The British-born husband of late actress Brittany Murphy has been found dead, it was reported.

The body of screenwriter Simon Monjack was discovered at his Hollywood Hills home, according to the Los Angeles Times.

LA police said the preliminary cause of death was "natural causes." A spokesman said Monjack was found dead on Sunday.

Eight Mile and Clueless star Murphy, 32, died in her husband's arms in December after collapsing in the shower.

An inquest found that she died from pneumonia complicated by an iron deficiency, anaemia and multiple drug intoxication.

She married Monjack, from north London, in a Jewish ceremony in LA in May 2007.

Earlier this year Monjack launched a charitable fund - along with Murphy's mother - in the name of his late wife, with an event at which guests were asked to give thousands of dollars.

However within a few days it emerged that it had not been registered as a not-for-profit body and the Brittany Murphy Foundation offered to refund donors.

Monjack's film credits include the low budget Two Days, Nine Lives, which he directed, starring Bros's Luke Goss and more recently Factory Girl starring Sienna Miller.