Brittany Murphy's family paid a heart-warming tribute to the actress who passed away on Sunday morning following an alleged cardiac arrest.

The Clueless star collapsed at home in Los Angeles and was pronounced dead in hospital. An autopsy has been carried out but the cause of death is still unknown.

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A family statement said the 'loss of our beloved Brittany is a terrible tragedy. She was our daughter, our wife, our love and a shining star'.

It added: "We ask you to respect our privacy at this time."

"She was just an absolute doll since she was born," BBC News quoted Murphy's father, Angelo Bertolotti, as saying.

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"Her personality was always outward. Everybody loved her, people that made movies with her, people on a cruise - they all loved her," he added.

She was rushed to the hospital after the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a call at the Hollywood Hills home she shared with her husband, British screenwriter Simon Monjack.