Elisa Donovan Not Surprised by Brittany Murphy's Death, Cites Drug Problem

Elisa Donovan, who starred alongside Brittany Murphy in the 1995 film "Clueless," stated that she was not surprised by her former co-star's death, suggesting Murphy had a drug problem and an eating disorder.

Murphy died in December 2009 at the age of 32. The Los Angeles County Coroner's office ruled her death accidental, attributing it to untreated pneumonia, anemia, and intoxication from prescription and over-the-counter medications. Donovan shared her thoughts on the matter during a recent appearance on the "Still Here Hollywood" podcast.

"They told me that she had died but nobody knew, and I have to say, my first thought was, I wasn't surprised," Donovan recalled. She noted that a shared hairdresser had previously expressed concern about Murphy's well-being. Donovan also recounted witnessing Murphy at the 2005 GLAAD Awards, where she observed her appearing unwell.

"Her knees were buckling. Her legs were shaking. And I was like, 'Are you okay?' And she was like, 'Yeah! What? What do you mean?' and I went, 'Something is not okay with this person,'" Donovan said. "I looked at her and I was like, 'She is not healthy. She is not okay. And why is no one helping her?"

Donovan expressed that she believed Murphy struggled with an eating disorder and a drug problem but felt unable to intervene due to their level of friendship. She also noted that Murphy's declining career was a cause for concern.

Murphy was found unresponsive in her Hollywood Hills home, which she shared with her husband, Simon Monjack. Monjack died in the same home just five months later from pneumonia. Following Monjack's death, his mother suggested that severe mold in the house may have contributed to their illnesses, a theory the medical examiner's office had previously ruled out.

Murphy gained widespread recognition for her role as Tai Frasier in "Clueless" and also appeared in films such as "8 Mile" and "Girl, Interrupted."