Coroner: Brittany Murphy Died of Natural Causes

Britney's Murphy's sudden death  appears to be from natural causes, but police will continue to investigate, officials told The Associated Press.

Actress Brittany Murphy dead at 32

Though a toxicology report will be required and an official cause of death could take weeks, Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter told the AP "it appears to be natural," and an autopsy is scheduled for Monday.

Murphy, who starred in Cluelessand 8 Mile, was pronounced dead Sunday morning upon arrival at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Winter said Murphy apparently collapsed in the bathroom, and authorities were looking into her medical history.

Murphy's family told Los Angeles officials the actress was ill with flu-like symptoms in the days prior to her death, according to the AP. Winter says the reported illness could be a contributing factor. Winter also told the AP that prescription medications were taken from Murphy's home, and officials will contact her personal physician to get a better sense of her medical history, the AP reported.

Take a look back at Brittany Murphy's TV and movie roles

TheWrap.com reported Murphy was fired from her last film, The Caller, two weeks ago. An insider told The Wrap that Murphy lost consciousness during shooting on the set of another film Something Wicked, and would lose focus mid-sentence during a take. "Her husband was her handler, he shuttled her around. She was barely there," the insider told TheWrap, referring to Murphy's husband and manager, Simon Monjack.  

Earlier this month, a rep for the actress told OK Magazine she "was not, nor has she ever been, fired from any job big or small."

Wrap columnist Michael Adams said Murphy told him in a 2001 interview that she had a heart condition. He said he asked if she tried methamphetamines for her role in the film Spun, and that she laughed and said she couldn't take drugs even if she wanted to because she had had a heart condition since she was a little girl.

Murphy's last public appearance was at the opening of Tt Collection's Pop-Up show on Dec. 3 in Los Angeles. Looking very skinny, but acting upbeat, the actress gushed about her family and spoke of wanting to have a baby, according to People. "As far as having a New Year's resolution, I'd love to have a child next year," Murphy said. "But that's kind of a large one!"

See other celebrities who have died this year

Friends and colleagues who paid tribute to Murphy included her Clueless costar Alicia Silverstone, who told People: "I always felt connected to her as we shared a very special experience in our lives together. I feel love in my heart for her—and hope she is at peace. This is truly sad."

Clueless director Amy Heckerling also spoke on Sunday of how Murphy changed following the film.

"Everybody's shaking their heads and going 'drugs,' of course. I don't know what was happening on the last movie. I know that, you know, she seemed to go through a change ... on Clueless. Maybe she felt like she was not the, like, skinny, pretty girl, you know? And then the next few movies she was, you know, thinner, blonde ... and going out with Eminem and Ashton Kutcher, and, you know, suddenly got more into that whole glamorous scene ... I think she felt the pressure to become a different sort of commodity to survive in show business, and I think it was awful."

Several other celebrities posted their condolences on Twitter:

Ashton Kutcher: "2day the world lost a little piece of sunshine. My deepest condolences go out 2 Brittany's family, her husband, & her amazing mother Sharon ... see you on the other side kid."

Jessica Simpson: "Brittany Murphy was an incredible ray of Light to so many people. Her smile was contagious. My prayers are with her family and loved ones."

Alyssa Milano: "Brittney [sic] Murphy and I did a USO Tour together in 2003. She was a sweet soul, with a lot of talent and heart."

Lindsay Lohan: "My deepest condolences go out to all of Brittany Murphy's loved ones& may she rest in peace....She was a great talent w/a beautiful soul xo"

Kim Kardashian: "I am in shock that Britney [sic] Murphy has died! Clueless is my all time favorite movie. My prayers go out to her family & husband."

Fred Durst: "RIP Brittany Murphy. What a sweet human being. My prayers are with her friends and family."

Soleil Moon Frye: "RIP sweet Brittany. I will never forget the beautiful school girl you were and woman you became."

Kathy Najimy: "wrked w/& knew Brittany 4 14 years (& plyed her mom once as well) sweetst most talnted angel who got hked up w/ wrng people. we love u brit. so sad this is truly a waste. feeling regret we didn't do more. i love you so much Brittany and always will."

Roger Ebert: "She had a genuine quality."

Mena Suvari: "I'm just sooo devastated now. Found out Brittany Murphy died earlier this morning & I'm shocked. We worked together & I knew her for yrs. She was an amazing person, an amazing actress & so full of life. I ALWAYS admired her in SO many ways. May you rest in peace..."

Eliza Dushku: "My heart aches having just learned of Brittany Murphy's death. We were friends ... I always admired her pure spirit."