities werelooking into hermedical history.

An official cause of deathmay not

be determined for some time, sincetoxicology tests will be required, but‘‘it appears to be natural’’, Wintersaid. He said an autopsywasplanned for today.

Winter saidMurphy’s family wasco-operatingwith the coroner’sinvestigation but would not bereleasing a public statement onSunday. He said funeralarrangements have not

been announced. Los Angeles policehave opened an investigation intoMurphy’s death, Officer NormaEisenman said. Detectives andcoroner’s officials were atMurphyandMonjack’s home on Sundayafternoon but did not talk toreporters. Paparazzi were campedoutside themultistorey home,located above the Sunset Strip.

Messages left forMurphy’smanager, agent andpublicist by TheAssociated Press

were not immediately returned.Neighbour Clare Staples said shesaw firefighters working toresuscitate the actress on Sundaymorning. She saidMurphywas on astretcher and ‘‘looked as though shewas dead at the scene’’.

Murphy’s husband, wearingpyjama bottoms and no shoes,appeared ‘‘dazed’’ as firefighterstried to save her, Staples said. ‘‘It’s

just tragic,’’ she added. TMZ.comfirst reportedMurphy’s death onSundaymorning local time.

Murphy’s father, AngeloBertolotti, said he learned of herdeath fromhis son, the actress’sbrother, andwas stunned.

‘‘Shewas just an absolute dollsince shewas born,’’ Bertolotti saidfromhis home in Branford, Florida.‘‘Her personality was alwaysoutward. Everybody loved her—

people thatmademovies with her,people on a cruise— they all loved

her. Shewas just a regular gal.’’ Hesaid he hadn’t heardmuch about thecircumstances ofMurphy’s death.Bertolotti divorced hermother whenMurphywas young and hadn’t seenMurphy in the past few years. Hesaid he used to be in themob andserved prison time on federaldrug charges.

‘‘Shewas just talented,’’Bertolotti said. ‘‘And I loved herverymuch.’’

BornNovember 10, 1977, inAtlanta, Murphy grew up in NewJersey and latermovedwith hermother to Los Angeles topursue acting.

Her career started in the early1990swith small roles in televisionseries, commercials andmovies.She is best known for parts inGirl,Interrupted, Clueless and 8Mile.

Her on-screenwork had lessenedof late, butMurphy’s voice gave lifeto numerous animated characters,including Luanne Platter onmorethan 200 episodes of Fox’sKing ofthe Hill andGloria the penguin in the2006 featureHappy Feet.

Rage againstreality showgoes onlineLONDON: An internetcampaign to stop thewinner ofBritain’s top television showfromonce again claiming thecoveted ChristmasNo. 1 singlespot has triumphed againstthe odds.

US rapmetal band RageAgainst TheMachine’sexpletive-ridden 1992 hitKillingIn TheName, which has lyricsabout rebelling against control,saw off JoeMcElderry, thewinner of this year’s The XFactor singing contest, in thebattle for the festive top spot.

A campaign on the socialnetworkingwebsite Facebookwas set up in a bid to stopstudentMcElderry’s version ofThe Climb frombecoming afifth straight X Factor shoo-infor the Christmas singleNo. 1 slot.

Killing In TheName soldmorethan 500,000 copies in thepast weekwhile The Climb sold450,000.Killing In TheName isthe first download-onlyChristmasNo. 1, and achievedthe biggest download salestotal in a first week ever seen inthe British charts.

‘‘As we have seen in recentyears, overhauling any X Factorwinner in the race for theChristmasNo. 1 is nomeanachievement,’’ said UKChartsCompany’smanaging directorMartin Talbot.

‘‘The popular support wehave seen for the record thisweek has been truly amazing.’’

Rage Against theMachinevocalist Zack de la Rocha(pictured) told BBC radio: ‘‘Weare very ecstatic and excitedabout the song reaching theNo. 1 spot.’’

TV host sorry for ‘retarded’ jibeAUCKLAND: Adecision to upholdcomplaints about aNewZealandbroadcaster’sdescription of singerSusan Boyle(pictured) as‘‘retarded’’ has beenwelcomed by theorganisationrepresenting peoplewith intellectualdisabilities.

State broadcasterTVNZ yesterday said its complaintscommittee upheld complaints aboutthe remarksmade by Paul Henry ontheBreakfast programonNovember23, saying it breached standards ofgood taste and decency.

TVNZ said Henry had apologised.

Ralph Jones, the chief executive of

IHCNewZealandrepresenting thosewith intellectualdisabilities said theorganisationwaspleasedwith thedecision andwithHenry’s apology.

‘‘Paul’s apologywillmake things easierfor people withintellectualdisabilities, who havebeen enormouslyembarrassed and

offended bywhat he said,’’ Jones said.

‘‘I’m pleased that TVNZ’s stancegives Paul some guidance as towhat isappropriate behaviour and language.

‘‘Our goal was tomake TVNZ andPaul Henry realise that thewords theybroadcast are extremely powerful andcan affect how people feel.’’