[article id="1628612"]Brittany Murphy's sudden death[/article] at the age of 32 has thrust her husband of two and a half years, Simon Monjack, into the media spotlight for the first time without his wife by his side. So who is Monjack?

Monjack started his career as a commercial director and went on to become both a screenwriter and film director. The 39-year-old's most high-profile exposure came via story and executive producer credits on 2006's "Factory Girl," the Sienna Miller-starring biopic about '60s It girl Edie Sedgwick. Before then, he directed and co-wrote "Two Days, Nine Lives," an indie film one critic likened to "The Breakfast Club," only "with more crack."

Murphy and Monjack got engaged in 2006 and married the following year at their Los Angeles home in a ceremony officiated by a rabbi. Afterwards, they jetted off to the Kentucky Derby. Murphy had previously been engaged twice -- once to a Hollywood lighting and rigging technician and once to talent agency head honcho Jeff Kwatinetz.

According to People, Monjack was slated to direct a film about Sigmund Freud in which Murphy would star, but that project never moved into production.

A report in the New York Daily News highlighted the income disparity between Murphy and Monjack. While she was paid $4 million for 2004's "Little Black Book," he suffered financial woes, including being sued by a mortgage company for $470,000 and being evicted from his residence.

In November, Monjack was rushed to a Los Angeles hospital after reportedly becoming incoherent during a flight originating in Puerto Rico. Murphy had been in Puerto Rico filming the horror movie "The Caller," but she was replaced in the role due to "creative differences," her publicist said. Rumors swirled that both Murphy and Monjack were causing problems on the set, the latter often arguing with members of the crew.

Following Murphy's death, Monjack reportedly requested that an autopsy not be performed, though that procedure eventually took place anyway. "My initial reaction to the autopsy was 'they're going to cut her open.' I couldn't bear it," he told People. "That would break her mother, but we realized we needed to know. I look forward to getting the results."

Earlier, Monjack defended his [article id="1628692"]relationship with Murphy[/article] to "Access Hollywood," saying, "We found love. ... Brittany didn't get to where Brittany was with anyone controlling her."