Clueless Star dies shrieked the headlines of one tabloid.

I was a bit puzzled I must admit.  Firstly, couldn’t they be more specific?  Clueless Star.  That could be anyone on TV or in the charts at the moment.  Then, it transpired, they were talking about Brittany Murphy who sadly died on Sunday night.

Clueless Star!  That might be stretching things a bit.  She had a small part in Clueless.  Wouldn’t something related to her better known roles have been more appropriate?  For instance; First 8 Mile now Six feet (under) or instead of Just Married how about Just Dead?  No?  Oh, alright then.  No one knows the facts about her death yet of course but that hasn’t stopped speculation that she was taking and addicted to the same prescription drugs that killed (allegedly) Michael Jackson and that supposedly are being taken by dozens of Hollywood stars.  Does this mean we’re about to be inundated with a rash of celebrity deaths?  I suppose we can but hope.

Brittany Murphy was a fairly decent actress it must be said and it is sad that she’s died.  Especially when there are so many more deserving of that fate still pumping out sub-standard films and performances.  But then again, when death strikes too early it generally takes those who we will miss the most in the talent stakes.  

For instance, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, John Lennon, Jon Bonham, Keith Moon and Michael Jackson were all massively talented and died much too early.  It seems to work in inverse ratio.  the more talent you have, the earlier you die.  Looks like JLS, Girls Aloud, Miley Cyrus, NDubz and Justin Timberlake can all expect long and fruitful lives then. 

Does the same theory work in other spheres of the entertainment business?  It would appear so.  Lenny Bruce died early (drugs admittedly) and the greatest stand up comedian of all time, Bill Hicks, was lost to us at just 33 from pancreatic cancer.  On that basis expect Michael Mcintire and Jimmy Carr to live into their hundreds and Chris Rock (currently the finest stand up comic in the world)  to get hit by a bus just after Xmas.

In the film world, Richard Burton died too early, so did James Dean and Jean Harlow so, as we speak Zac Efron must be contemplating his oscar award in his seventies and the entire cast of Twilight must be looking forward to picking up their pensions.  There just ain’t no justice. 

So, farewell Brittany Murphy.  They say that celebrity deaths come in threes.  What are the odds?