Stars from the film 'Clueless' pay tribute to Brittany Murphy during iconic film's 30th anniversary

Brittany Murphy collapsed on December 20, 2009, in the bathroom of the Los Angeles home she shared with her husband, Simon Monjack, and her mother, Sharon. Paramedics responded to the scene, but by around 10 a.m., Murphy had been pronounced dead at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. She was 32 years old.

Her sudden death shook fans and colleagues alike. Murphy, known for her memorable role as Tai in Clueless, had been seen as a bright, quirky force in Hollywood.

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Cast of Clueless pays tribute to Brittany Murphy during 30th anniversary reflections:

Brittany Murphy didn’t expect to land the role of Tai in Clueless, but Alicia Silverstone didn’t need convincing. As The Guardian revisited the making of the beloved film with Amy Heckerling and Silverstone, both reflected on Murphy’s early audition.

At just 17, Murphy came in to read for the role, brought in by casting director Marcia Ross. According to Heckerling, Murphy might not have seen herself as the obvious choice, but the cast and crew saw something special immediately. “Everybody” was taken by her, Heckerling said, recalling how Silverstone pulled her aside after the chemistry read.

“Alicia was trying to tell me: ‘Oh my God, it has to be her,’” she shared.

And it turned out, they were in full agreement.

Elisa Donovan, who played Amber, found it nearly impossible to talk about the film without bringing up Murphy’s memory.

“I always think about Brittany,” she said.

“She was so talented and just had so much energy and so vibrant … just this hummingbird, frenetic sort of energy, but also like, ‘everything’s great. I got it. No problem.’” she added.

Reflecting on the film’s anniversary, Donovan added a quiet truth:

“It makes me emotional because I feel like she should be doing a lot of this, like she would be doing a lot of this.”

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Simon Monjack: The husband who faced scrutiny

It’s been over ten years since Simon Monjack, Brittany Murphy's husband, died suddenly in May 2010, less than half a year after Brittany Murphy herself. He was 40. Like Brittany, his death was caused by pneumonia and anemia.

As per People Magazine, after losing Murphy, Monjack spoke candidly about the heartbreak he carried.

“I’d trade it all for one more day with Brittany, I lost my life. She was my best friend,” he shared.

In response to mounting criticism, he addressed the rumors that had followed him for years.

“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 told The Independent.

Monjack had roots in the U.K., where he grew up outside London with his parents, William and Linda. After finishing high school, he relocated to New York and attended New York University, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

He went on to direct music videos and even worked on a Nike commercial that featured Michael Jordan, People Magazine reported. His only film, Two Days, Nine Lives, came out after a family-funded effort in 2001. It was never released to the public, and no other projects followed.

The couple’s relationship raised eyebrows in the press, but privately, they seemed to be looking ahead. Just months before her death, Brittany Murphy had shared her desire to become a mother.

“I hope to have a few. I’ve always loved kids and babies and always wanted to be a mom,” she had said.