CNN and the NY Times are both reporting that actor Heath Ledger, 28, was found dead tthis afternoon in a New York City Apartment.
Ledger is, perhaps, best known for his portrayal of a homosexual cowboy in the film Brokeback Mountain. He earned rave reviews for the role and was nominated for an Oscar for it.
Commentary:
I remember one of his first well-known roles in 10 Things I Hate About You with Julia Stiles. I loved him in that role. And I do think he was incredible in Brokeback Mountain. From what I have heard about his portrayal of The Joker in The Dark Knight, it too is going to be incredible.
It's a terrible loss--for his daughter, for his family, for his fellow actors, for his fans.
Zayda posted on Jan 22, 2008
| views: 474
Comments
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CreativeWoman said on Jan 22, 2008....
Wow. I just saw the previews of the new Batman movie and he was The Joker in it. It looked like he did a good job. That is so sad to die so young.
CW
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Zayda said on Jan 22, 2008....
CW: It's both shocking and sad. It's terribly sad that he is both so young and that he leaves a very young daughter. -
CreativeWoman said on Jan 22, 2008....
Zayda,
I read that in the CNN link you provided. I am so shocked to hear about it.
CW
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uniquely-ironic said on Jan 22, 2008....
When I read about young people killing themselves by abusing drugs I have to wonder if there wasn't something someone could have done. I don't know about Heath but it would have been nice to see him continue his career. -
Zayda said on Jan 22, 2008....
U-I: I don't know if Ledger has had a history of drug abuse, but the article indicates that the pills found by his body were over-the-counter sleeping pills. There's a possibility that the death came not from the end result of a history of drug abuse but from an accidental overdose.
But still, I think the same thing when I read about someone so young dying from drugs. What could have been done to prevent it?
I don't recall Ledger being in the news with alcohol and drug problems like other celebrities such as Britney Spears. So, it makes me wonder even more if something was missed that could have prevented his death. -
Zayda said on Jan 22, 2008....
On the nightly news here, they reported that both an empty prescription bottle as well as a package for over-the-counter drugs were found. -
the_infernal_optimist said on Jan 22, 2008....
I was shocked to read this an hour or so ago on Yahoo! - he really didn't strike me as the sort to use drugs, so I wonder what was going on there. I thought he was one of the more promising actors in his age group, and he'll be missed. :(
~Infernal
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nytquill17 said on Jan 22, 2008....
Whoa...this is a shock. I just heard on the preview commercial for the nightly news about a young Hollywood star found dead...can't believe it was him. I really liked his work. I can't quite believe it!
God, that's so sad. I feel the same way - when someone so young dies in tragic circumstances like that, you can't help but wonder what was going on in his life, why someone would self-destruct like that, why was it under the radar, was there no one in his life that saw what was going on, no one that could've helped? He seemed like one of the sane ones, almost never in the news in a bad way... wow.
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Zayda said on Jan 22, 2008....
Nytquill--The only things I recall hearing about him in the news were the difficulties with his relationship/marriage to his co-star in Brokeback Mountain, Michelle Williams. Of course, there could have been more difficulties in his life that he managed to keep out of the press.
It simply would not have surprised me if the celebrity they reported finding dead this afternoon had been Britney Spears. Perhaps that's terrible to say, but given all of what has been in the news regarding her lately, I don't think it would have been much of a surprise to anyone.
Of course, we--me included--are all guessing that there was something going on that people didn't catch before it was too late. However, there is a distinct possibility that the overdose was accidental. And that is still very tragic.
An autopsy is being preformed, and that will reveal the official cause of death, which most likely people are speculating is an overdose, but unfortunately, it will never fully answer the "why" question--why did he overdose? Did he intentionally and willfully take his life or did he accidentally and stupidly mix over-the-counter medications with prescription medications for some unknown reason.
Either way, it's a terrible tragedy that someone so talented and so young is gone so soon and has left a young daughter without her father. -
lalalalalala said on Jan 22, 2008....
wow 3rd post on this event i've found on SC....and still i'm shocked and sad :( poor baby Matilda. and gosh I can't imagine what Michelle is going through! -
Zayda said on Jan 22, 2008....
lala--Yeah, I noticed a couple of other posts that were posted after mine. Apparently, it's a popular topic today--perhaps because it was so surprising. -
lalalalalala said on Jan 22, 2008....
yes Zayda, it is popular because of that reason. plus, heath was a fairly good actor for his age. poor guy...i hope it was accidental. -
Lucytorial said on Jan 22, 2008....
OMG, see this is why I should watch TV - our Heath Ledger??? Man I thought you were kidding until I realised you do not joke around like that...
Thats such a shame, great actor, young dad, his ex must be reeling.....
I hope it was accidental too considering there is no history what so ever with drug abuse by this guy at all, nothing thats been open anyway.
It may have had something to do with his separation... damn! what a terrible loss!
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Zayda said on Jan 22, 2008....
lala--Yes, he was a really good actor for his age. So, terrible.
Lucy--No, I don't joke about things like that. So, yes, Aussie Heath Ledger. And it is indeed a terrible loss. -
MissMimi said on Jan 22, 2008....
I'm very sorry to hear this. He was excellent in Brokeback Mountain. Very sad indeed.
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TinSoldier said on Jan 22, 2008....
