Breckin Meyer says Clueless co-star Brittany Murphy was 'the sun' (2024)

Breckin Meyer opened up about his late Clueless co-star Brittany Murphy, who died at age 32 on December 20, 2009 from pneumonia combined with anemia.

The actor, 49, appeared on the podcast Still Here Hollywood hosted by Steve Kmetko, calling Brittany one of the 'greatest people I know.'

She played the character Tai Frasier in the 1995 hit film Clueless, and he played her love interest Travis Birkenstock.

They also worked together for eight years after Clueless on King of the Hill.

'Britt passed away as an adult, but she's one of those people who I always think about. I wish I could see what she would have done now,' he said.

Breckin Meyer opened up about his late Clueless co-star Brittany Murphy, who died at age 32 on December 20, 2009 from pneumonia combined with anemia; from left to right the cast of Clueless: starring Paul Rudd, Justin Walker, Elisa Donovan, Jeremy Sisto, Stacey Dash, Alicia Silverstone, Donald Faison, Brittany Murphy and Breckin Meyer

The actor, 49, appeared on the podcast Still Here Hollywood hosted by Steve Kmetko, calling Brittany one of the 'greatest people I know;' seen February 19, 2021

She played the character Tai Frasier in the 1995 hit film Clueless; seen with her co-stars Alicia Silverstone and Stacy Dash

Brittany collapsed in her bathroom at her home on December 20, 2009 after dealing with flu-like symptoms a number of days.

She was with her mother Sharon and cried out 'Mommy I can't catch my breath, help me' and passed out in her arms and her husband Simon Monjack's, per The Hollywood Reporter.

The coroner said her cause of death was pneumonia, combined with anemia and from 'multiple drug intoxication' that were both prescription and over the counter - including cold medicine and painkillers.

Simon died five months later at the same home - of the same cause of death - pneumonia combined with anemia, leading to questions on how they both died of the same thing five months apart. He was 40.

'Brittany was... she was a bottle of soda; she was the sun. She was so effervescent and great and for her to pass away like that, in such a s****y way and in such a toxic relationship, just was so terrible,' Breckin said on the podcast.

Adding: Not only because it's your friend, but what everyone else doesn't get to see anymore.'

Breckin revealed he was at Ryan Phillippe's house when he heard sirens, with neither of them realizing it was for Brittany, whom lived 'five houses' down from Ryan.

'When we all heard, it was terrible,' he noted.

'Brittany was so crazy talented, and only the surface had been dealt with. She was such a good singer, and seeing how many people cross over into music and movies, I was like, "Oh, I would have loved to see Brittany do that,"' he said.

Breckin recalled auditioning for the Clueless with Brittany and how 'easy' it was, since they have played boyfriend/girlfriend multiple times.

After Clueless, they worked together for eight years on King of The Hill.

Breckin voiced Joseph Gribble, Mr. Haggerty and Kid #2.

Brittany voiced Luanne Platter, Obadiah the Donkey and Sir Reginald Featherbottom.

'And then Britt and I did King of the Hill together for eight years. And then I took over for a role she did - not when she passed away, before that, like the character's voice changed and I took over, but she was still Luanne on King of the Hill.'

'Brittany was... she was a bottle of soda; she was the sun. She was so effervescent and great and for her to pass away like that, in such a s****y way and in such a toxic relationship, just was so terrible;' Breckin said of her; the two pictured on February 3, 2000 in LA

Brittany Murphy died at age 32 on December 20, 2009, five months before her husband Simon Monjack died of the same thing - leading to questions on what led to their deaths. Brittanny pictured on the left in 2004 and on the right on December 3, 2009, 17 days before her death

In 2021, a documentary from HBO Max films examined Brittany's death in a documentary called What Happened, Brittany Murphy?.

Her death and her husband's death five months later has puzzled the world since her passing, with some theories including mold in their home as well as Simon's controlling nature over her.

Brittany and Simon married in May 2007, and lived in her home in the Hollywood Hills, previously owned by Britney Spears.

Brittany had purchased it in 2003 for $3.9 million.

The mold theory however was dismissed in 2010 by the medical examiner's office.

In 2013, Brittany's father Angelo Bertolotti requested a new toxicology report, in which he had suggested that she may have been poisoned.

He went on Good Morning America in November 2013 and said that 'there was definitely a murder situation here,' and added that 'it's poison,' via THR.

Her mother Sharon had disputed the claim.

The filmmakers spoke to the corner about her cause of death, who questioned how she became so anemic, per Rolling Stone.

'To develop an anemia of this nature, she was not eating. How did all of this develop?' the corner had told them.

Simon allegedly told Brittany to lose more weight and get plastic surgery during their marriage, per Rolling Stone.

He reportedly also refused to take Brittany to the hospital in her final days, which may have saved her life.

Simon had two secret children, which Brittany did not know about while she was alive, and he reportedly lied about his own health and said he had cancer and was cured of it from using shark cartilage, the documentary claimed.

He reportedly spent $3 million of Brittany's money in three years, and served as Brittany's agent, business manager and makeup artist.

Simon died five months later at the same home - of the same cause of death - pneumonia combined with anemia, leading to questions on how they both died of the same thing five months apart. He was 40; seen together on November 1, 2007

Assistant LA Coroner Ed Winter said after her death: 'She had been sick at least two weeks. Had they taken her to a doctor or hospital, it would have been treatable,' per THR; Brittany pictured with Simon on February 4, 2008

One month after her death, Simon told The Hollywood Reporter that Brittany had a sense that there was something off with the home, and tried to avoid going there at all costs.

