Actor Brittany Murphy died from pneumonia, coroners rule

The primary cause of the death was community acquired pneumonia, with contributing factors of iron deficiency anemia and "multiple drug intoxication", the Los Angeles County coroner's office, which ruled the death accidental, said.

Craig Harvey, a coroner's office spokesman, declined to specify what types of drugs had been involved in Murphy's death, but said all were prescription drugs.

Details of the drugs the actor, who starred in Clueless and 8 Mile, had in her system will be released when a complete report is compiled in several weeks.

Murphy, 32, died on 20 December after collapsing at her home in Hollywood Hills.

Her mother and husband said she did not abuse prescription drugs or have an eating disorder.

Murphy's husband, Simon Monjack, and her mother, Sharon Murphy, told investigators she had been experiencing flu-like symptoms in the days before she died.