R.I.P.: Brittany Murphy, actress interrupted

Brittany Murphy and Ashton Kutcher in "Just Married"  (Courtesy:  20th Century Fox)

In addition to the vibrant, joyful Christmas spirit, the holidays also always seem to have a sorrowful undertone.

Dean Martin, Charlie Chaplin and soul singer James Brown all died on Christmas Day, for instance.  Martin in 1995, Chaplin in 1977 and Brown, the great soul singer, in 2006.

We got the word yesterday that actress Brittany Murphy collapsed and died in her Los Angles home.  She was pronounced dead just after 10 a.m. Sunday morning.

I interviewed the co-star of "Girl, Interrupted" "8 Mile" and other films several times.  I remember Murphy being more engaging in conversation than co-star Angelina Jolie during the "Girl, Interrupted" interviews.

My other impression was that Murphy had what I recall as cat's eyes; always darting around, always keenly aware of her surroundings.

She hasn't been on the big screen much in the past few years, although she co-starred with Ashton Kutcher in the romantic-comedy "Just Married" in 2003.

"King of the Hill" fans know Murphy as feisty Luanne, an animated character that never saw a low-cut top she didn't like.

Murphy was born in Atlanta and lived in New Jersey before convincing her mother to move to Hollywood so she could pursue an acting career. 

Click here for The Hollywood Reporter's full account of Murphy's life and death.

For whatever reason -- an autopsy is pending -- the loss of Murphy is a life interrupted way too soon.