Brittany had thought the home was unlucky, Simon had said in January 2010 (four months before his death), per THR.

They had been planning to move to New York in 2010 to start a new life there and have children together.

Assistant LA Coroner Ed Winter said after her death: 'She had been sick at least two weeks. Had they taken her to a doctor or hospital, it would have been treatable,' per THR.

Breckin Meyer says Clueless co-star Brittany Murphy was 'the sun' (2024)

FAQs

Breckin Meyer says Clueless co-star Brittany Murphy was 'the sun'? ›

'Brittany was... she was a bottle of soda; she was the sun. She was so effervescent and great and for her to pass away like that, in such a s****y way and in such a toxic relationship, just was so terrible,' Breckin said on the podcast.

Why was Brittany Murphy's house demolished? ›

According to property records, Sharon sold the estate at a massive loss for $2.7 million in 2011 after struggling to find a buyer. In 2013, it was torn down, and underwent a multi-year rebuild, with developers aiming to create a sprawling, contemporary structure.

What was Brittany Murphy's net worth when she died? ›

According to an article on yahoo.com, Brittany's estate was worth approximately $10 million when she died. The beneficiary of her estate was not her husband, Simon. Instead, it was Brittany's mother, Sharon.

How old was Brittany Murphy in Clueless? ›

Her breakthrough role was in her second feature film, the teen comedy Clueless (1995), directed by Amy Heckerling, which developed a cult following. Filming began in November 1994, at which time she was barely seventeen years old, making her the youngest member of the cast.

What was the cause of death for Simon Monjack? ›

Paramedics arrived; Monjack was pronounced dead at 9:45 pm. The coroner's report found the cause of Monjack's death to be acute pneumonia and severe anaemia, similar to the causes attributed to his wife's death five months earlier in the same house.

What did Simon Monjack do with Brittany Murphy's money? ›

Murphy's former business manager Jeffrey Morgenroth tells PEOPLE that Monjack drained his deceased wife's cash reserves by 80 percent before his own death from anemia and pneumonia in May.

Did Simon Monjack have a child? ›

Simon Monjack had not one, but two, secret children with other women. According to the film, Brittany was not aware during her lifetime that Monjack had secretly fathered two children with other women: a daughter, Jasmine, in England; and a son, Elijah, in Paris.

Did Ashton Kutcher date Brittany Murphy? ›

Brittany Murphy

The Just Married costars began dating months after wrapping the film. They fueled engagement rumors in 2003 when they wore matching rings, but they ultimately ended their relationship after five months. Kutcher remembered Murphy after she died of pneumonia in December 2009 at age 32.

Did Britney Spears own Brittany Murphy's house? ›

At 19 years old, Britney secured her first major Los Angeles estate: a Hollywood Hills home that she reportedly purchased for $2.95 million. The gated property is located on Rising Glen Road with views of the Sunset Strip. In 2003, she sold the property to Brittany Murphy for $3.85 million.

How much older was Brittany Murphy's husband than her? ›

The marriage was also shocking because Monjack, seven years older than Murphy, was practically unknown in the entertainment business and the press he had gotten was mostly unkind. Monjack was born in Hillingdon, England, on August 5, 1970.

Did Alicia Silverstone get along with Brittany Murphy? ›

Silverstone and Murphy proceeded to bond on set, not least because they both had parental supervisors. Silverstone still remembers that — as well as Murphy's delivery of her most iconic line from the film. "I loved working with her," Silverstone says.

What did Alicia Silverstone say about Brittany Murphy? ›

When asked about their first impressions of each other, Silverstone said, "I remember Brittany coming in, and she was so great." Murphy died as a result of pneumonia combined with anemia and "multiple drug intoxication" from prescription and over-the-counter medication in December 2009. She was 32.

What were Brittany Murphy's last words? ›

Mom, I'm dying,” Monjack recalled Brittany saying on the morning of her death. Sharon Murphy, visibly distraught, let Monjack do most of the talking. “Her eyes were not right,” Monjack said.

Did mold cause Brittany Murphy's death? ›

Breathing in toxic mold was not the sole factor responsible for Brittany Murphy's death. However, it's speculated that toxic mold may have aggravated her health conditions. It could have caused her seizures and other symptoms.

What famous couple died of black mold? ›

Toxic mold not behind the sudden deaths of Brittany Murphy and Simon Monjack. July 28, 2010— -- The eerily similar deaths of Brittany Murphy and her husband Simon Monjack, a mere six months apart, are "unusual" but not mold-related, says Los Angeles County assistant chief coroner Ed Winter.

Did they tear down Brittany Murphy's house? ›

According to property records, Sharon sold the estate at a massive loss, for $2.7 million, in 2011 after struggling to find a buyer. Jean Baptiste Lacroix/WireImage. In 2013, it was torn down and underwent a multiyear rebuild, with developers aiming to create a sprawling, contemporary structure.

Did Britney Spears own the house that Brittany Murphy died in? ›

Brittany had lived in her home for 6 years

The 32-year-old had purchased the home, fully furnished, from music star Britney Spears in 2003. She paid $3.85 million for it and lived there for just under six years.

Where is Brittany Murphy's grave? ›

English: Grave of Brittany Murphy at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills.

What happened to Brittany Murphy's mother? ›

Murphy's mother, Sharon, has lived in seclusion since the death of her daughter. The documentary explains how she was left with little after Simon died, as when she attempted to sell diamond jewelry he had had made for her, she quickly learned it was all fake.

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