Actress Brittany Murphy has passed away at the ripe old age of 32. Brittany, best known for her role as the “geeky girl” in Clueless, was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles on Sunday morning and pronounced dead upon arrival after her mother discovered her unconscious in the shower.

Clare Staples, a neighbor, told the Associated Press that she saw firefighters trying to resuscitate the actress while she was on a stretcher. However, “it looked like she was dead on the scene”, she revealed.

TMZ is reporting that a number of prescription drugs were found in the home under the names of Murphy, her husband, British screen writer Simon Monjack and her mother.

Law enforcement reports revealed that Murphy collapsed in the bathroom of her home and somehow ended up in the shower.  There was, according to sources, a significant amount of vomit in the immediate area.

Murphy’s mother told paramedic that she had been taking prescription meds for flu-like symptoms she had been experiencing for several days. Murphy began vomiting early Sunday morning and told family members she was feeling very ill.

No illegal druges were found in the home, but apparently Murphy was taking various prescription meds for her ailments.

Brittany is a native of Atlanta, born to Sharon Murphy and Angelo Bertolotti in 1977. She was raised by her mom who left Atlanta for New Jersey after her divorce. Once Brittany got the acting bug, her mom sold everything in New Jersey and moved to LA where Murphy pursued her acting career.

Brittany was first seen in an episode of Murphy Brown in 1991 and later the same year got her first acting assignment at the age of 14 in Drexell’s Class. She continued acting in several television series before getting a few major film projects.

Today she’s known for her roles in films like Clueless, Girl Interrupted, Drop Dead Gorgeous, Don’t Say a Word, 8 Mile, Uptown Girls and many more not-so-well-known movies. She’d just finished a role in an upcoming movie to be released, Sylvester Stallone’s The Expendables (2010).

Murphy dated Ashton Kutcher, who costarred with Murphy in 2003’s romantic comedy “Just Married.” Kutcher sent a Twitter message on Sunday morning about Murphy’s death:

2day the world lost a little piece of sunshine. My deepest condolences go out 2 Brittany’s family, her husband, &her amazing mother Sharon.

It’s that time of year when people drop like flies. I know it sounds insensitive, but one thing’s for sure… there are a ton of non-celebrities and celebrities alike that won’t make it to 2010. I suggest you live each day as if it’s your last and NEVER take a minute of for granted.

R.I.P. Brittany Murphy

(Source 1, 2, 3)