I think that I've only seen a few of his movies -- The Patriot, A Knight's Tale, and The Brothers Grimm, but he was supposedly an up and coming actor.
It's a tragedy when anyone dies at age 28.
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Zayda said on Jan 22, 2008....
Mimi: Yes, indeed he was most excellent in Brokeback Mountain.
TS: Yes, it's a tragedy when anyone dies at age 28. I completely forgot that he was in The Patriot. -
hotnsexy said on Jan 22, 2008....
how tragic. he was cute in 10 Things I Hate About You with Julia Stiles. -
queenparanoia said on Jan 22, 2008....
i just read this on yahoo... and i'm surprised! i love heath ledger he was one great actor. this is so sad. i read somewhere that he could be the next mel gibson... i hope his family are okay... one of my favorite movie of him is 10 things i hate about you... -
polarheart said on Jan 23, 2008....
I saw this on MSN when I switched on my computer. It is tragic that he went at such a young age. I loved a Knight's Tale best :-) and I think he would have done even more with his career. He had done so much in the 28 short years of his life, perhaps it was just all too much for him. Very sad indeed. -
crybabylu said on Jan 23, 2008....
I guess you and I posted this about the same time. Isn't it tragic? Such a talented young man, and leaving a daughter behind. It is truly sad. -
Zayda said on Jan 23, 2008....
Cry: Actually, I posted a full hour before you did. And yes, it's truly tragic.
Polar: I never saw Knight's Tale. I guess I'll have to rectify that. I suppose we will know more after the autopsy, but we will probably never fully know what happened.
QP: Yes, I had heard similar things about him begin compared to a young Mel Gibson. I can't imagine what his family is going through right now.
HnS: Welcome to my blog. I really thought he was great in 10 Things I Hate About You.
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crybabylu said on Jan 23, 2008....
Zayda---After I wrote that I checked mine, and sure enough, you did. But, I did't mean anything by that only that we both thought to post it. I saw another post on it too, but I can't remember who. Anyhow, it's been around the clock non-stop since they discovered the body. -
Zayda said on Jan 23, 2008....
Oh, I know you didn't mean anything by it. It's been a very popular topic to post on. -
Mamie said on Jan 23, 2008....
this was such a shocking story. I liked him also in Ten Things with Julia Stiles. I bet his family is besides themselves....I am sure Michelle is most shocked of all, not to mention dealing with guilt, inevitable, regardless of their situation. -
silverwhisper said on Jan 23, 2008....
i popped in last night for just at moment to look at my users and this was the most recent blog entry. i'd just seen the story on the ticker on TV.
how tragic. i've never seen any of the films he was in, except for the patriot. jeez...
ed -
beltrix said on Jan 23, 2008....
just watched a knights tale and had a little sob. great actor, why is it always the best that die young?
x
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RollingC said on Jan 23, 2008....
It's a shame to have this happen to one so young and beginning such a promising career. This should be a wake-up call concerning drugs and the usage thereof. Enough people have gone this way already.
Rc
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gran1de7 said on Jan 23, 2008....
Hollywood actors are chosen to die these days... Brad Renfro... Heath Ledger... I wonder who is next? Hope none anymore... -
one.way.or.another. said on Jan 23, 2008....
well, i think its horrible. he was good in a knight's tale. ): -
BlueHotRage said on Jan 23, 2008....
I heard about it at work yesterday. One of my co-workers is convinced it's a prank to generate publicity for Dark Knight. If it is, which I seriously doubt, I'm going to be super-pissed off 'cuz it's not funny.It's still a terrible, unexpected, tragic thing... I hope it's going to be fully investigated, because none of my movie-geek pals knew anything about any substance abuse...Brokeback Mountain was one of his best films. Hands down. -
Zayda said on Jan 23, 2008....
So far they are saying that the autopsy has proven to be inconclusive and that a cause of death will take 10-14 days to determine. -
Eilan said on Jan 23, 2008....
Fred Phelps' church is going to be picketing at Ledger's funeral because of Brokeback Mountain. *sigh*
If there is a Hell, I hope to see that bunch there.
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crybabylu said on Jan 23, 2008....
Eilan--Phelps is doing what? Doesn't that man have any sense at all? -
hidufel said on Jan 23, 2008....
I enjoyed nearly every film he was in... especially a knights tale, and the four feathers.
May he rest in peace.
Its a shame that fame and fortune take those with such promising future away so early; Brandon Lee, River Phoenix, Heath Ledger...
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Zayda said on Jan 23, 2008....
Cry: No, that man has no sense at all. And there is something severely wrong with his moral compass despite the fact that Phelps assuredly thinks there isn't.
Hidufel: I didn't realize he was in Four Feathers. -
hotnsexy said on Jan 23, 2008....
Thanks. Yeah, I loved 10 Things I Hate About You when it first came out. Poor Heath. -
Zayda said on Jan 23, 2008....
Well, in the latest news, they are reporting that the 20 dollar bill they found in his bedroom did not contain any drug residue. The bill was taken and tested supposedly because of the way it was folded--at least that's what they reported on the local news here. I missed the national news, so I don't know if what they reported in regards to the investigation into his death. -
TinSoldier said on Jan 26, 2008....
I was awake early this morning and I caught "Ten Things I Hate About You" on TV. It was pretty good, but I confess that I'm not very familiar with the source material. I've never read "The Taming of the Shrew" nor have I seen a proper treatment of it.