Simon Monjack, the screenwriter husband of the late actress Brittany Murphy, died on Sunday night at his Hollywood Hills home, police told the Los Angeles Times.
The cause of his death, which comes just five months after Murphy died at the age of 32, was unknown, the newspaper said.
"We have detectives at scene," Sgt. Louie Lozano told the Times. "They are conducting their investigation. Once we have further information, we will provide it."
L.A. Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey said it responded to a 911 call for an "unspecified medical need request" at 9.24 p.m. PT Sunday, the paper said.
Fire Department personnel provided medical services to Monjack, but he was pronounced dead, according to a Los Angeles police sergeant, who declined to give his name to the Times, at the Hollywood Station late Sunday night.
In March, Monjack was moved to set the record straight on rumors about his relationship with Murphy in an interview with Access Hollywood’s Shaun Robinson.
“You told the New York Post you first fell in love with Brittany when she was a teen during a photo shoot. You said, ‘I was very patient.’ What did you mean by that?” Robinson asked.
“I mean, she was like very young. When she was 17, it would’ve been like dating a 12-year-old,” Monjack explained, dismissing the notion that some might call it inappropriate. “There was only eight years between us. It was more of just an attraction to the person.”
As a photographer, he often staged elaborate photo shoots with her. But he hit back at rumors that the two got married in 2007 because the British-born Monjack’s visa was about to expire and he was facing deportation.
Related stories Murphy’s family bids farewell in private funeral Murphy’s husband ‘destroyed’ by her death Frantic Brittany Murphy 911 call released “Brittany Murphy marrying for a visa – it’s so crazy," he said.
