The mysterious death of Simon Monjack, Brittany Murphy’s husband, occurred just months after the actress herself passed away, leaving many questions unanswered. Murphy, known for her role in Uptown Girls, married the British filmmaker in 2007 after a brief courtship. Although they had been friends for years, their relationship transitioned into romance, raising concerns among those close to them.
Despite Monjack’s contentious background, marked by complex relationships and financial struggles, he and Murphy appeared inseparable. They had aspirations of starting a family and moving from Los Angeles to New York, but their plans were tragically altered when Murphy died unexpectedly at the young age of 32 on December 20, 2009.
The short-lived romance of Brittany Murphy and Simon Monjack was overshadowed by unanswered questions following their deaths
After her passing, Monjack expressed profound grief, stating, “I’d trade it all for one more day with Brittany. I lost my life. She was my best friend.” The L.A. County Coroner’s Assistant Chief, Ed Winter, attributed Murphy’s death to pneumonia coupled with anemia.
However, suspicions arose regarding Monjack, who claimed he had done everything possible to care for her, insisting that the negative stories about him were mere rumors. “I know I have been called a conman. I am not perfect. I never said I was. But there has been so much rubbish written about me and Brittany. Most of what you read is made up,” he remarked in an interview with The Independent.
In a shocking twist, Monjack himself passed away at the age of 40 on May 23, 2010, under similar circumstances just months after Murphy’s death. Born and raised in England, Monjack spent his formative years outside London with his parents, William and Linda.
Throughout his childhood, he attended prestigious schools where he displayed a strong academic ability. Linda shared her admiration, stating, “As he was growing up, Simon was the most incredible guy. He had an IQ off the scale.
He was able to charm anyone — old ladies, mothers, he could turn his charm on anyone,” reflecting on his early years in the 2021 Max docuseries What Happened, Brittany Murphy?. His brother, James, noted, “From early childhood, Simon had that ability to manipulate the environment to get what he wanted out.”
Tragedy struck during Monjack’s teenage years when his father was diagnosed with a brain tumor, eventually passing away. Linda revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that this loss “completely destroyed” Monjack, profoundly altering his personality and blurring his grasp on reality.
Following high school, Monjack relocated to New York and enrolled at New York University, aiming for a career in entertainment. He ventured into the film industry, directing music videos and a Nike commercial featuring Michael Jordan, as reported by The Independent. Monjack’s first film, Two Days, Nine Lives, which was financed by his family in 2001, never saw a public release.
Though he claimed involvement in the 2006 film Factory Girl, director George Hickenlooper indicated that Monjack’s credit stemmed from a legal settlement rather than substantial contributions. A few years later, Monjack aimed to adapt the 1981 novel The White Hotel, but the project stalled due to ongoing legal issues.
Prior to his relationship with Murphy, Monjack experienced a series of unsuccessful romances. His mother Linda noted that his personality often led him to “fall in and out of love,” though some former partners viewed his intentions as questionable.
As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Monjack frequently embellished his financial status while courting women. He also misrepresented aspects of his health, according to his former fiancée, Elizabeth Ragsdale.
They met in Paris, quickly fell in love, and got engaged. In the documentary What Happened, Brittany Murphy?, Ragsdale recounted that Monjack claimed he had spinal cancer and urged her to conceive immediately, as his treatments could render him sterile.
After Ragsdale became pregnant, she experienced isolation from her family and friends. Monjack arranged for her to fly to New York for the birth but vanished upon her arrival. Later, Ragsdale discovered from Monjack’s mother that he had never been ill and went on to have their baby without him.
Brittany Murphy and Simon Monjack’s dreams of family life were cut short by their sudden and tragic departures
In the early 2000s, Monjack became involved with British TV personality Simone Bienne. They became engaged and married in Las Vegas in 2001. After their separation in 2006, Bienne sued him for unpaid debts from their divorce, according to The New York Post.
Monjack reconnected with Murphy shortly after his divorce. They initially met in the 1990s when Murphy was beginning her acting career and maintained a friendship over the years. Their relationship blossomed into romance in early 2007. While working on The Ramen Girl in Tokyo, Murphy reached out to Monjack after reading his script for The White Hotel, leading to their dinner date and subsequent romance.
