A petite attractive performer with large expressive eyes, energetic and versatile actress Joe shot to stardom as Tai, the fashion-challenged brunette transfer student whom Alicia Silverstone's Cher takes under her wing, in the hit comedy "Clueless" (1995). The New Jersey native was already an established veteran, though, having begun her performing career at age two. Murphy was singing and dancing as the lead in a regional production of "Really Rosie" at age nine and had relocated to L.A. by age 13. After making her primetime TV debut as the sister of Joe Regalbuto's Frank Fontana on a 1991 episode of CBS' "Murphy Brown", the rising talent landed the role of Dabney Coleman's daughter on the short-lived Fox sitcom "Drexel's Class" (1991-92).

She quickly rebounded as Perry King's daughter who is jealous of her new stepsister in the spin-off sitcom "Almost Home" (Abc 1993), although the show only lasted 13 episodes. Murphy lent her persona to the recurring role of Sarah, a friend and classmate of twins Tia and Tamara, on "Sister, Sister" during its 1994-1995 run on Abc

"Clueless" propelled the actress into a different realm. As the dumpy Easterner Tai, Murphy proved her comic mettle and began to get roles in independent films, many of which debuted on premium cable channels like HBO (i.e., "Freeway" 1996, "Phoenix" 1998). Returning to NYC, she won her fair share of critical praise as the niece of a dockworker (Anthony Lapaglia who has more than avuncular interests in her in the acclaimed, award-winning 1997 Broadway revival of Arthur Miller's "A View From the Bridge". Murphy's profile rose higher when she was tapped to co-star opposite Lukas Haasin the small remake of "David and Lisa" (Abc 1998), produced under the "Oprah Winfrey Presents" banner. She then co-starred as one of the pageant aspirants in the mock documentary "Drop Dead Gorgeous" (1999).

As a suicidal teen fixated on rotisserie chicken in "Girl, Interrupted", Murphy gave a highly memorable performance, which she followed up with skilled performances as vastly different characters, counting among her 2000 credits a turn as a discharged naval officer suspected of being a lesbian in the 1950s-set segment of Showtime drama "Common Ground", a performance as a charming barfly in the independent "Trixie" and a virginal girl targeted by a serial killer in the teen slasher pic "Cherry Falls". Her supporting role as the loveable town floozy in "Summer Catch" (2001) was one of the disappointing film's few high points, while she held her own in a challenging turn as a disturbed young woman who holds a valuable secret in her damaged mind in the thriller "Don't Say a Word" that same year. Her performance--and her memorable "I'll never tell" line featured in the film's ad campaign--finally seemed to make Murphy a recognizable star. She also excelled with a featured role as a waitress in the ensemble of the Edward Burns romantic comedy "Sidewalks of New York" paired Murphy with Stanley Tucciand David Krumholtzand perfectly complemented Drew Barrymorein the inspiring fact-based comedy-drama "Riding in Cars With Boys" (both 2001).

Though her starring role in the proposed Gary Fleder-directed Janis Joplin biopic was shelved due to music rights difficulties, Murphy recovered with a role in the romantic comedy "You Stupid Man", directed by Brian Burns (brother of Edward), a featured turn as a amphetamine addict paired with Mickey Rourke in the black comedy "Spun" directed by famed Madonna video helmer Jonas Ackerlund and Curtis Hanson's "8 Mile" (2002), which starred and was loosely based upon the life of successful white rapper Eminem (all lensed 2001). She then started the new year off by starring, with then boyfriend Ashton Kutcher in the romantic comedy feature "Just Married" and played on-screen the drug addicted girlfriend to Mickey Rourke's character in the independent feature "Spun" (both in 2003). Despite her onscreen capabilities, the actress' longest running and perhaps most widely appreciated work is her turn as the vocal talent behind aspiring beautician Luanne on the Fox animated series "King of the Hill" (1997).