Murphy reflected on their connection, saying, “We met when I was 17 years old. We checked in with each other throughout the years and remained friends. The easiest decision I ever had in my life was getting married.” She appreciated Monjack’s commitment, noting his efforts to spend every night with her despite the distance.
After a few months of quiet engagement, the couple married in a private ceremony officiated by a rabbi at their home, attended by close family and Murphy’s staff. Their marriage took place in an intimate setting, as confirmed by Murphy’s representative, who stated, “They were married at their home in Los Angeles several weeks ago in a very intimate ceremony.”
As their relationship progressed, Murphy shared her desire to start a family, expressing hopes of having children “hopefully soon.” “I hope to have a few. I’ve always loved kids and babies and always wanted to be a mom,” she revealed in an interview with OK! magazine.
Monjack recalled that Murphy had discussed baby names shortly before her untimely passing. On the eve of Murphy’s death, Monjack was present at their home. The couple had just returned from Puerto Rico, where Murphy was slated to film The Caller. She was let go from the production just days into filming, prompting speculation about the reasons for her dismissal.
While rumors suggested she was fired, Monjack asserted that it was a mutual decision due to creative differences. Both Monjack and Murphy’s mother, Sharon, contracted colds during their trip. Upon returning home, Murphy’s condition worsened, exacerbated by existing health issues.
As the weeks passed, her illness intensified, leading to laryngitis. Out of concern for her career, she and Monjack avoided seeking in-person medical help, choosing instead to consult a medical professional over the phone.
The situation became critical in the early hours of December 20, 2009, when Murphy struggled to breathe. Sharon recalled seeing her daughter on the patio, gasping for air and expressing distressing thoughts. However, because Murphy often faced health issues, her remarks were not taken seriously.
Throughout the night, Sharon tried to assist her daughter, while Monjack experienced a seizure linked to a preexisting condition. After Murphy collapsed in the bathroom the following morning, Monjack and Sharon called for help and attempted to revive her.
Despite being rushed to the hospital, it was too late for Murphy, who was pronounced dead at 32. The coroner later ruled that her death resulted from pneumonia, anemia, and “multiple drug intoxication” from both prescription and over-the-counter medications. Although the coroner did not classify Murphy’s death as suspicious, rumors circulated regarding Monjack’s possible involvement.
Friends and family of Murphy had long harbored concerns about Monjack’s influence, believing he had isolated her and was overly controlling. At the time of her death, Murphy reportedly lacked access to her cell phone and email. Monjack had also dismissed her manager, lawyer, and agent.
Following Murphy’s death, doubts about Monjack’s intentions grew, particularly when he attempted to establish The Brittany Murphy Foundation, which included a memorial service with suggested donations reaching $10,000. The initiative was eventually called off.
Additionally, questions emerged when Monjack expressed a desire to forgo an autopsy for Murphy. The coroner proceeded with the autopsy, despite Monjack’s reasoning rooted in his Jewish faith. After the autopsy results were released, Coroner Winter indicated to PEOPLE that Murphy’s death might have been preventable had she received medical attention sooner.
“This death could’ve been preventable,” he remarked, explaining that Murphy had intended to see a doctor but tragically passed away before doing so. He characterized her case as one involving a woman suffering from pneumonia and anemia who neglected necessary medical care.
Monjack, however, insisted he had cared for Murphy, believing she was merely suffering from the flu. “I had no idea she had pneumonia. I took very good care of my wife; she was on an antibiotic and was taking cough medicine and doing all the right things,” he stated in a January 2010 interview.
Winter clarified that Monjack was not a suspect in connection to Murphy’s death, asserting, “He was never considered a suspect. No one’s criminally liable here because this has been ruled an accident.” Just five months after Murphy’s death, Monjack also passed away under similar circumstances.
On May 23, 2010, Murphy’s mother discovered Monjack unresponsive and called emergency services. Upon arrival, the Los Angeles Fire Department pronounced him dead at the age of 40. The coroner concluded that his death was also due to pneumonia and anemia.
While Monjack’s death shocked many, he had been privately battling health issues, including seizures. Months prior, his mother had informed PEOPLE that he was “unwell” and undergoing medical tests.
Although mold concerns were raised regarding their shared home, the coroner found no evidence of mold exposure. The circumstances surrounding the couple’s coincidental deaths continue to evoke intrigue and speculation.
